Yesterday morning as Donna and I sat outside the south-side DD eating breakfast and reading the paper, a couple exited with their three small children in tow. They ranged in age from probably 3 to 9-years old. She was carrying the smallest kid and he was holding a box with a half dozen donuts, plus a couple coffees and an OJ bottle. The middle child was walking right between them, while the oldest was off to one side carrying his own paper bag and bottle of chocolate milk. About a 4 or 5 steps out of the door, the oldest one says, “Can I have a hamburger?”
When we first moved to town this spot was occupied by a Shoney’s. About a dozen years ago, as Aiken’s population grew bigger, they tore down that building and built a newer, bigger Shoney’s on the spot. Whether due to Aiken’s changing tastes, more competition or the fact that their typical customer just didn’t like the transformation, the new, bigger Shoney’s closed its doors after about five years.
Three years ago they tore down the empty Shoney’s and put up a new building that houses two separate food businesses. One side is a DD and Baskin-Robbins combo. The other is a Five Guys Burgers and Fries, hence the oldest kid’s question.
I remember the Shoney’s and I remember it was a very nice restaurant too. Been there quite a few times. However, I was not aware there was a Five Guys there now. Interesting story you write about… The sad thing is that too often kids get their way in this day of high calorie fast food.
Within walking distance of my office is a mall with a large Food Court. The other day during lunch, I picked up a grilled chicken sandwich from the “Eat Mor Chikin'” folks. While enjoying my tasteless but lower calorie lunch delicacy, I watched the table located just a few feet away with a mom and her three small kids, all under the age of 12 or so. Each had the enough calories in front of them to fuel a day’s worth of energy needs including a large sugar laden soft drink.
I suppose this is all good in today’s age of fast food and unhealthy choices…
We try to eat somewhat healthy, but my downfall is at Dunkin Donuts where eat breakfast 2 to 3 times a week. My normal small coffee with cream and sugar with a coffee cake muffin has more calories and fat than a Big Mac!