Summer job at McAlister's more than a way to earn cash

From slicing lemons for the restaurant's popular tea to arranging chairs, potato chips and cookies, to seeing that every table is clean and stocked with salt and six types of sweeteners, Melissa Crawley does just about everything at McAlister's.

"I have to make sure everything in the store is perfect," said Crawley, 20, who is in her second summer working for the Summerville deli. A political science major at Winthrop University, Crawley will return to classes this fall. She likes the job.

"The best thing is the people I work with are very friendly and so are the customers," she said.

Crawley said her summer job search was a short one last year because McAlister's hired her right away. She said she returned to the restaurant this summer to be with co-workers and customers who have become friends.

A Summerville High graduate, she will be a junior at Winthrop. Previous jobs include working at a bridal store and as a secretary at Newington Elementary School. She said working at McAlister's keeps her in touch with townsfolk, including former teachers and classmates.

"One of the cool things is I see people I don't keep in contact with," Crawley said.

In McAlister's tradition, newbies are assigned to bake cookies. It was very hot around the ovens, she said. "I had to bake cookies two days in a row and I hated it.

Crawley also works the cash register and delivers drinks and food to tables. She said the restaurant is busy at midday Monday through Friday but the busiest time is after church on Sundays.

"It gets more interesting when customers come in, but being busy makes the time go faster," she said.

Her goal is to make sure glasses get refilled before customers have to ask and to clear empty tables immediately. "Customer service is very important here. If there's ever a problem, we fix it quickly," she said.

Like restaurants nationwide, the deli eliminated sliced tomatoes from sandwiches because of salmonella concerns. Some customers are disappointed, she said.

"Some make the joke that they wish they had brought their own."

Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 745-5865.