
If you’re familiar with the Chick-fil-a chain and fortunate enough to have one in your area, you’ll know that there’s no such thing as an employee who doesn’t greet you cheerfully. Chick-fil-a employees treat you better than your own family, which I suspect is their goal and perhaps even part of their employee training. Next to the upbeat ambiance that often compensates for the long drive-thru lines, more locations will now offer a “Mom’s valet” service.
Chick-fil-A’s vice president of menu strategy and development, David Farmer, told Business Insider the chain is looking to”take the stress out” and create a more relaxing environment for its customers. Mom’s valet is one way they’re hoping to achieve this.
Scott Brickhouse in Lakewood, FL developed the idea as a way to encourage more families to dine within the restaurant. As a father of four, he noticed how difficult it was for parents of multiple young children to get comfortable within the dining area, often opting to stay in their cars to avoid the chaos of family dining. Four years ago, Scott Brickhouse offered the service at two locations and it was an instant success. Now the family friendly franchise wishes to expand this service to more locations across the U.S.
The “Mom’s valet” encourages parents to leave their vehicles and bring their children inside. Once an order is placed in the drive thru line and a parent mentions that they want “mom’s valet” they need only to indicate the number of people in the family and the number of high chairs. A table is then prepared for the family. Upon entering the restaurant, families will be given the V.I.P. treatment. They’ll be greeted by a cheerful employee and shown to their reserved table. A table already set with place mats, high chairs, cups, condiments and food.
This service frees parents to tend to feeding their young, keeping tabs of children running wild in play areas, or relax and have a nice conversation with the family.
A video from the Seaboard Commons, SC locations hilariously explains the “Mom’s Valet” service with a quick YouTube video.
If the service is offered at your local restaurant, a sign will be posted in the drive thru. The service is currently offered at 100 locations with an interest in expanding even further than that.
Would you ever use a service like mom’s valet? Why or why not? Please let us know in the comments.