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Safe Crime Free Apartments in Tyler Texas

December 2nd, 2009

When I moved back to Tyler Texas I was looking for a good apartment that wasn’t too expensive but was low on crime. One easy way I found to check on the crime rate at a given apartment was to call the Tyler Police and ask for the 911 call report for an apartment complex. The police have an excel spreadsheet that logs just how many calls were made and of what type for each apartment complex in Tyler. The Establishment had an exceptional record and beyond there low crime rate they have a very good management staff. I have been to some apartments in Tyler where the management seemed very cold and unconcerned. The management at The Establishment makes no apologies for wanting only low key individuals that aren’t of the partying type of personality and I was all for something like this. It is annoying when you have punks next door getting drunk and throwing up on your car every weekend. This was never the case at The Establishment in Tyler Texas.

The manager at The Establishment will check your credit just like all apartments in Tyler will do and they will ask you for some type of deposit. I can’t remember what our deposit was but I think it was around $200. Depending on if your credit is bad or good you may have to pay more than this. The Establishment really caters to older adults and professionals so if you come in there with pink hair and sagging pants you will probably be given a frown. There are plenty of apartments for teenagers looking for a good social scene and who don’t mind walking outside and seeing somebody back from the bar peeing on the sidewalk. The good news is it will be very unlikely to see this type of behavior at The Establishment. To give you an idea on the prices on apartments at The Establishment you will get a slightly higher rental rate then maybe an apartment at The Dove Tree apartment complex but your apartment will be in much better shape and with no bug problems.

The pest control people come into your apartment every few months like clockwork and because of this I never saw even a single cockroach. The rooms are larger than other apartments I visited in Tyler and you will have a pretty big porch or balcony depending on if you are on the first or second floor. The swimming pool at The Establishment is hardly ever used and so it makes for a nice summer getaway for those who enjoy the outdoors during the summer. There is a barbecue grill near the pool if you want to cook a steak and swim.

A big part of the whole apartment experience is a good relationship with the manager. The manager at The Establishment when I lived there was Carol and she was amazing. She is a very polite professional woman and really accommodates you if you are a good paying tenant. I imagine as with any Tyler apartment complex if you fail to pay your rent and party on the weekends you may have some issues with management but for people like me I say good and go ahead and kick out the riffraff. Safety for my children, wife and personal belongings will always come first ahead of watching an entertaining drunken display at 2:00 a.m.

Cheddars

October 23rd, 2009

On a Sunday afternoon the waiting room in the popular Cheddars restaurant begins to pour out on to the sidewalk. People crowd together for a good table. You would think that an extremely popular place would have me saying great praises about the well cooked food and the great service. Well, that was not my experience, and I have returned and again and again both the food and the services were below par.

As I walked into the over populated restaurant I stood shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers. Waiting for a table and, because of the hype, expecting the greatest food. They handed me a vibrating beeper with a red blinking light. As it begins to flash and vibrate I get excited as if I have won the lottery. As the hostess dressed in black lead me to my booth. I sat waiting as the young waiter approached dressed nicely with a blue collar shirt and black pants and a tie.

I flipped through the menu and everything sounded so good with great prices. For a second I started to understand all the people standing in the small crowed waiting area. I ordered my usual Dr. Pepper, what is the point of free refills when the waiter never comes to refill your drinks?

After hearing the amazing rumors, I order the spinach dip. I must admit, my taste buds sang as I dipped the thin chip into the layers of melted different cheese and green spinach topped with a spoon full of sour cream. I started to eat the warm outer sides of the dip but as I got into the center I took a large bite of halfway frozen spinach and cold cheese. I started to get frustrated that my drink still has not been filled, and annoyed that my food was not sitting in front of me after 30 minutes.

Finally my well-done steak and loaded bake potato sat in front of me. In my vocabulary “well-done” steak does not mean bloody and bright red. I was waiting for my food to grow legs moo at my and walk off. I ask the waiter to take it back and put it back on the grill. About twenty minutes of being sick of waiting, the waiter brings it back. As I cut into the slab of meat once again, I was so upset as again it was still really pink.

I was too annoyed and frustrated to ask a second time to re-cook my steak that I just asked for my ticket. I love when I ask for my ticket and the waiter has it in their little pouch on their belt and just hand it to you the second you ask for it. But that is just to easy to do for the waiters at Cheddars. I watch the waiter as he stands at the computer flirting with the cute hostess, with his phone in his hand hoping to win over her number, not even paying attention to what he is suppose to be doing.

Finally after waiting until he is finished his conversation, he brings me my ticket. I pay the amount for the food and leave. Well I was certainly disappointed walking through the crowded parking lot to my car. I don’t understand how they have so much business, I guess quantity is more important than quality. No, that still does not explain it.

I did return to Cheddars for my dear friend’s 21st birthday, but this time we sat at the bar. I was surprised at the amazing service and a great atmosphere, besides the strange girl hitting on my married sister, and a bar fly trying to ease-drop into our conversations. Was I really in the same restaurant? They had great drinks and really good prices. Even our food was cooked and everything came out really fast. Even our drinks were constantly refilled. I don’t really know how everything was so much better and different, but I really did enjoy my bar-experience and walked away with great stories and wonderful memories.

So I don’t know what to expect each time I eat there. I could have horrible service and uncooked meat or decent food and great service. But I still don’t see why it is one of the most popular restaurants in Tyler.