Tonight on the home stretch of our laborious daily commute back from Nashville, Ian and I drove past the building where Toot’s South has been readying itself to become my new favorite hell-yeah-I-can-walk-there-and-back hangout, or so I like to believe. Anyway, every night Ian and I drive by it, and every night we shake our fists toward the brick and mortar and mutter “FASTER! BUILD FASTER, TOOT’S!!”
Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to be one of the first to inform you that Toot’s South is, indeed, open for business.
Now, you can’t live in Murfreesboro and not like Toot’s. It’s just not possible. I am not even that big of a fan of their food (sorry, guys, but you kind of leave us vegetarians out to dry), but the atmosphere, cost and beer specials are what get me. And now it can get me about a block away.
I also want to point out that Toot’s Murfreesboro and Toot’s Smyrna have an excellent social media person behind the wheel. I’m guessing it’s the same person, as the online voice is nearly identical, but whoever is doing it is good. And not good in an “I read a Chris Brogan book last week,” but good in a “We want to get our customers excited about eating at Toot’s so we’re going to have fun and be playful but not in a calculated, smarmy way that creeps people out” kind of way.
So take note, corporate social media dudes: Toot’s is tearing your ass up. They not only follow people on Twitter, they actually respond to their tweets. And they retweet people. They pay attention to what’s going on in the community. And they have fun with their Facebook page. It’s not just regurgitated content (easier for them, admittedly, as they don’t have a blog on their corporate website to regurgitate anyway); it’s original, engaging content with trivia and lunch specials and—gasp—conversation!
And you might think Twitter and Facebook are lame or unimportant—but you’re wrong. Because their customers are on there. And I’ve lived in Murfreesboro for nearly 13 years, so of course I’m going to go to Toot’s. But now that there’s one a block from my house? And I can communicate with them on Twitter and Facebook?
My ass is gonna be there allll the time. And so will my beer- and chicken-finger-basket-loving husband. And our friends down the block. And whoever I can get to come party with me for my birthday.
Next up, though, Toot’s… we’ve gotta talk about getting a veggie burger on that menu. I love y’all, but I can’t eat grilled cheese three days a week.
