There’s been a bit of a buzz surrounding Aretha Franklin over the last couple of days. The 72-year-old Queen of Soul went in to a Johnny Rocket’s restaurant in the Niagara Fallsview Casino last Tuesday with her nephew after a performance just over the river at Lewiston’s Artpark.
Franklin ordered a takeout meal, then proceeded to sit down at a table in the restaurant. The server, a 15-year-old girl who had been an employee for just over a week, confronted Franklin telling her that she could not use the table because she had ordered takeout rather than dine-in. The tables were, after all, reserved for dine-in customers only and the “wet behind the ears” server was simply following what she thought was protocol. According to Franklin, the server was “rude and unprofessional”, even after her nephew told her who Franklin was.
The server has not returned to work since the incident, and has written an apology letter as a result. Cozette Pfifer, spokesperson for Johnny Rockets has noted that all 300 locations have had their takeout policies clarified to employees.
Franklin has a recent connection with the popular restaurant chain after having her classic, Respect, featured as a choreographed dance routine by servers.
Read more in The Niagara Falls Review.
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