When we got to the counter at the Cold Stone Creamery, we asked for a large chocolate malted milk shake. Suddenly, the staff broke out in song, belting out "We're the Cold Stone Cream-er-ee!" to the tune of the Addams Family theme. More frightened than we ever were when watching the TV classic, we bolted out the front door as soon as we'd paid and quickly drove away.
Then we started in on our milk shake. The straw collapsed from fruitless suction, clogged more than our arteries were soon to be. We set the cup down and turned on the radio. 98 Rock. Mickey and Amelia were on vacation, so the station was broadcasting from its archives an interview with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley from Kiss, who were talking about a coffee shop they were opening in Myrtle Beach, S.C. As serendipity would have it, Simmons explained what we'd just witnessed. The servers at Cold Stone Creamery, he said, sing when tipped, and that's what his baristas would do at the Kiss Coffeehouse, except they'd sing Kiss songs.
Ah-hah! We put straw to mouth again, and suddenly our overthick milk shake started to flow. And it was good. Very good.
Much as the hokey Cold Stone corporate culture gives us a rash, we have to admit, the milk shakes rock.
