The person who knows the regulars’ names is doing important community work.
We used to call it customer service. That undersells it. Remembering who wants “the usual,” noticing who hasn’t been in lately, making room for one more story—and listening to the answer after asking, “How have you been?” That’s community work, one hello at a time.
Research tells us that even brief, genuine interactions can help us feel happier and more connected. Apps often fall short.
Over to you, Monterey Bay: Do you have a story you’d share about amazing community work?