JCI-James Coney Island (Webster) — Restaurant in Webster

My first visit to this location on our national holiday July 4th, 2019. Everyone has a favorite JCI location and this location was chosen only as a matter of convenience for myself, due to my need to visit nearby Hobby Lobby. The place of choice for my Independence Day meal of choice for their original Coney Island dogs. This day had the popular 10 for $10 special for today with no limit in place. A good deal if you can steer away from the upgrade of choice which is cheese. Cheese is only a preference of some foodie types of people out here in Houston area. But, Not all the people here, wish for it in their daily diet. The one sign on their counter was the only one I saw advertising this special at this location. And Within the small sign was a small red star with the inclusion of $13 if you want cheese. So “All the Way” here means without cheese, if you wish for your total bill to be $10.83 (tax included). I saw one older male question the cashier with a raised voice about his total. I did also hear another male order extra onions for total of $10.83. I requested No upgrade, because I had shredded cheese already at my home, nearby in Houston. Since the onions have always been minced as a small portion per dog, the company figures they can eat that minor cost, in order to please a potential customer to visit their restaurant, instead of visiting any of the many other choices for restaurants, open on today.

Well the month of July is the JCI power month for Houstonians alike! Besides today’s special, there is the National Hot Dog Day which is on Wednesday, July 17th. You will receive a free original coney dog if you are one of the first 96 customers per transaction. And for the third Thursday each month from May through September. This July is on the 18th, for the 96 cent original Coney Island dogs, in celebration of 96 years in Texas business.

The reason for todays three stars. The drive through was closed off with a paper Sorry for the inconvenience Sign taped to a pylon. This forced the many visitors here, to seek parking outside the restaurant parking area, with only a limited restaurant parking lot available here for their customers. So their customers were detoured through a congested parking lot to look for parking in nearby businesses, with their very limited spaces available for their own customers. This may have been planned because management could not find the required amount of employees to work the busy restaurant, on our nation’s holiday. My other reason for the shortage of stars is because once detoured inside, management only assigned two of the three available cash registers with two young women. One of the managers should have been on that third register, instead of with the prep crew. At least it appeared as there were two of them there with the crew in the prep area

Thank goodness a 75 year old man started up an interesting conversation with me that covered the grounds of our favorite JCI locations in Houston and these periodic scheduled JCI specials. And replaying our experiences with our own high schools in the Houston area and also about our own football dreams and failures and then last but not least, the topic of 60s family TV staple of Bonanza and Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright. Today is about as American as one could wish for with Bonanza as a center of discussion in...

Horrific experience, the Manager at this location actually argued with me over 'Cheese'... He said, I asked for original Coney's and they don't come with cheese.

When I discovered there was no cheese on my Coney's, I drove thru again and asked for cheese, instead of being courteous and charging me for the cheese, the manager who was there at the window, was waiting for 'Conflict' with a customer (me), as there were no other cars in the line for the drive-thru, which makes sense with the terrible customer service, and was 'waiting' to argue before I even asked what I needed, (I'm confident he does this to other customers) the "Manager" argued with me over cheese...Why argue with a customer over adding cheese, it makes no sense, aren't they there to help their customers so they come back to your restaurant...I will never go back there because I shouldn't be mistreated for ordering food that I am paying for, no wonder why businesses are closing, no one wants to pay to be treated like 'garbage!' James Coney Island, your manager is not a person of integrity, and doesn't care about customer service, I think you should be aware, any manager who argues with a customer is 'Bad...

Terrible service, expect to wait a long time to place your order. Used to be great, not anymore. Mediocre food for the price.

JCI has been here for a long time now, I've been going since before they added the "grill". Honestly, they started to go downhill a while before that. Their menu used to be affordable and simple, you go to JCI to get good hot dogs. Not anymore. Oddly, the menu now focuses on burgers and other grilled items rather than hot dogs, which were good.

Frankly, the most insulting, yet consistent thing is that it takes forever to place your order at the counter. Not trying to exaggerate here, but one time I started a timer on my phone, and waited 10 minutes (standing at an empty counter trying to get their attention) before I walked out. It's was not crowded, not inside or at the drive through. The staff will acknowledge you, and then never come over.

Sadly, I miss this spot, and would love for things to turn around. Now, I'd rather go anywhere else to get a hot dog.

On a lesser note... Why did they get rid of the "Houstonian combo". They were literally founded in Houston, wouldn't hurt to keep a bit...