Arby's celebrates Zantow's retirement
—Courtesy photo Sandpoint Arby's supervisors Andrea Cain, Lolisa Kuewa, and Kayla DePhilipis, pose with restaurant manager Alena Zantow. A celebration for Zantow, who is retiring at the end of the week, will be held between noon-2 p.m. on Saturday.
Alena Zantow, manager of Arby's Restaurant, retires Saturday, April 2, after 22 years of employment.
Alena started with Arby's in August 1994 as a crew member, was quickly promoted to manager and has been in charge of employees and daily operations since.
Zantow has worked with over 725 Arby's crew members since 1994, not simply as manager, but also as friend, confidant, surrogate mother and firm disciplinarian and has dealt with restaurant challenges and teenage dramas on a daily basis, said owners Pierre and Denise Huguenin.
Zantow worked with her daughters, Stacy Johnson and Joey Levesque; grandson Ryan Johnson; and other Fournier and Zantow relatives during her tenure as manager. Alena's daughter, Stacy Johnson, will take over as Arby's new manager.
A lifetime resident of Bonner County, Zantow not only personally knew many of her customers, but also made many new acquaintances through the years.
Zantow used the past 22 years to teach her crew members how to work: to clean, to count money, to be responsible, and to have great customer service skills. She was proud of her “kids” when they mastered a new skill, and often gave them “just one more chance” to become great employees.
Arby's and Pierre and Denise Huguenin are celebrating Zantow's retirement on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at Arby's, 420 Fifth Ave. Former crewmembers, Arby's guests, friends and family are invited to stop in and visit with Zantow.