Home away from home. (L to R) Michael Massey, Alex Ciaramitaro, & Jordan Girardin (Photo Credit: Kaitlynn Pierce)

Alex Ciaramitaro just graduated High School, and like many of us who've just received our diploma, what to do with it and the future seemed unclear.  So what did Alex do the day after he removed his cap & gown?  He started Waffle House Wednesdays!  Looks like we have an entrepreneur on our hands....  This week Andy from Retro Brand talks briefly with Alex and what Waffle House Wednesday is all about.

Andy:  Let's get right to it Alex - What exactly is Waffle House Wednesday, and what prompted you to start it up the day after High School graduation?

Alex:  Simply put, Waffle House Wednesday is a weekly get together for friends who want to socialize, meet new people, and have a pretty good time all the while enjoying the food and friendly staff at our local Waffle House in Columbia, Tennessee.

Getting this off the ground the day after graduation had much more to do with finding a place to hang out that was open in our town on a Wednesday night, then a well thought out calculated plan.

Andy:  Can you give us some details about the original "hang out" and how Waffle House Wednesday has grown?

Alex:  Everything in our town was basically closed that night and one of my friends brought up that Waffle House is always open, so we decided to go there and hang out.  They had a juke box in there, and the four of us listened to tunes, hung out, had some classic Waffle house food and enjoyed each others company.  I suggested to the others that this would be a good place to try and meet every Wednesday and that we should try and get the word out.  I received a unanimous "That would be cool," and decided I would post on my Facebook page and see what response it would bring.

Andy:  Did you get the response you were looking for?

Alex:  The first week we had about a dozen people show up - not bad.  The following week there were 14, then 18, then 22, then 30.  The biggest crowd we've had was 34 people.  We're glad that it was able to catch on and is now something everybody looks forward to.

Boston Strong.

Andy:  I'm sure the folks at Waffle House like it too!  What does a group of High School & College kids do on a weekly basis to keep things interesting?

Alex:  Ah, yes, the Management and staff at the Waffle House do support us 100% and are really super friendly.  We're a pretty respectable bunch and there's no drinking or rowdiness or anything like that.

We've been able to keep things interesting by having a different theme to "dress up" for every week and I started a Waffle House Wednesday Facebook page to help promote.  For holidays like Halloween and Christmas, it's a given we'll all dress up appropriately, but recently we're trying to keep in step with current events.  For example, with the recent Boston Marathon bombings we decided to honor them a few weeks ago.  We wore Red, White, & Blue and some people wore Red Sox & Patriots gear.  We also sell Waffle House coupons in which the proceeds will go to a local 4 year old boy in Columbia who has cancer.  Then the week after Boston, we played out a similar scenario but with a "Texas" theme to show support for the victims of the recent chemical plant explosion.  Happily, last week our theme was more about limo's & prom night.

Andy:  That is really fantastic and thoughtful to show support, and also raising funds for a young boy with cancer is so commendable, Alex.  Kudos.  Speaking of Limo's, I noticed you behind the wheel of what appeared to be a Waffle House Limo of sorts on your Facebook page.  An RV?  What's up with that?

Alex:  This may seem strange, but our town has an annual Mule Day parade (about 1,000 Mules are in the parade!) and all of the local businesses get involved and it's a pretty major event.  The Waffle House management asked if our group would like to ride the Waffle House float and we obliged.  They rolled in this huge RV wrapped like a Waffle House restaurant and I got to sit behind the wheel.  Not a limo, but pretty cool none the less.

A driving force. Alex at the Waffle House wheel.

Andy:  That's not strange, that's awesome.  And thanks for spending a little time with us today and continued success with Waffle House Wednesday.   You can add Atlanta, Ga., to the growing WHW family along with the Phoenix and Colorado chapters, although I think we're going to keep our weekly theme to "Three old buddies enjoying the best coffee and breakfast in the world every Wednesday morning at Waffle House."

"Three Old buddies" Atlanta Waffle House Wednesday Charter members Steve, Andy, & Tom.

We encourage you to start your own version of Waffle House Wednesday and share your stories & photo's with us & Alex and his friends at WHW.

The Heavy Metal Bible has arrived.

Retro Brand has recently added 72 new classic Rock N' Roll poster art t-shirts to their ever growing Rock N' Roll "Roots of Rock" collection, including Heavy Metal bands like Motorhead and Spinal Tap to name a few (yes, "this one goes to 11" Spinal Tap).  Of course there is no Rock N' Roll tree without Heavy Metal roots, and that is why Andy recently called upon Heavy Metal connoisseur & Retro Brand fan & longtime friend, Howie Abrams, to talk about his sensational new book which is causing a buzz in the industry - "The Merciless Book of Metal Lists"

Andy:  This is AMAZING, Howie.  I thought you were a big time band Manager and now you're writing books?  Tell us how all this came about...

Howie:  Not quite a big time band manager Andy, but thanks for the thought.  After spending some 25 years as an A&R person in the music business (Artist & Repertoire- discovers & nurtures talent), and enjoying some nice success, it became apparent that the industry was crumbling and I needed to make a change, so I turned my attention to writing.   And the book you mentioned above,"The Merciless Book of Metal Lists," is my first, and was released this past April 9th.  It's a wacky-ass collection of irreverent, yet (mostly) factual lists pertaining to Heavy Metal, which I grew up on and adore.  Some pretty big deal members of bands such as Slayer, Pantera, Anthrax, Exodus and many more offered-up some great contributions to the book and I'm very proud of it.

Andy:  I know you're a very creative and passionate guy when it comes to your metal, so writing about the music seems tailor made for you.  I also know the book is kicking ass too, so congratulations & you should be proud!   When it comes to sports, your just as passionate if my memory serves me correctly.  Last time I saw you in my old sports shop in Atlanta, you had brought in the guys from the band "Bowling for Soup, " and while they were shopping around, I vividly remember you going nuts over the Retro Brand Negro League gear.

Howie:  That sounds about right.  As much as I love music and pop culture, I have always been a sports nut.  Being a born-and-bred New Yorker, my teams are the Mets, Jets, Knicks and Rangers.  As you mentioned, I am also fascinated by the history of Negro League baseball.

The author in his Pretenders shirt outside his second home - The Brooklyn Made Tattoo shop

To say I know heartache and disappointment is an understatement, but I always rep my teams with pride, and rock their gear like a badge of honor...no matter their position in the standings.

You know those heartbroken Brooklyn Dodgers fans you read about, whose lives pretty much disintegrated when the team left Brooklyn?  Those were my parents, so the passion is in my blood.  My folks would have my head if I rooted for the Yankees....the enemy!

Andy:  Your Knicks & Rangers are hanging tough and definitely legit...  Mets & Jets not so much.  With Tebow out of New York now, maybe being out of the spotlight will help the Jets?

Negro Leagues history buff.

Howie:  Everyone wants to be in the spotlight.  You know that goes for athletes, as well as musicians.  In fact, I believe secretly (and not necessarily so secretly) athletes want to be musicians and vice versa.  You see so many pro athletes putting out albums these days, and musicians getting themselves invited to training camps.  It's weird.  When Garth Brooks was invited to the Mets Spring Training a few years back, it was cringe-worthy.

Andy:  That was funny, but I though he did pretty good!  I was asking about your beloved Jets anyway, but I digress.  I'm with you 100% on the Athlete-Rock star bit. 

One last question for you, sir.  I see you've picked up some new Retro Brand gear.  We do go back, but when did you get hooked on the Retro Brand swag?

Howie:  I was first introduced to Retro Brand by you at your long-standing retro sports gear shop Distant Replays in Atlanta. You were carrying the line, and as I was a loyal customer, I  just couldn't resist them.  I made it my business to get over to Distant Replays whenever I found myself in the ATL, which was pretty often,  including the weekend of my bachelor party, where 20 or so of my friends and relatives traveled from NYC to see the Mets take 2-out-of-3 from the Braves at Turner Field.  I think I bought 20 or so Retro Brand shirts for the wedding party too!

Andy:  Thanks for buying the shirts.  You had to get the jab in about the Braves, eh?  Merciless.

The Merciless Book of Metal Lists by Howie Abrams and Sacha Jenkins OUT NOW wherever books are sold. You can get yours from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Merciless-Book-Metal-Lists/dp/1419707388

20% OFF All Beer shirts, Mexico Soccer & the NEW Aztecas Dorados Football shirts to celebrate Cinco De Mayo!

Use code MAYO at checkout. Offer ends tomorrow night at midnight (5/5/13). Shop now-->http://bit.ly/May20RB

Offer ends Sunday night, 5/5/13 at midnight!

What is Z-Life?  At first glance it appears to be an ultra-hip & trendy Men's boutique that has the very best in denim, accessories and kicks, but when you look a little deeper, you quickly see it's much, much, more than that.   As the Retro Brand Retailer of the Month for May, I take that closer look in my interview with the man who puts the Zing in the Z-Life Denim Lounge, owner Adam Zuckerman.

Adam in his comfort zone.

Andy:  I love the wide selection of jeans & accessories in Z-Life, but it's the Lemon Heads and Fireballs that caught my eye.  What's up with that?

Adam:  I am an old school guy who simply wanted to have an environment in the store that would make my customers comfortable.  Having several candy jars filled with favorites from your childhood immediately gives the customer a feeling that they're in a happy place and makes the shopping experience that much more enjoyable.  More importantly, the kids love it.  We also have games for the kids to play with while their parents browse.

Andy:  Can I say brilliant?  What other nuances do you feel add to the Z-Life experience that make it stand out from other Mens boutiques?

Adam:  As people who have become regulars in the community would tell you, while I have a very low pressure sales approach, I have a very aggressive relationship approach.   In the five years we've been here, I've had the pleasure of seeing kids grow through their High School years and head off to college.  By getting to know so many families personally, I know what school this son or that daughter will be attending, and I make sure to stock my t-shirt shelves with those schools.

That is just one example that shows my customers know that I'm honestly more interested in helping them out & getting to know them and their needs, then simply closing a sale.   Retail is in my blood - It's who I am, and my customers know my dedication and passion.

Andy:  You just don't find that kind of attentiveness enough these days.  I know from my own shopping experiences that fakery and high pressure never work, and I HATE shopping.  The informal poll taken in my head presumes most men feel the way I do.   Am I right?  Since you cater mostly to men (70% Mens apparel 30% Womens), how do you handle the apathy?

Adam:  I'd say your partially right.  I prefer to say that men don't want to shop in a women's store, and women will shop anywhere.  Most men like to shop quickly, get in - get out, but are open to advice and talking about sports.  I'm a huge sports fan so it makes it easy to converse with them (and the women for that matter) whether it's what's currently happening in the world of sports, or more often than not, the good old days.  There is a huge flat screen TV in the store programmed to ESPN most of the time (I'll change to Nickelodeon for the kids, or anything else a customer might want to see) and I have several sports books and magazines that get referenced on a regular basis.  Of course the vintage Retro Brand shirts always get the conversation about sports going, which is one of the things I love about the brand.

Room with a view.

Andy:  So between your one-on-one valuable input, the old school candy, ESPN, and Retro Brand vintage shirts, suddenly shopping isn't so terrible.  Thanks for the compliment too.  What are some of the other things you love about Retro Brand?

Adam:  I promise I'm not saying this just because you're doing a story on Z-Life, but when it comes to buying product for the store, there is nothing more enjoyable then sitting down with Marc (Marc Herman, CEO of Retro Brand) and going through the treasure trove of vintage Retro Brand graphics and talking sports.  So many of the logos and graphics conjure up great sports memories of my time growing up and events that customers my age remember.  Not only do the older customers feel a positive connection with the shirts, but the younger kids are genuinely fascinated to learn what they're about as well.  Retro Brand also allows me to be very timely in the shirts I buy -  from the NCAA Final Four, to spring break, to the Stanley Cup Finals.  Buying mens denim and womens blouses may pay the bills, but not nearly as fun.

Andy:  What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job?

Adam:  As you may have guessed, it's the relationships I've been lucky enough to have fostered over the years.  I truly cherish them.  I've found a comfortable niche in a fantastic community.  Also when I hear a customer say something like "This is a great store!"

Another part of the job that's pretty rewarding is being able to get up every morning and throw on a crisp pair of plaid shorts, a Retro Brand vintage shirt, and my favorite pair of sneakers and head into the store.   That's me.  That's rewarding.

Andy:  That is awesome, and you are awesome for taking the time to speak with me today.  Thank you!

To learn more about Z-Life denim Lounge, you can visit them online here.

We highly recommend stopping in the store if you are ever in the Rye Brooke, NY area.  You know Adam and his staff will treat you right.

138B South Ridge Street.

Rye Brook, New York 10573

store phone:  914-937-5433 (life)

fax:  914-937-5434

Denim all day.

Before you hit the highway for a roadtrip on a crisp, sun drenched Saturday morning on your Harley, you need to get fueled up.  Waffle House fueled up.  That’s exactly what Harley Davidson enthusiasts and friends Stephen Brown, and Rich Nagel did this past weekend when they stopped in the shrine “Under the Yellow Sign” in Cartersville, Ga.

Fueling up the bikes and the bellies. Rich Nagel (L), Stephen Brown (R).

Brown grew up in Chattanooga, TN, and has been a Waffle House regular since he could walk.  He would later return to crawling, as he did in High School on many a late weekend night while seeking the comforts of his nearby Waffle House oasis.  He wears his Retro Brand Waffle House shirt like a badge of honor – as he’s gone Scattered, Smothered & Covered more times than there are miles on his Harley.   That’s a lot of miles, and he’s at it again this morning.

A couple of classics.

Nagel is a west coast guy from San Diego, via Los Angeles, CA, and while he’s definitely become a Waffle House aficionado in the seven years he’s been in the south, it’s the Original Bob’s Big Boy restaurants of Cali that he’s been weaned.  Between bites of his Texas melt with hash browns “all the way,” and looking fresh in a new Bob’s Big Boy shirt, Rich is spinning yarns about how excited with anticipation he’d get when he was a kid, as the Bob’s Big Boy statue would come into view.  On and on he goes about how he used to climb the giant statue holding up the famous original double decker like a chimpanzee, and dangling on the arm for as long as he could.

With the biker buds sufficiently reminisced up, and fully Waffle House fueled up, another perfect American Roadtrip ensued.

One of the Bob’s Big Boy statues where Rich happily dangled from in his youth.

Just click on the colorful image below to get to the Retro Brand website, and use code SPRING20 when you checkout to receive 20% OFF your entire order.  Happy Shopping!