Kids of Summer: Q&A with Washington Tipton, one of Quincy’s best kid employees

QUINCY — 8te Open at the northeast corner of 6th and Maine has been a Quincy favorite since it opened two years ago, known for their fried chicken sandwiches, thick french fries, and excellent ranch dressing.

Quality customer service sets the southern kitchen apart, especially one bright-smiled, charismatic 10-year-old.

Washington David Tipton, son of owner Jared Tipton, is spending the summer before fifth grade working at the restaurant. He helps out wherever he can: operating the register, cooking with the help of a stepstool, washing dishes.

In terms of Quincy employees, Washington says “I’m the youngest, the best, and the hardest worker.”

Read on to hear excerpts of Washington’s conversation with MRN’s Annie C. Reller.

This conversation has been lightly editing for length and clarity.

ACR: Have you seen any other kid employees in Quincy?

WDT: Nope, I’m the only one. I love meeting new people. I think it’s real fun.

ACR: Do you think that being a kid makes you a better employee than other people? How does it help you?

WDT: Because I’m starting young, I get to have experience and learn new stuff. So when I become older and I’m doing the same, I will be really good at it.

ACR: And how long have you been working here?

WDT: Since we opened, about two years ago. It’s the best food you’ll ever get.

ACR: What is your order?

WDT: My order? That’s kind of hard. Maybe on the Little Chefs Menu, The Mattis Special, I usually get a double burger with ketchup, cheese, no bun, no and then I pick it up and I eat it.

ACR: You eat it with no bun. Why don’t you like the bun?

WDT: I don’t know. No, I do… it just depends on the day. And then another one is actually named after me. It’s called Wash’s Fried Chicken. Wash is my nickname… we usually do Texas Pete, pickles on the side, and ketchup.

ACR: Do you want to work at restaurants when you’re grown up?

WDT: You know, I’ve been thinking. The three I’m stuck on is, either I want to become a pro soccer player, or a pro basketball player, okay, or maybe a chef, and then I could take over the business.

ACR: And was your dad a chef growing up? Or how did he get into 8te Open?

WDT: He used to have a food truck, we used to do catering, and I would help out there. He also was a street chef, there’s a picture up. My siblings might come in a little bit, but they’re not as hard working as me and my dad.

ACR: What’s something you hope 8te Open does in the future?

WDT: I mean, have a milkshake machine in here? That might be a little crazy! We’re actually opening a new pizza restaurant it’s going to be called Atlas’s Slice. Atlas is my brother.

ACR: Do you get paid?

WDT: Yeah! Right now, I am saving my money, and I have a goal for the end of the summer. But if a few things come along, here and there, I might pick up a couple of things, but mostly I’m saving it for a car maybe, or college or something like that.

ACR: That’s awesome! And are you close with your dad?

WDT: I’m very close with my dad. I’m very close with my mom too. I love them so much. I get along better with my parents than with my siblings. We’ve been starting to get along a lot better, but we’re still fighting here and there. I am the second older.

ACR: What else do you do with your summer break when you’re not working here?

WDT: If we’re not doing anything, I might stay home, relax. We do fun stuff like the water park. And I have soccer camp.

ACR: What other sports do you play?

WDT: I play basketball. Might be my number one, and then I play soccer. Those are my two sports that I really love. And I’m thinking about playing baseball.

ACR: How do you feel about your last year of elementary school?

WDT: Kind of happy and sad at the same time. But you know, moving on in junior high.

ACR: What’s your favorite subject?

WDT: Math or science, or reading… one of those three.

ACR: Do you use any math skills here?

WDT: Yes, I do. When I’m at the register and people give me change, I have to use my math skills to get it figured out.

ACR: You get to interact with all these people at the register. Do you like that?

WDT: Oh, yes, it’s I love that. Part of meeting new people and making like, older friends.

ACR: Cool. Where does your name come from?

WDT: My name, Washington. My parents were stuck on one name. My dad had the idea and my mom actually kind of liked that. They did it after the president, of course. It’s really unique.

ACR: Okay, I’m going to ask you some rapid fire questions. The point is to be fast, okay? If you were an animal, which animal would you be?

WDT: Cheetah.

ACR: What do you eat for school lunch?

WDT: Sack lunch. Usually a Lunchable, a Danimals, maybe some pickles.

ACR: If you could have a magic power, what would it be?

WDT: Read people’s minds or fly.

ACR: Where’s somewhere that you want to travel?

WDT: Washington, DC.

ACR: Oh, that’s pretty good. That’s pretty good. What’s your favorite food?

WDT: Our food!

ACR: Anything else you want to say for the interview that I didn’t ask you about?

WDT: Um, I really love 8te Open. Just come try it, leave a review and tell us how it is. I really love my family. My dad’s a Marine… I’ll just put that in there.