Johnny Rocket's...

Hi, I was just wondering it anyone on here has worked/known someone who has worked at Johnny Rockets?

How are the hours? I went this past weekend to Cedar Point and in three days ate there 4 times, I love it there. The people working there all seem really awesome and like they really enjoy their job, the service was just great and I especially love when I hear the music turned up and know I get to enjoy watching you all dance. :)

Each time I was there though I realized it seemed to be the same people no matter which time of day. I'd eaten there for lunch and then again almost at the time of closing and saw the same faces, so I was just wondering how the hours are. I'd love to be able to work there some day.

If anyone who worked there is on these boards, GREAT JOB, everytime I eat there I come out in an AWESOME mood. Benjamin, James, Lawrence, and Lauren were the four servers I'd had each time I was there and they were all great, as I'm sure the rest are. I'll be sure to eat at Johnny Rocket's anytime I ever go back to the park. *** Edited 11/2/2004 2:16:29 AM UTC by fadingred***

I used to work at Johnny Rockets. I worked from May 14, 2004 into the first week of July, then quit. I loved the people I worked with, yet I hated how many hours I had to work. Close to 75 a week. Ouch.

Ben, James, and Lawrence are some of my best friends. I still hang out with Lawrence all the time, and Ben and I talk a lot. I didn't know Lauren all that well.

I'm sure that if you had the opportunity to ask Ben if he thought the Job was worth Sactrificing his summer for, he'd say no. But Lawrence and James have been there for a few seasons.

Rest assured, Johnny Rockets is a great place to eat in, but they do things completely wrong. This Johnny Rockets is a Franchise Location, Not a Corporate Store. I work at a Corporate Store in Strongsville, Ohio inside Westfield Shoppingtown Southpark. I've been there since November 20, 2002 So I'm coming up on 2 years here soon.

There, I make a lot of money because we are located inside of a Mall. Christmas season is the best, we have a 1/2 hour wait most of the time and even though I make only $2.13/hr + tips, Serving. On a busy Saturday, I'll make Close to $150 in tips in an eight hour shift. Not bad, eh?

I would suggest thinking about working at a Coporate Owned Store, They are Popping up everywhere, and I'm sure you have one close to where you are. If not, there may be one coming soon.

If you tell me where you live, I can tell you if there is one near you, or if there is one coming soon. Let me know if you need any other information.

Steve

Not all the Johnny Rockets are good. There used to be one at the Beachwood Place mall. That place was horrid, and it didn't last that long. It closed down a few years ago.

I've only been at two Johnny Rockets, the defunct Beachwood location and the CP location. CP's restaurant is huge compared to the mall restaurant, which was long and narrow. Also, Beachwood had terrible service, disinterested servers and a slow moving kitchen.

I have to give CP a gold star on restaurant service this year. I've been at Famous Dave's, Breakers TGIF, Dominics, Johnny Rockets and Game Day Grill. At each one I thought I had great service this year, especially Famous Dave's and the bar at Breakers TGIF.

The sit-down and buffet service has been good this season. The counter service, on the other hand....not so much.

Honestly, I found Johnny Rockets at CP to be slow, annoying and had bad food. The worse part is when the waiters danced instead of getting me my stupid food.

Agreed. Went twice last year, complained, nobody cared. Avoided it this year. Food service in general was pretty dismal, and that didn't change much this year.

Wow, 75 hours is a lot. Still, even late at night the servers seemed to be as happy as they were at lunch time.

Even if Ben did not think it was worth sacrificing his time for, he didn't show it. He was the first server I had the first night and was very friendly and gave great service.

I'm in Southern NJ. I think the closest one to me is in Altantic City(about 45 minutes to an hour away)

I've heard from several people that not all Johnny Rocket's are very good. The one in CP was the only one I've ever been to and I was very impressed with the service, and I guess I just assumed all were that great.

And I thought that the counter service was pretty good. I was there twice and at the tables twice and prefered sitting at the counter.

Maybe the fact that I was there for Halloween weekend had something to do with why my experience was so good. The park wasn't TOO crowded(though the restaurant did get pretty crowded at times) But it didn't bother me when the servers took a few minutes out to dance, I loved when they did actually. Plus there were always a lot of servers there so even while a bunch were dancing, there were always some who were not, and I saw the ones who were dancing stop at times when someone at a table needed something.

By "counter service" I mean "food stands in the park where you walk up, order, and walk away with food," not, "getting served at the counter at JRs."

And, the counter service operation is horrible. After several experiences of glacial waits at several different stands during visits across several different times of the year, I've given up on trying to eat counter service food unless there is literally no line, and even then it's a 50-50 proposition.

I may be a lone voice in the wilderness, but on 3-4 visits to JR this season, each one was accompanied by good service---the right order, delivered in good time, with food that was properly prepared and still hot, accompanied by attentive and cheerful service.

We also view the dances as part of the place's appeal rather than an impediment to eating, so YMMV.

I can't think of any bad experience that I had with counter service this year. Granted, my overall visits were way down this year and we didn't eat at the park a lot. But, when we did, we felt the service was fine.

Some people are going to have better luck than others. I seem to have bad luck with the McDonalds in town. I'm sure others think the service is great.

The absolute worst service I've ever had at CP was still FAR better than an average visit to the McDonald's on the causeway.

As much as I wish it weren't so, from my perspective the counter service operations generally don't work all that well. I commented on this in a June TR as well as a post in July. If it were several stands but only on one visit, or only a stand or two over the course of the season, I could chalk it up to bad luck. But, the problems I've seen seem to happen at many stands and at many different times through the season. That points to a systematic problem somewhere, particularly comparing CP's counter service operations to those in other amusement parks.

*** Edited 11/3/2004 8:37:34 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

I've boycotted Johnny Rockets (all locations) since it replaced Fascination a few years ago, a heart-breaking moment in CP history. It really cheapens the experience of the park and especially the charm of that games area, in my old-fashioned opinion. Friday's in the Hotel is also on my boycott list.

If they wanted the Johnny Rockets experience, why couldn't they just take their philosophy and apply it to Coasters, an ORIGINAL restaurant with nearly the same theme. It'd be a heck of a lot better than a chain restaurant I can find at any local mall... here in Cincinnati.

Anyway, I guess this really doesn't apply to the original post, so I'll cut myself off...

...

...

now.

Try Again CoasterGuy, I doubt there are only two malls in Cincinnati.

typo *** Edited 11/4/2004 1:25:07 AM UTC by CdrPntDrgstr***

You are right, CoasterGuy, it seems CF is selling out the charm (and history) of the CP main midway for big coasters/big business. Fascination was a cool place- you certainly won't find one of THOSE at your local mall! Now, instead of winning a neat prize (and getting ripped while doing so...) you can get a great meal (and get ripped off while doing so)!

Your point?

Two malls or twenty malls, it doesn't matter. I can get Johnny Rockets here rather easily. There is no Fascination down here, and certainly none anywhere with the charm of CP's. Why would I want to drive five hours to eat at a place I can eat at at home? That's all I'm saying.

And to be entirely anal, I know of at least three malls/shopping centers with a Johnny Rockets in Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.

I guess I feel the exact opposite that you do. Why would I want to walk into a building, sit on my ass and throw away my money to win prizes that Cost Cedar Point as much as it does for you to play one game.

I'd rather stuff my face.

With that kind of argument, you'd be fine of they converted the Coliseum Arcade into the world's biggest McDonald's.

I'm going to end my argument with this: For me, when I'd sit down at a Fascination alley and "throw" my money away, I'd have a great time doing it and I'd really felt like I was helping out this old park. But when I sit down in a chain restaurant, no matter what chain it is, I can't help but feel like I'm contributing to the riches of TWO successful corporations who really don't need my money. It's not about food vs. games. It's about originality vs. commercialism. It's about supplying something different that a guest can't get anywhere else. People don't have to go to CP to eat at Johnny Rocket's or Friday's. It's just not as special.

One more thing...

I'm not saying that Johnny Rocket's or Friday's are bad restaurant chains. I just strongly disagree with CP's decision to put them in their park. I actually visit Friday's a lot, here at home.

CedarPointDragster (that took me a while to interpret!) does have a point. I would rather see a resturant than games. However, Johnny Rockets or any other franchise has no business going inside an amusement park. I want to see some kind of originality and do something I can't drive down the street and do for about 40% cheaper than what you pay inside the park.

CdrPntDrgstr said:
Why would I want to walk into a building, sit on my ass and throw away...

Spoken like someone not old enough to gamble.