North Fort Myers Chamber to host celebrity waiter event Tuesday
Imagine Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman serving you a salad, then charging you a dollar because you don’t have a salad fork.
Imagine no more. But don’t worry, it isn’t like he – or any of the other “celebrities” waiting tables – is going through tough times.
On Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 11:30 a.m., more than 20 area notables from business and politics will serve the good eats as the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce holds its Celebrity Waiter event at the Faith Assembly of God Church at 7101 Bayshore Road, the same place where the event has been held in the past.
Jeffrey Houfek, president of the chamber, said he brought back the event after an absence of a few years as a way to raise money for the chamber and its foundation, which provides college scholarships for high school seniors who live in North Fort Myers.
“We hope to have 23 waiters, with eight people at each table. The waiters will serve lunch and have a lot of fun raising money,” Houfek said. “We hope to raise a few thousand dollars for the chamber and the foundation.”
The slots are almost filled, with 19 having signed up. Among them are Hamman, Jeanne Dozier of the Lee County Public School board, State Rep. Matt Caldwell, former chamber president Al Giacalone, honorary mayor Doug Dailey and Houfek, among others.
The waiters’ jobs are to raise as much money as possible by doing unwaiterly things such as sing and play tricks on people.
They will also charge customers extra for items they need, or if they want the waiter to sing Happy Birthday to someone at the table, with the money going to the chamber.
“The waiter is a comedian, having a little fun with their friends, who all bring their own table, so they’re having fun with their friends and family,” Houfek said. “We have 30 or so open seats, so if you wanted to sit at Hamman’s table, there are seats open.”
The event will also feature a silent auction, with items such as trips to Key West and the Broadway Palm Theater and golf packages, among other things.
Tickets are $25, but be sure to bring some extra money for the waiters. Call the chamber at 997-9111.