Comments containing profanity or personal attacks will be removed without notice.
JBO Club (in response to Paul Ritchie)
My apologies for any confusion but I thought that our discussion about the Club shouldn't be contained in the "new website" forum.
I would like to commend Mr. Ritchie for his very positive and heartfelt attitude. I truly wish that I shared his enthusiasm but I've seen far too many things that have made me shake my head in disgust. First and foremost would be the attitude of some of the employees who act like they're doing you a favor if they actually pour you a drink within a reasonable amount of time. Then there are the ones who would rather watch television than tend to their customers OR they would rather talk to their buddies than do the job that they are paid to do. Why do I mention this? Because this is the FIRST thing anyone sees when they arrive at the Club, this is their welcome to the John Boyle O'Reilly Club and some of these clowns need a crash course in hospitality. Oh, did I mention the ones who like to drink behind the bar while they are getting paid to tend to the members? I have to say that this is a pretty good outlet for speaking your mind because if you were to do so at a meeting you would be lambasted by the officers (also bartenders). Can you see the correlation here folks? My apologies to those employees (who are too few in number) who treat us like gold, this critique is not directed at you. Sharpen your pencils for our next topics:
1. Why Are My Shoes Sticking To The Floor: Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
2. Overserving Combatative Customers: The Life You Save Might Be Your Own.
In response to in response to paul ritchie
Again carping with no answers. (although, it would be hard to imagine what solution you could put forth...perhaps fire everyone you don't like? Or where exactly is this place with the crash course in hospitality?)
And while I don't wish to belittle your complaints, they do seem to edge very closely to nitpicking. You want your beer right here, right now? Before joining, when I first started stopping in, I wasn't expecting to be treated like royalty. There are few commercial bars that would treat you so.
I did find a relaxed atmosphere, and I can't think of a single bartender who treated me as if I were intruding on his private time (nor have I ever witnessed them treat anyone else that way). The service wasn't so quick? What's your rush? If you have somewhere to be, you should be there.
It reminds me of the woman who stopped in on a Friday and asked for a Cosmo (okay, she didn't know this isn't the place for cosmos). The bartender asked what was in it (she didn't know); he asked an off-the-clock barman (he didn't know); he consulted Old Mr Boston (not in there); he called someone who did know and made one. That's bending over backwards in my book. And the woman snarkily complained it wasn't good enough.
As for shoes sticking to the floor? When is this? Later in the night? Should a barman do a regular mopping of the floor throughout the night? I'm at the club much more frequently than I ought to be, and I can't say I've noticed the sticky floors. I do know when I spill something myself, I'll get the mop myself and clean it up. Not my job, you say? No...no, it isn't. But it is my club.
Is it blithe to say drunken customers are a hazard of the trade? Well, yes it is, but latterly, yes they are.
I wish that if you were going to relentlessly attack the situation, you'd have some sort of idea to help improve things. Saying everybody stinks (except those that don't) doesn't help anyone or anything. It is your club and the only thing stopping you from making it a better place...is you.
Things were always better way back when. That doesn't matter any more. How do we make things better now?
Clear the Air!
I love the club, it's too bad that I can't spend more time at it due to family priorities. I think the club is moving in the right direction under the leadership of Eric Devine. We do need to make some cosmetic changes and have younger members bring some new ideas to the table and veteran members to do the same. I love the club and want it to thrive. Next time I post I will be more selective with my words and choose them wisely. I think some people misunderstood and I am sorry for that.