In an age of food pop-ups and changing culinary trends that everyone wants to keep up with, there are still people who remain loyal to their local diners. For a World War II veteran , 97-year-old Doug Parker, an Arby’s restaurant in Chandler, Arizona became his go-to spot for lunch. He lived in a retirement home nearby and had established a special bond with the restaurant staff. After 3 years of loyalty, the eatery decided to offer their beloved customer a lifetime supply of his favorite sandwich.
Finding a Whole New Family
The manager at the restaurant, Christina Gamage shared that she started working at the location near Queen Creek and Alma School Roads around 2015, shortly before Doug started showing up. She told Fox10 Phoenix that he sat at the same table and ate the same meal, a roast beef slider with Swiss cheese and a senior drink (Coke with no ice), every day for two-and-a-half years.
When he was asked why he kept coming back to the Arby’s location, Doug said that it was the only place where he could get a sandwich that didn’t hurt his stomach. Gamage shared that the veteran suffered from a stomach disorder and had no family to take care of him.