McDonald’s Veteran Cashier

McDonald’s Veteran Cashier Retires After Over Four Decades

Dot Sharp, an 85-year-old McDonald’s cashier from Pennsylvania, USA, recently retired on January 12 after more than 40 years of service. Joining on September 7, 1978, she has been a witness to the introduction of iconic menu items like the ‘happy meal’ and chicken nuggets during her long tenure. Her final act at the fast-food giant was closing the drive-through window, serving her granddaughter as the last customer.

Reflecting on her retirement, Sharp expressed mixed emotions, stating, “I’m really sad about that because it’s not so much the food, it’s the people. The people that I work with, they were great, they treated me great all these years, and we have the best customers in the world here.”

Sharp, despite starting as a cashier, took on various roles throughout her time at McDonald’s. Beginning in her 30s when the menu consisted of muffins, burgers, and fries, she spent the last nine years at the drive-through window. During her tenure, she witnessed the introduction of the iconic Happy Meal, featuring Hot Wheels and Barbie-themed toys in 1979. Sharp reminisced, “We started the Happy Meal down (at the first location). Whenever they came out with the Barbie and the Hot Wheel ones, people would come in and order 50 Happy Meals at one time.”

Being present during the inception of famous menu items like Chicken McNuggets in 1980, McPizza in 1986, McFlurries in 1995, and McCafe coffee in 2001, Sharp played a role in the fast-food giant’s evolving offerings.

Dot Sharp’s granddaughter, Dottie Sims, who also works at McDonald’s, was the last customer served by Sharp before her retirement at the age of 84. Sims, having worked at McDonald’s for over 20 years, expressed her unique connection with her grandmother, sharing, “I actually just found my diary from when I was about 5 years old. It said, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ in it, I wrote, ‘my grandmother,’ and I’m halfway there.”

McDonald’s owner and operator Meghan Sweeney bid farewell to Dot Sharp, appreciating her contributions and noting her sunny disposition and customer-focused approach. Sweeney expressed hopes that Sharp enjoys a well-deserved break in retirement. Dot Sharp had been part of the branch when Meghan Sweeney’s father acquired it, adding another layer to the long history of her McDonald’s career.

_{Repurposed article originally published in ShethePeople}