May 21, 2001
50-year career at Wyme's comes to an end
By Greta Hale
Staff Writer
His coworkers at Wyme's call him the old man, Pops, Zig or Ziggy. When he started his job, lunches cost only 35 cents.
Now, a special at Wyme's costs $5.10.
Jim Zirger, 37 Sycamore St., started working at Wyme's restaurant on Washington Street 50 years ago, on May 19, 1951. His last day of work was Saturday. He also worked at Wyme's when it was located at 6 Sycamore St., across the street from its current location and named The Service Lunch.
At 79, Zirger was still waiting tables.
He started working at The Service Lunch in 1946 after he got out of the Navy, in which he served during World War II. He continued working at the restaurant nights, days off and weekends while he was a full-time mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.
Zirger is older than the current owner, Lee Weimerskirch. He has worked with four generations of Weimerskirches.
He worked at Wyme's so long because he "felt like one of the family," he said. He also likes meeting the public and waiting on people. The extra income helped him raise five children, he said. The location was also convenient and he walked to work for 44 years.
His coworkers call him a dedicated worker and a fun person.
"He always makes you laugh," said Carol Griffin, who has worked with Zirger as a waitress for 29 years. "He'll come up and run right into me on purpose. He's goofy, to tell you the truth."
His practical jokes even extend to hospital visits.
Zirger takes dead flowers from the graveyard to give his friends when they are in the hospital, Griffin said.
"He always told us 'if he picks on ya, he likes ya,'" Griffin said.
Despite his funny antics, Zirger is supportive of his coworkers in their times of need.
"He is like a dad to me," said Harvey Mizen, who has worked as a food preparation cook at Wyme's for 22 years.
Zirger was there for Mizen when Mizen's wife died a year ago. "He's somebody you could tell your troubles to," Griffin said.
Besides being a supportive coworker, Zirger caters to the customers, his coworkers said.
"He goes out of his way to make sure they have exactly what they want," said Jenny Smith, who has been a cook at Wymie's for seven years and cooks the homemade soups and pies.
"Just to steal a line from Will Rogers, 'I never met a man I didn't like,' well, I never met a customer I didn't like," Zirger said. "But, there were a few that I wasn't real fond of."
One couple comes from Columbus to watch Heidelberg games and stops to talk to Zirger when they are in town, Griffin said.
Zirger worked on Thursdays and Fridays, but he visited the restaurant daily.
"He comes in every morning for coffee and just to shoot the breeze with the boys and give them the devil," Smith said.
Zirger said he will be going to Wyme's every morning for coffee as long as he can walk.
"If he retires, he's still going to be here hanging out," said Belinda Mason, who is the waitress who has worked at Wyme's the shortest, at four years.
"It's kind of a nostalgic and sad time because he's always done this since any of us were born," said Deb Zirger, his daughter.
"It was always his dream to own a restaurant," she said
Zirger is healthy for his age and gets around well, Mason said.
"I think it's what keeps him young," Smith said.
However, the reason Zirger is leaving is because his right knee and feet hurt him a little.
"I told the owner Lee for my pension plan ... I get coffee free there for the rest of my life," Zirger said