First Appeared in the Barrie Advance
Oct 01, 2000

The Magic of Rick Walker

About five years ago Rick and Linda Walker bought a window with a shelf in it, a stove and a fridge and some opportunity. What they purchased was a tiny cafe, tucked in between halls 1 and 2 at 80 Bradford St. What they've done is transformed this tiny cafe into a culinary heart of a building that's full of non profit organizations doing good work all over Barrie.

Rick and "Lindy" (their cafe is called Lindy's) continue to develop their enterprise... they've added tables, taken on more space, increased their menu, introduced newspaper sales, and a cash machine. Every time I stop by for a "quickie" (that's Rick's answer to breakfast...kaiser bun with egg, cheese and bacon) there's something new.

Rick and Linda virtually live their business. They hold Christmas dinner at Lindy's for everyone in the building who works a night shift near Christmas. They have buffet lunches to beat the band. In the time they've been operating their little cafe, they've endeared themselves to everyone at Barrie by the Bay.

But, here's the best part.

I was lined up this week, ordering a sandwich for myself as I did a late night work stint, and Rick gestured to a young woman who was wheeling off from her place at the table and headed down the hall. She braked to toss a bottle in the recycling bin and Rick's arms moved quickly. She laughed and moved her arms back. My face contorted into a question mark, I guess, because Rick responded: "that's sign language for 'see you later, baby!'"

"You know sign language?" I asked.

"Yup. Do now." And then Rick explained that often his customers at Lindy's are hearing impaired, clients of the Huronia Hearing Impaired Society that's in 80 Bradford and headed up by Peggy Norton Harris. Rick said he felt terrible when people would approach him at the cafe, and had to point, and gesture, and draw in order to place their food order. And he felt really rude to have to grunt back, and smile aimlessly and hope they understood.

So, like the young woman in the wheel chair, Rick toodled off to take sign language classes. He quickly closed his mouth, opened his hands and arms and told me he's been in Barrie six years, and has been in the food service business all his life. He asked if I wanted my coffee with cream or sugar. He asked about toast. About sandwiches, and soft drinks, and soup.

He's very conversant with his hands, fingers and arms. And, the first hearing impaired customer who received the results of his training broke into a wide grin, said Rick. Now all his hearing impaired customers are delighted to have a food service facility that offers terrific food, terrific service and the ability to communicate effectively.

I paid closer attention to Rick after he handed me my sandwich. I listened to him connect to the next customer, ask about their day and whether they'd had a shift change.

What a lesson in looking beyond yourself. What a lesson in customer service!

Thanks, Rick!

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