What store(s) do you go to where everyone seems to know you?

[stpauler]

There's a really busy PetSmart about 1/2 mile from us that we take the dogs for their vet appointments and grooming (two separate operations inside PetSmart). I called up the grooming place to make an appointment and was asked the dogs' names.

"Maggie and Spoon."

"Yay, the bulldog and pug!" was the reply.

Now, it's hard to get an appointment there (same day is nigh impossible) and they have a large group of groomers. So it's funny to me that our pups have stood out for them.

Where do you go where you're store-famous?

[ZipperJJ]

Sadly, my favorite pizza shop. They know my dog because I have them deliver and Dolly comes to the door with me. So if I call and this one particular lady answers she always asks about my dog.

Also the vet's office knows me by my dog's name, but I'm not sure how much that counts.

Nobody knows me apart from my dog, tho

[Maastricht]

The other kids at the daycare (aged three to five) know I am my sons mom. They even greet me or point me out to their parents " That's MaastrichtsSons mommie!" But that seems common: they all know each others parents. I think it is a combination of really looking out for them at the end of the day, and..I sometimes think kids compare their parents the same way adult men compare their cars in the company parking lot. With the difference that each toddler thinks his or her parents are the best.

[Yorikke]

I'm one of those who hates it when people at stores treat me like a regular. As a cashier, I treat people with standard politeness, and let the customer dictate to me the level of conversation and familiarity required. I wish other cashiers did the same, and not assume they know what I want to purchase, or that I want to talk about the weather or something.

Joe

[kayaker]

Originally Posted by ZipperJJ

Sadly, my favorite pizza shop.

Sadly, my favorite bar.

[TriPolar]

The hardware store. The seafood store. A nearby mini-mart. A few restaurants and a bar. The grocery store, sort of, they're mid-sized, but have a lot of employees, so I'm known among a sizeable percentage of them, but not most. Oh yeah, the auto parts store. I do my best to support local businesses, and try to establish relationships with the owners and steady employees.

[Ferret Herder]

I'm a "regular" at my local spice shop, pizza joint, vet office, sushi restaurant, olive oil shop, one of the local wine stores... Oh, and an Italian take-out shop. Those are the ones that spring to mind, at least!

[silenus]

The local BevMo.

Most of the grocery stores in town, if for no other reason than most of the checkers, baggers and such are former students of mine.

The local Thai and Chinese places know our basic order and just come over to confirm the entrees.

For some reason, my dry cleaner. It's not like we're there that often, but she always calls me by name when I enter.

[Dogzilla]

By the time I've parked my car and managed to get through the door at Firehouse Subs, the sandwich guys are halfway through making my standard-order sandwich. By the time I've paid for it, grabbed my drink and my chips, it's already waiting on the counter for me. I don't even have to speak the order out loud; when I get to the register, the cashier punches in "med. tuna on white, lettuce, tomato, swiss only, combo, bottle drink, to go." Note: I hate their new soda machine. You punch buttons on the front to get whatever combination you like "Diet + cherry + lime + vanilla coke" and place your cup under the nozzle. The problem is the lines aren't flushed in between, and every drink comes out of the same nozzle, so every single drink tastes like Diet Cherry Lime Vanilla Dr. Pepper to me. I started getting the bottled drinks because "They all taste like ass!" The crew there thought that was hilarious.

If I ever decide to change my order, I'm screwed.

[FairyChatMom]

Not exactly a store, but my car guys know me well. We've been going there for 7-ish years with (over those years) 7 or 8 vehicles (I've lost count.) Altho, I'm pretty sure a big reason they remember us is because of our ex-SIL - he's been gone 2 years now, but they still remember him.

We patronize some of the same restaurants over and over, but the servers change so often around here, no one gets to know us as regulars. And that's fine.

[Missy2U]

Dominick's, the bar, the liquor store, the currency exchange, the library, Home Depot and Menard's.

[SpoilerVirgin]

Nordstrom. Of course they make a point of it, but they greet me by name and know my preferences in at least two clothing departments, the beauty department, and the lingerie department.

Safeway. All of the regular clerks know me.

All of my regular lunch spots. At one point, I was so well known in one of them that when I came in and said, "I don't want my usual today" (to prevent them from immediately fixing it), they said, "Oh, then you'll be having [my usual alternate choice]," which was exactly what I had planned to order.

There are quite a few places where I don't have to pay if I don't happen to have the funds on me. They will just say, "Pay it the next time you come in."

[Athena]

Everyplace. I live in a small town.

Most of the time it's nice, like the way we never really have to plan a night out with friends; we just go out, and there they are! On the other hand, if we're looking for privacy, we either have to go to a place we don't like (and thus, don't go very often and people don't know us) or stay home.

[PacifistPorcupine]

Lowe's, and the Greek food place near work.

[Voyager]

Depressingly enough, the receptionists at the quite large medical center I go to know my name. I go once a month, at least, to get my INR checked and most times they wave me right through as I approach the desk.

[carlotta]

The library. I put a lot of books on hold. I have a distinctive last name. Even though it's a busy city library several times when I handed my card over a clerk has said....."so YOU'RE Carlotta'srealname Lastname!"

Also there's one guy at the desk where I pick up interlibrary loans who always makes me feel like he's happy to see me, but maybe he's just responding to my I'm-happy-to-see-him vibe. Why yes, he is a rather attractive gentleman.

[Lightnin']

Every weekend my wife and I go to our favorite barbecue spot, an old house along a rural road with a couple of pits out in front. It'd definitely a locals thing- I've lived here for three years now, and I only found out about it six months ago. We've become good friends with the owner.

[SurrenderDorothy]

I'm another one who generally hates being treated like I'm not a faceless customer, in general.

The people at 7-11 know my partner and me. They're right around the corner from my house and have both refrigerated twelve-packs of soda and the brand of cigarettes that my partner likes. So I'm there on a fairly regular basis.

The people at PetCo and at my vet know me because I foster. So I'm at PetCo for at least several hours every weekend at adoption events and shop there more often than your average person who has the same 1-3 dogs for many years.

[Sudden Kestrel]

My husband is well-known at our pharmacy, hardware store, auto parts store and tractor dealership, but our best commercial friends are the people in our veterinary office. My husband has a very common name, but he can call the vet's office and say, "Hi, this is 'Mike.' We need to bring the dogs in for their shots." Any of a dozen people could answer the phone, and they all know exactly who he is. I was amazed the first time I heard him do this.

Sadly, the only business that knows me is my psychiatrist's office.

[Moonlitherial]

None for me. I'm not a loyal customer to any particular business. The only potential exceptions would be my hairdresser and vet since I'm finally going to the same ones regularly. Hairdresser only sees me every 3-4 months and I'm pretty sure without a scheduled appointment she wouldn't know me either and other than scratched cornea incidents the vet only sees us once a year so I think the booked appointment is the reason they remember us too. Well, that and the fact that Mojo hates him.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Not a store but I was a morning regular at the coffee shop across from one of our buildings until I started working from home.

[cher3]

The drycleaner, the restaurant where we go for our "date night" and, disconcertingly, the pharmacy. Only one of the pharmacists seems to know me though.

[Shagnasty]

I try to keep a low profile. There is a place near me called the Bull & Finch pub that is quite the neighborhood hangout. I went in there one day and didn't see anyone I knew.

[CookingWithGas]

The barber shop. I go to a shop owned by Vietnamese guy and all the barbers are Vietnamese but it's really just an old-fashioned barber shop. I started taking my son there for buzz cuts when he was young then started getting my own hair cut. They ask how my daughter's doing, is she still dancing, is my son playing baseball this season, am I going to Egypt this year, etc.

[Smeghead]

Another small-towner here, so a lot more places than I'm used to. We used to be friendly with the couple who ran the country store across the river, but they sold the place and left. The new guy isn't as friendly. My mechanic is beginning to know me, too. There actually aren't many other places near us.

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by Shagnasty

I try to keep a low profile. There is a place near me called the Bull & Finch pub that is quite the neighborhood hangout. I went in there one day and didn't see anyone I knew.

*snerk*

[congodwarf]

Well, it doesn't seem like everyone knows me at the pet store. They really do know me. The owner and her two employees are the only ones there and I'm quite friendly with the owner. She's been to my house and we go to the same events at the dog training center.


The pharmacy. This one is a bit depressing. A year ago I took no medication. Now I take 3 and I also frequently pick up my boyfriend's one regular prescription and occasional Z-packs. They know us both by sight and it's not just the techs. All the pharmacists know us too and I rarely even ask them questions!

[aceplace57]

The garden center at Home Depot. This summer I've been in there a lot and several people know me.

[dogbutler]

Originally Posted by kayaker

Sadly, my favorite bar.

Me, too.

[EmilyG]

Many know me at the musical instrument store.

[Iggy]

Sadly, Burger King. Sigh. Several of them can ring up my order without asking... all the way down to wanting the cup with no lid.

My mechanic knows me as does the lady who cuts my hair. A few of the cashier's at the supermarket know me too.

Not really a store but the police all know my voice. I work in a 9-1-1 center and am on the radio all the time. Hardly any of them know my face. I've been recognized by voice alone many times.

[minionkat]

One of the butchers at the farmer's market near my house. He makes pepperettes. I go on Saturday mornings and buy five hot and five medium, in different bags if the mediums are for my mother. And one landjäger. They know not to put it in a bag. I eat it as I wander around. I think it might be my "Meat is Murder. Tasty, tasty murder" shirt that makes me memorable there...

[Taomist]

I started smoking at 31. I smoke only one thing: Djarum black cloves. That's it; that's all.
I am pretty sure that, were I to disappear off the map, all anyone would have to do is start checking 7-11s/smoke shops and ask about the redhead with glasses who buys the cloves and I'd be busted.

[elbows]

The Asian grocery, it's quite far, but worth the trip. We've spent a lot of time traveling, developing tastes for things only found in Asia. We've been going to their store a really long time. It's mostly Asian and Carribean's who go there. The cashier used to always say, 'You eat this?', or, 'You cook this?'. I love going there as it's filled with awesomeness, I could wander around all day. I always by the mango gummies, and my favorite mango juice, the Indo Mie ramen noodles, my favorite chillie sauce, etc, etc. Also durian, longans, fresh fish. And a ton of stuff I couldn't identify in a million years! That's what makes it fun.

There are many stores, nearby to us, where no one would know us, if we walked through the door, so it's kind of funny that we have such a history with these people. From back when they had the old way, way over packed store.

[elbows]

Djarum black cloves.

Ha Ha Ha! I haven't thought about these in ages and ages!

Hubby smoked these in Indonesia, I could never manage more than a puff, myself. Then I used to seek them out and buy him a pack for his stocking at Christmas! It was awesome to be in the other room, out of sight, when he'd light one. I'd suddenly be transported back to our time there, it was like an instant LSD flashback!

I stopped buying them for him, when I checked out how much tar and nicotine they had.

[Captain_C]

I just had the clerk at the local liquor store tell me "I know you, I don't need to see your ID". I'm not sure if I should be flattered or ashamed.

[Digital is the new Analog]

Two local bars..my Wednesday Sushi place..the place I get a bagel for breakfast once or twice a month.. I'm working on the salad place near the office.

My favorite 'regular' story. My first local bar..I had been going there for a decade or so at this point.. I was in a phase at work where I had a lot of conference calls with a group in China. So I showed up at the bar around 8:30pm, on my cell phone. I walked past my friends and went to the back area, which was empty and quiet. The waitress brought waved at me and brought me my regular beer. I finished it during the call..she noticed, and brought me another. I finished the call during that beer, and joined my friends.

It was really nice being taken care of like that, without having to interrupt my work.


-D/a

[Yorikke]

Originally Posted by Captain_C

I just had the clerk at the local liquor store tell me "I know you, I don't need to see your ID". I'm not sure if I should be flattered or ashamed.

Neither. Once I've ID'd someone once or twice, I know their face enough to remember that they're of age, even if they're not constant purchasers of their particular vice.

Joe

[Bookkeeper]

The library and my favourite hobby shop (it opened the year I was born, I've been buying there for over 40 years, and the original owner still runs it).

[Gleena]

My local (a cocktail bar.) That will change soon because they mistreated my favorite bartender, I'm going to start going to a place she recommended.

My vet - with two dogs and three cats, yeah. I've been going there for nine years, which is as long as our oldest pet is old.

The university library - enough so that I'm usually informed if someone is at my favourite table back in the stacks at the back, so I don't have to walk all the way back there to check.

The pet store - see above.

[Richard Pearse]

The local bicycle shop. I got a bike serviced there about 3-4 years ago then I started going there for various accessories and noticed they would give me a discount without me asking and soi kept going there. Then my partner bought a nice bicycle from there and I followed up by getting a good bike as well. Now we ride with the shop guys in the summer, go to spin classes there in the winter, and they know us by name. They always give a significant discount on whatever we are buying. I know I can get many cycling things cheaper online, but I'd rather pay an extra 10% or whatever to support the local shop. I think it's a good example of how to run that type of business, and they always seem pretty busy.

[Dr. Girlfriend]

The Chinese restaurant down the street. I went in there the other day after not visiting for a few weeks and the staff all were asking me where I had been. I kind of felt guilty for not having been in for a while. The waitress brings me Crab Rangoon without me having to order it.

[ScarletNumber]

Originally Posted by stpauler

There's a really busy PetSmart about 1/2 mile from us that we take the dogs for their vet appointments and grooming (two separate operations inside PetSmart). I called up the grooming place to make an appointment and was asked the dogs' names.

"Maggie and Spoon."

"Yay, the bulldog and pug!" was the reply.

Now, it's hard to get an appointment there (same day is nigh impossible) and they have a large group of groomers. So it's funny to me that our pups have stood out for them.

Where do you go where you're store-famous?

Are they referred to as Maggie Stpauler and Spoon Stpauler?

[Cub Mistress]

I live in a small town. I am known by name at the three grocery stores, the library, the post office, the gas station, the Mexican restaurant, Hardee's, McDonald's, the RiteAid, and a consignment store! It helps that I worked at the local high school for 10 years and I am a outgoing kind of person. I haven't been asked for ID in my hometown for 25 years.

[lorene]

The LEGO store at the mall near me, although it's actually my kids they know.

[PlainJain]

Home Depot - “Haz más, ahorrando.” ha ha

[Boyo Jim]

The Original Pancake House, which I even mentioned during a radio interview and got free meals for a month. Once I walked in and saw some friends at a table, so I went over to chat a bit. I was standing a bit in the aisle. A waitress showed up with their food and said, Hi, Boyo Jim! Get out of the way!"