12/01/2013   English German
  Edition # 104  
San Francisco, 12-01-2013

Americans like to line up
Figure [1]: There's an ice cream store near Dolores park where people line up around the block every day.

Michael If you've been reading this publication for a while, you probably already know that lining up in single file is a long standing American tradition, even if there's no barrier that demands it, for example at a bus stop (Rundbrief 03/2011). What's more, since 2011, readers should be aware that it is normal for Bay Area citizens to wait for 20 minutes sitting in their cars with the engine idling for their turn at the cheap Costco gas station. Meanwhile, I've come to realize that often times people around here are lining up simply because there's already a line of people waiting for something. They seem to be reasoning that a store that has so many people waiting already, must be selling something so exquisite that it's well worth the wait, and people excitedly join the line.

For instance, there's this ice cream store in our neighborhood, at the corner of 18th and Dolores Streets, right by Dolores Park, named "Bi-Rite Creamery". They're selling scoops of ice cream on waffle cones. Every time I stop at this intersection, there's at least 50 people waiting at the door to the store, and often the line winds around the corner onto Dolores Street. Do the math: We already know that the average American can't possibly choose an item, order and pay for it in under a minute. Multiply that by 50 and realize that the last person in line will be waiting for almost an hour before they can place their order! Maybe they're waiting because they're hoping to meet and chat with other hipsters in line, what do I know?

But what's most fascinating is that there's no complaints if the queue is moving like molasses, especially if you know how pushy Americans can get if the waiter in a restaurant doesn't come to the table immediatly after a party gets seated. All bets are off, as it seems, if people volunteer to line up, which still boggles my mind, and I've been living in the U.S. for 17 years.

Figure [2]: No doubt the "Tartine" offers top-notch bread, but certainly I wouldn't line up and wait 30 minutes for it.

Figure [3]: Shoppers lining up for the "Coach Factory" store at the Premium Outlets center, until a bouncer lets them in.

I'm sorry to say that I can't really tell you if the ice cream sold at "Bi-Rite Creamery" holds up to the hype, because I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick than joining the line there. But I'm assuming, it's pretty good, like at many places in the area. Or, let's take a look at "Tartine" bakery on Guerrero Street, also withing walking distance from our place. It would be very surprising to not see a line of at least 20 people waiting there, often spilling out onto the sidewalk. Fine, I'll admit, their fare is very well made, but the Danish Andersen bakery with several locations in San Francisco and surrounding suburbs produces comparable goods, and you get what you want right away, as there's hardly any long lines there. And if you've ever enjoyed one of there excellent almond croissants, you'll only chuckle about Tartine.

Figure [4]: Jeans sold at the "True Religion" outlet store at 40% off draw a huge crowd.

Figure [5]: The environmentally concious supermarket "Rainbow" of all places is a drawing a huge crowd of pseudo-hippies waiting in cars with idling engines.

And there's another reason for long lines of cars around here: Americans prefer waiting in their idling cars for ten minutes to get a parking spot directly in front of the supermarket instead of parking around the corner and walking a minute on foot. This is evident at the alternative eco grocery store "Rainbow" in San Francisco of all places, where, on Saturday afternoons, there's always a line of about 10 cars with activated turn signals waiting on 13th street for the parking assistant to let one more car onto the Rainbow parking lot after another Rainbow customer has driven off. It seems to me that these people have either amazing music playing on their car stereos or they're listening to exciting audio books, which would explain why they're not simply driving around the block to park there and walk about a hundred feet. Maybe it's better this way, though, because otherwise I'd find no parking when I'm shopping at Rainbow!

Impatient greetings:

Angelika & Michael

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