Sherman Hambright has been a server at Golden Corral at Hamilton Place for 14 years, though he has been working in Chattanooga’s service industry for 33 years. Within that time, Sherman has amassed many loyal customers.
“People talk about being in the ‘100 club.’ That means you know the names of 100 customers,” Sherman told me, when we recently sat down to discuss his long career. “Well, I’ve exceeded 1,000 names. I’ll never stop pushing that number.”
Dressed in crisp white shirt sleeves and pinned with a bevy of colorful buttons, Sherman seemed to know all the diners around us. He nodded out the window to an older gentleman shuffling his way through the parking lot.
“Here comes Mr. Bailey,” he told me.
GOLDEN CORRAL
Address: 1808 Gunbarrel Road and 350 Stuart Road NE in Cleveland, Tenn. Hours: Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Phone: 423-894-3337 for Gunbarrel Road location and 423-473- 1662 for Cleveland location
Sherman said he is blessed with a crystal-clear memory, which makes it easy for him to know not only his customers’ names but also their orders. Meanwhile, said Sherman, he is best known for his catch phrase.
“‘I love you, Lord!’ That is my quote,” said Sherman. “I’m constantly saying it. It’s a great stress reliever. Well, now my co-workers have started saying it, and my guests say it back to me too.”
He says his favorite part of coming to work is that there is never a dull moment, and that is, in part,
because Sherman believes in celebrating every minute of every day.
“Instead of waiting for this to happen or that to happen, just enjoy the journey,” said Sherman. “I never tell people I’m off the clock. I never let people feel they are an inconvenience.”
After all, he said, there is much more to his career than refilling the buffet.
“We are family here,” he said.