Along with Turkey Day, this day often inspires thots of gratitude. The folks who've owned and operated The Frontier Restaurant for over 40 years come to mind.
Please let me know if you know who took this photo so I can give credit.
In addition to several of the other buildings nearby, they also own & operate three or four Golden Pride chicken and burrito places.
It's on Central Avenue across from the University and is the hub; every University student, likely every politician, and even one world-renowned movie mogul (Michelle and I took her there) has, at one time or another, eaten at The Frontier.
They, along with the owner of Saggio's Pizza (across the street) kept an artist employed for several years painting murals on the outside of the buildings (and the inside of Saggio's).
Their social consciousness includes the food and packaging. Signs attesting to the Certifiedly Humane source for the chicken recently appeared near the door at the Golden Pride locations. A couple of days ago I got a burrito and noticed the bag.
While all the above is well and good, there's more. Over 20 years ago a woman three blocks over who ran a used bookstore was gonna have to close when her rent went up. I happened to be on the Central Avenue Business Development Committee at the time so was privy to the action. The Frontier folks offered her, at a reduced rate, a building they owned a few doors down from the restaurant. She's still there.
There's a rumor the two head cooks, who've been there for decades, are paid somewhere over $100k/year.
They were a couple. I haven't seen the woman in several years, but she used to stand at the pickup counter (where you get your food when it's ready) and give a rose to everyone on Valentine's and Mothers' Days. The man still works behind the counter...alongside all the others.
The food is excellent and reasonably priced. It's the hub of The Universe and in spite of all my disparaging remarks about the town, it sets the standard for quality and kindness and what I like to think all of us, at this time of year aspire to.
M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S
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