Festival Foods — Attraction in Holmen

A strangers kind gesture made my day today. My Dad's too. Thank you Rose for showing us that iconic Wisconsin friendliness.

My Dad and I stopped in to pick up a few groceries and his birthday cake for this weekend. He decided he'd like to pick out his own this year. It reads "65 and going strong... And NOT retiring!" Much like my Dad, a strong and fun message he had written on his own cake. As we approached the check out I said to him "You know you can't pay for your own birthday cake." Of course he debated. Rose started checking out our groceries and said Happy Birthday to my Dad. After pleasantries I asked Rose to tell him he can't pay for his own birthday cake. She responded with "He's not paying for it. Nope. Today it's on me." Our stunned looks and laughs she continued... "Well, it's on us. Festival. Happy birthday!"

The cheeriness of the gesture has stuck with us today and radiated out into the parking lot. A man about the same age was walking in and said "Did you buy me a birthday cake? Looks good!" That was a perfect opportunity to tell him what just happened in the store. He was surprised and smiling as he walked in the store.

It's not a loaf of bread and we aren't starving, but the joy and friendliness is impactful. Thanks Rose for your gesture and thank you Festival for nurturing this kind of positivity in your staff. We...

Went to check out last night. Cashier wasnt at the lane that was lit up, so i went to the service counter, having only 3 small items and paying cash. I assume the employee leaning on the customer side of the counter in the middle of a story, I think about interpreting a girls snapchat interactions, was the one who was supposed to be on lane 1 or 2, whichever had the light on that I had to walk by. He didnt stop telling his story the entirety of my checkout. The only respite was when a third employee came up and told him he had to watch for customers while they had to be somewhere else or going on break or something. I thought maybe he’d take the hint and go back to where he was obviously supposed to be working, but he just jumped right back into his story. Had I wanted a lotto ticket or whatever else is sold up front, it would have been on me to apologize and cut him off to actually get those things. It was incredibly rude to barely be acknowledged while checking out, and either story time employee should have known when it’s inappropriate, or the service lane employee should have made it known to him. She at least seemed apologetic. He was just a kid, but he needs to learn when to pause so a customer can...

This morning our family were saying our goodbyes to my mom.it was very hard for all my Dad married to her 73 years. I came into Festival Foods To get dinner for thanksgiving,my mom's holiday I called it . I went back to the deli where My love for this store came even stronger. A young lady who was wearing a turkey cap, was more than helpful.i explained All that was going on. I can't believe how everyone was. The put together my food, Walked me to the front counter,bagged my food smiled,talked to me. In general showed me more care and true concern. A moment I will never forget. We shop here because this store cares about it's customers, it is spotless, organized. Today I left feeling more like we were all a family. Thanks for all you showed me, And taking the time to listen,help and simply Comfort.you never know why a person is shopping...