Dairy Queen employees earn New Year’s bonus

Zack Smith, son of Chrissy and Ray Smith, and his grandmother, Rae Domokur, volunteered their time to help the Cornersburg Dairy Queen employees during Customer Appreciation Day and Employee Appreciation Day Jan. 1.

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Cornersburg Dairy Queen employees, and owner Chrissy Smith (back left), celebrated the start of the new year with Customer Appreciation Day and Employee Appreciation Day Jan. 1. Everything on the menu was half price, which the customers enjoyed, and the employees got to keep the money the store brought in that day.

It pays to work at the Cornersburg Dairy Queen, but for employees of the store, it really paid off Jan. 1.

As a bonus for working so hard throughout the last year, owners Chrissy and Ray Smith offered their employees the chance to split the proceeds from that day.

For the past eight years, the Smiths have held a combined celebration of Customer Appreciation Day and Employee Appreciation Day where everyone benefits.

Everything on the menu is half price, which the customers enjoy, and the employees get to keep the money the store brings in that day.

“We like to start the new year off right and thank our loyal customers and, at the same time, reward our dedicated employees. Everything in the store is half price all day long. This includes cake, quarts, dilly bars — everything. This is our busiest day of the year. Yes, even busier than any day in the summer,” said Chrissy.

The lines are out the door most of the day and the employees are prepared for the rush. Among the 12 employees who worked Jan. 1 were Matt Sweely, of Austintown, and Allison Ben, of Canfield.

“It is a hectic day, but it is worth it. It is constantly busy, but we take home a lot of money for one day’s work,” Sweely, who has worked the celebration for five years.

According to Ben, who was working her third celebration, the day is rewarding in the end.

“It is a fun day and we do make lots of money. It is stressful to prepare, but I like the craziness of the day. We keep busy and have fun and it is rewarding in the end,” Ben said.

Also helping out at the store Jan. 1 was Smith’s family. Son Zack and Chrissy’s mother, Rae Domokur, volunteered their time to help the employees.

“Generally, each employee makes over $400 in a days work. They must work open to close, approximately 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They do not get paid by the hour that day. It is their bonus for working so hard all of last season,” Smith said.

The Cornersburg Dairy Queen has also expanded its half-off promotion to every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 330-799-5295.

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