South Orange Pool Concession

Not sure if we have just been there on "off" days but the South Orange pool concession has been such a bummer this year. This guy has ran it pretty well for the years he's had it (before and after the Stony's run) but this year, there's some issue each time were there- no chicken, no cheese - our favorite being no ketchup and the most common being only one or two ice creams. We'd love to buy food there but that's proving rather hard to do anyone else

The ice cream thing kills me. It's clear the sign has absolutely no relationship to the kinds of ice cream they stock, so why have a sign? Just to disappoint children?

And the length of time it takes to get anything! OMG it's a full 1/2 hour at least after you order until thit's ready (and that's after waiting on line TO order forever!)

My first (only?) experience was 45 minutes for one hot dog, around 2 PM on a Friday. By the time the hot dog was ready, they were out of napkins and ketchup. I'll stop at Ashley or Mara's on the way instead.

To be honest, I was also sort of shocked at the behavior patrons in front of me, requesting order changes and bringing back 4 full drinks because they changed their mind on beverage choice and having the concession staff get them new ones (right away), bringing back salads to add more dressing after eating half, etc. Didn't help the situation at all.

Sounded like they were out of the advertised special pretty fast on Sunday for Adult Night.

I'm not really sure why a pool concession stand needs so many options, which can't help with getting food out quickly and estimating the amount of food needed. Do you really need several panini and salad options? I was shocked to see that kind of stuff on the menu. I'm looking for quick service, not a sit-down restaurant menu.

hmbooks, the behavior you are describing is incredible. In fact it enrages me. Don't know what I would or could do about it. But are they trying to put the people out of business? No consideration of anyone besides their selfish selves?

@gerryl That is exactly it. And, I am talking about adults, not children who may not know better. I was pretty shocked, but yes, not sure anything can be done about it. The concession staff probably should have just said no, but they were put in a bad place.

I think the pool is great. I have never lived in a community with an affordable pool before. Just trying to add some positivity

We have always loved the pool. The concession stand seems to have difficulty in the last few, or maybe several years now. Some years back they tried to "upscale" their menu. People like the idea of eating dinner there. Not sure the set up of the place is good for that.

In truth I haven't been this year. Once my kid got older, I quit going there socially. some summers I go to get in a few laps. Haven't made it there this summer. But overall, it is a great asset to this community.

hmbooks said:

To be honest, I was also sort of shocked at the behavior patrons in front of me, requesting order changes and bringing back 4 full drinks because they changed their mind on beverage choice and having the concession staff get them new ones (right away), bringing back salads to add more dressing after eating half, etc. Didn't help the situation at all.

To give them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps the drinks were incorrect? We've ordered unsweetened iced tea at places like restaurants, movies, etc, and had to ask for a redo because one sip determined it was sweet tea instead . Same with regular cola vs diet (without a lemon to ID it).

We went for dinner for the first time last Friday. They were out of hot dogs, sweet potato fries, onion rings. It was a bummer for my kids (who had seen the sweet potato fries someone else had and were really looking forward to them) and a surprise to me that they would be out of food on Friday night at dinner time. We did not have a long wait at all for food, though.

I was surprised, also, that they announced that they were closing over an hour before the pool was closing--maybe that's normal (it was a pretty quiet night at the pool), maybe it was because they were running out of food, but I thought it was odd.

As to ice cream, I know it's normal for them to run out, but if they would just mark the signs (a post-it with 'sold out') it would be easier and faster for everyone.

We're new to the SO Pool but we really like it and the people behind the counter are super nice, but I'm glad there are a lot of take-out options so close by!

I went a couple of weeks ago with family. We ordered four things: slushie, funnel cake, potato chips and one of those ice creams they have on the board. The only thing they had was the slushie. They didn't even have plain potato chips (or any potato chip). All they had was Fritos. I won't go back...

SuzanneNg: Can you explain the lemon-in-coke thing for me? I was pretty grossed out/shocked the first time someone served me such a thing (sorta like my personal reaction to toasting a bagel or putting ketchup on a hot dog -- but I guess there's no accounting for taste, and life is too short to sweat the small stuff). In what way does lemon in a coke "ID" it?

And why do people often assume I want a diet coke when I clearly ordered "a coke"? Don't get me started on the sweetened/unsweetened ice tea thing.

We were there Sunday and were told when we got in line around 3 p.m. that they weren't taking any orders. We decided to get drinks and chips and I wanted a root beer float (two signs advertising that) and all they had available were red slushies and two bags of chips (which cost $1 more than advertised - we were told they were "bigger bags." Pretty annoying!

for chopin: somewhere along the way, it became the normal way to serve a diet drink - a lemon wedge as garnish was a way to counteract the aftertaste of artificial sweeteners. When served at diners or restaurants, you can tell the regular from diet by the lemon as "ID."

I hear ya on that ketchup thing. I got used to toasting bagels around 1980 when there was a sandwich shop in the mall - bagels instead of bread for a sandwich - and sometimes toasted - scandalous!

Lemon in everything seems to be a trend. Lemon with water. I feel like I'm being grouchy when I say no thank you to "Do you want lemon with that?' It reminds me of when I worked in a restaurant many years ago that always served way too much water cress or parlsey as a garnish. They really thought more was better.

I commented a few weeks back about how I thought the pool needed some sprucing up. I specifically mentioned the state of the locker rooms, and how there is some crumbling concrete near the edge of the big pool (My two-year old picked up a few pieces and threw them into the pool last week.) Sounds like the concession needs some work too. Don't get me wrong, the pool is wonderful, and we go there nearly every day, but it definitely needs some TLC. I'm not talking much--a paint job for the locker rooms, some patching concrete, and a concession that actually sells what it advertises it is selling.

I actually love the taste of lemon in my Diet Coke. But I'm trying to give up Diet Coke which is a big bummer

How much money can a concessionaire make? Days where is probably little business due to bad weather. Cramped space. If mark up is low, is there enough volume to compensate? What is the kitchen equipment like there? Are you making enough money after paying your employees? Who looks after the supplies? How much are they paid to keep everything organized and moving?

Gerryl - an acquaintance of mine runs a summer concession...big bucks if you do it right.

gerryl said:
How much money can a concessionaire make? Days where is probably little business due to bad weather. Cramped space. If mark up is low, is there enough volume to compensate? What is the kitchen equipment like there? Are you making enough money after paying your employees? Who looks after the supplies? How much are they paid to keep everything organized and moving?

Dunno. Seems like someone elses problem.

They bid to get the concession. I would think they would be aware of the conditions and have a plan.

I am not quick to complain about the concession. Hey, it's not fine dining... but, the lack of ice cream issue is the pits. Stock the stinking cooler! It's not like it doesn't keep well. And they need to stop having pictures of name brand treats on the chart and then stock lesser/cheaper brands. Especially when price gouging!

gerryl said:
How much money can a concessionaire make? Days where is probably little business due to bad weather. Cramped space. If mark up is low, is there enough volume to compensate? What is the kitchen equipment like there? Are you making enough money after paying your employees? Who looks after the supplies? How much are they paid to keep everything organized and moving?

hauscat--where is that particular concession? I am sure in the right location with good organizational skills, it can make money. I just think a lot of people think they can make it work without the right effort/skills. Serving food is always a lot more work than it looks like it would be.

Has there been a time that the concession in SO ran really well? If they were making a bundle, how come they left? I realize there are legitimate reasons. How much money does one need to make on each item sold and how many do they need to sell during the busier periods? How long can they survive when business is not so good? Do you have the money to keep investing to keep things up if business is slow?

I'm just saying, I'm trying to remember when the concession stand there did really well?

This same guy ran the concession pretty well four/five/sixyears ago and that's what bums me out here. We used to eat lunch there several times a week when my kids were younger. Yes,it's not fine dining but it was solid. He had pizza delivered from roman gourmet every day to sell slices, food was decent and available and he rarely ran out of ice creams like this...and it was busy. It's not like he's some first timer running a concession. Last year, wasn't great, but still way better than this year.

We love the pool and have no issues with any other aspect of it- strongly disagree, that it's shabby-

It's just a shame to want to give this guy money and him not have the food to provide. Years past, there was a line pretty consistently for food and lately that doesn't seem the case.

It just seems crazy that of all the things, you run out of ice cream. In the summer. At the pool. Where kids are. Seems like this is a slam-dunk combination for revenue

Why don't people demand better fresher non-frankenstein food? I mean hot dog, fries and onion rings...good for a friday happy hour once a month, but every day? It should be a venue where you can get healthy, or at least non-processed food. SMH.

I try to set obtainable goals. At this point if I ordered fries, hot dogs, and onion rings - and they had all three in stock - that's a win.

They have plenty of salads listed on the menu. Healthy and fresh. The question is are they in stock?. We don't want the Nazi police telling us what we can orcannot eat

LL_ said:
The question is are they in stock?. We don't want the Nazi police telling us what we can orcannot eat

(A) Didn't you mean the Food Police? My pal Dr. Foodnazi might take umbrage...

-s.

BTW: (2)

I had only two experiences with the concession stand this year...One as related by Bets the other by Marylago. Both times I had visitors for whom I paid a hefty entrance fee. The first time, we wanted funnel cake -- no go-- howzabout chips we said (displayed as choice of chips) only Fritos -- no go -- Lime slushie--no dice, Good Humor Scribble--nope. We asked for 5 things and they only had one!

The next time again I had guests. No hot food they announced after we stood on line in 90+ degree weather for at least 10 minutes. How about a root beer float which was prominently advertised. No - we don't have that. I ordered three bags of $1.00 per bag chips, got two bags for a $1.50 each 'cause they were bigger bags. No mention of this on the board and quite frankly I can't imagine how the bag I got could be any smaller and not be properly served only to a Smurf. I can't even remember what else we ordered that they were out of. What a f'ing bummer.

This concession has to get with the program or get out. They have four weeks to change.

TarheelsInNj said:
But I'm trying to give up Diet Coke which is a big bummer

Let's form a support group.

Perhaps the town needs to revise its RFP to include some minimum service levels.