When I started out as a mere peon at good, ole JPMorgan Chase & Company, one of my favorite retreats from the day to day grind was to run over (with my Manager at the time Jonah “the jackal”) and have ourselves some real greasy spoon comfort food within walking distance (East 45th Street location).

Alas, it has been YEARS since I visited this last vestige of home cookery, and now I may never enjoy their sweet potato fries again.  And the odds of me EVER going to Staten Island are pretty slim!

In our time here we’ve served more than two million meals,

but it’s the relationship we’ve formed with you, our customers

that means the most to us. We have experienced so

many wonderful moments and been here to offer

Comfort in those good times as well as during some of the harder times.

While we say goodbye with sadness,

we look forward to writing the next chapters in our future

and having you along as our co-authors.

In our time here we’ve served more than two million meals, but it’s the relationship we’ve formed with you, our customers that means the most to us. We have experienced so many wonderful moments and been here to offer Comfort in those good times as well as during some of the harder times.
While we say goodbye with sadness, we look forward to writing the next chapters in our future and having you along as our co-authors.

Farewell Comfort Diner, you will be missed!

This is totally “off topic” – but maybe not that far….  I had to endure the humiliation of getting automated calls from T-Mobile, my wireless carrier, due to late payment on a bill.   (Yes, when clients pay me late my bills get paid late. )  I decided it was not in my best interest to ignore the calls and I figured that I would just tell the truth and let the Universe decide if I was going to have phone service tomorrow.  I answered the call and followed the automated cues to get to a representative.

Once on, the “Financial Adviser” was surprisingly sympathetic!  I explained my situation, that checks are farther and few between these days due to the FINANCIAL COLLAPSE around us all… the client promised that the check is in the mail…

The voice on the other end of the phone  consoled me and said  “I understand, a lot of people are having a difficult time right now.  And I will certainly be glad to help you out with your service extension.”  I told him I would be able to make a payment by the end of the week, he said “That’s no problem. I can arrange that for you.  And at this time, I would like to point out that if you visit T-Mobile.com you will notice our Career section on the website.  T-Mobile is a great place to work and has been awarded Best Place to Work…” etc.  etc.

I was taken aback at not only the “compassion” that the Financial Adviser showed me, but that perhaps T-Mobile as a Corporate entity has an initiative to be part of the solution in our economy rather than an evil culprit like some other entities out there.

Is this really a new day?  Are we really approaching the dawn of a compassionate corporate culture??

What do you think?