It’s not at all unusual to hear about people who’ve been working for the same company for 20, 30 or more years, especially when we talk about Kodak and Xerox. But working for 40 years at Burger King?
That’s the case for one longtime and very loyal employee at the Burger King on Hard Rd. in Webster. If you’re a regular customer there, you most certainly know Gail, or at least would recognize her, because she’s been serving up Whoppers there — and at Burger King’s previous location on Main Street in the village — for almost 40 years.
Gail began her Burger King career in 1977, shortly after she moved from the city to North Penfield with her husband and three children. It was that year her youngest began kindergarten, and she decided she wanted to get a part-time job to fill the time when her kids were in school.
But why Burger King? Simply because “it was available,” she said. “They had a sign out.” Gail was hired as a cashier, and worked there for 23 years, welcoming customers every morning with a smile and a friendly face.
Clearly, the job was a perfect fit. “I love people,” Gail said. “I like the camaraderie, the customers and the great crew.”
When her husband passed away in 1997, life took a turn and she had to leave her beloved position at Burger King for a full-time job as a housekeeping manager at the Fairfield Inn. She worked there for eight years, then spent some time babysitting her grandchildren, until they, also, were all enrolled in school.
It was time to find a part-time job again. Naturally, her first stop was her old home, Burger King. The restaurant had since moved from its Main Street location to Hard Road, but Jen, the manager who had originally hired her, was still there.
“I told her I wanted to come back,” Gail said. “I asked her, would you hire me part-time? That was 15 years ago and here I am again.”
You’ll see Gail behind the front counter 20 to 25 hours a week, mostly in the mornings. “I like the front counter because there’s more interaction with the customers,” she said. “I have my customers and I know what they want. … I like the customers and I love the crew I work with. … It’s fun.”
I asked Gail if she was planning to hang around for a while. She didn’t even have a chance to answer before her manager yelled from across the dining room, “She’s not going anywhere!”
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It’s worth noting that Gail is not the only staff member at our Webster Burger King who’s been there pretty much forever.
Nicolle Barnhart got her first job at the Main St. restaurant in 1987, right out of high school. She began in the kitchen, moved up to cash register and ultimately became restaurant manager for the Webster store. Aside from being moved around to other locations a few times, in 37 years she’s never left Burger King.
“I never thought I was going to do this for a living,” Nicole said. But, she added, working there is like having “another family.”
Sounds like a pretty cool place to work.
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(posted 3/23/2024)
webster on the web 
I love that place and go every day for a frozen Coke. And, I started going there when it was on Main St.
I’m known as the Coke Icee lady!
I love the crew there…………..great management and employees!
Nice piece, Missy!
Well done & congratulations to both Gail and Nicolle! I tend to think of places like BK as ‘temporary’ jobs filled by high school teens or college kids, but Gail and Nicolle challenge that paradigm. They have elevated this work by their dedication, fortitude, commitment and longevity. And it isn’t simply commitment to their employer, but to the customers and community also.
How often do we see familiar and friendly faces at our favorite restaurants, at the post office, school, place of worship, retail establishment or service business? Do we stop to ponder how long these familiar faces have worked there or do we – and I am often guilty of this – simply assume that they always will be right where they are, and take their friendly, professional and committed service for granted? These two ladies have not found just a job, but a vocation. They have connected with their customers in subtle but profound ways, proving there is no ‘menial work’; all work is meaningful when it is of service and makes someone’s life better or easier. Perhaps they do more than serve burgers; they serve people (eating burgers, fries, etc.) and they connect.
I hope BK (corporate) has the good sense to recognize and celebrate these two gems.
Thanks for shining a light on their work, Missy.
i know exactly who Gail is. Love her. She’s always so friendly.!!!
I love working with these two wonderful women! they make me never want to leave, they showed me what a hard worker truly is.