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Mundelein Culver’s employee ‘stunned’ by viral Facebook thank-you
Chris Searles, manager Culver's in Mundelein, Libertyville and Grayslake, said he was stunned by a man's viral Facebook, which thanked Searles for helping a special-needs customer. | Special to Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 26, 2013 2:02PM
As Chris Searles drove to work at the Mundelein Culver’s on Friday, he said his phone started “going crazy.”
“People kept texting or calling and saying ‘Do you know there is something about you on Facebook?,’” said Searles, who co-owns the Libertyville Culver’s location and runs the Mundelein and Grayslake locations.
Searles doesn’t keep a social media profile, so he was unaware that Round Lake resident Dan Foecking had snapped a photo of him behind the Mundelien Culver’s cash register and speaking with a customer, then posted an essay titled “Great Customer Service.”
Within 12 hours, nearly 40,000 people had “liked” the Facebook post and more than 6,000 had shared it with friends. Foecking’s essay said:
“I took this picture at Culver’s in Mundelein and I hope this employee doesn’t mind that I post this, but I wanted to share an awesome story. The customer he is speaking with is a special needs man, and I watched and listened from my booth as he patiently and politely spent about 15 minutes answering all of his questions. He asked about the menu, prices, and even this employee even went as far as to retrieve a detailed menu so that he could explain some of the nutritional facts.
“This employee could not have been more polite and at no time appeared rushed, even though other customers were waiting in line. I wish I could have gotten his name, but he was not wearing a name tag. I did go on to the Culver’s website and left my comments, so I hope he gets the recognition he definitely deserves. Sir, I tip my hat to you and pray more people follow your lead in life. Thank you. Feel free to share this, maybe it will make its way back to this employee!”
Thanks to the Internet, the two men did connect quickly and Searles said he was humbled by the post and stunned by the response.
“I grew up doing this and, to me, I wasn’t doing anything special,” Searles said. “It’s nice to know doing what we normally do can make a big impact to some people.”
Searles has worked for the company for 14 years, starting at the bottom and working his way up to co-owner and manager.
Foecking said he believes his post went viral because “it’s just the kind of story that makes you feel good inside,” adding that he hopes it’s popularity will continue a bit longer.
“I wanted everyone to feel the way I felt when I watched it play out in front of me,” he said.
