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McDonald’s cashier, 84, retires after more than four decades

A McDonald’s cashier who predated the rollout of McNuggets and Happy Meals during her more than four decades at the fast food chain is hanging up her drive-thru headset.

Dot Sharp, who turned 84 last month, served her very last customer — her granddaughter — from the drive-thru window at a McDonald’s in Gibsonia, Pa., on Friday, according to Business Insider.

“The drive-thru line was wrapped all the way around the building because so many of her regulars wanted to wish her well,” a spokesperson for McDonald’s franchisee Tri County Management told the outlet.

Sharp initially landed the gig in September 1978 and, as a single mother, enjoyed the flexible schedule.

At the time, an order of small fries was just 35 cents, and the chain’s signature Big Mac sold for a mere 90 cents, according to a Reddit thread that showed McDonald’s menu pricing in 1978.

Forty-six years later, a Big Mac combo meal — which includes the burger, a medium fries and a medium-sized fountain drink — costs $10.89 at the branch Sharp works at, marking a nearly 800% increase.

Dot Sharp retired from her job at McDonald’s in Pennsylvania on Friday after more than four decades. Facebook/Clothespinhead/McDonald’s
A photo posted to Facebook shows the McDonald’s in Gibsonia, Penn., where Sharp works, wishing her a happy retirement. Facebook/Clothespinhead/McDonald’s

Prices vary depending on location: The same Big Mac combo will run hungry patrons $13.69 at a McDonald’s in Times Square, and one branch in Darien, Conn., charged as much as $18 for the 1,080-calorie meal.

When asked about any big plans for retirement, Sharp told CBS News: “Just enjoy life.” 

Representatives for McDonald’s and Tri County Management did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Sharp’s career at the Golden Arches began before the first Happy Meal was created.

Chicken McNuggets were added in 1980 and McFlurries were welcomed in 1995. The company’s McCafe’s line of coffee drinks launched in 2001.

Sharp was also working for the Chicago-based fast food giant during the ill-fated McPizza’s entire lifetime.

Sharp took the job at the fast food giant in 1978. In the years since, she has seen the invention of the Happy Meal, Chicken McNuggets, McFlurries and McCafe’s coffee drinks.

The offering launched in 1986, was changed to a personal-sized pie in 1991 and was ultimately discontinued nine years later because its 11-to-16-minute cook time did not align with McDonald’s focus on speed.

“Her role as cashier involved greeting customers, taking orders and accepting payments but it doesn’t capture the essence of who Dot is,” the McDonald’s spokesperson told BI.

“Dot welcomes each customer with a sunny smile and cheerful greeting. She knows many customers by name and order.”

Sharp reportedly gave out her final Happy Meal to her granddaughter.

Franchise owner Meghan Sweeney described Sharp’s personality as “sunny” in a press release, where she said: “Our customers love her and so have generations of her fellow co-workers. She brought a sunny disposition to every shift and always made the customer her top priority.”

“I’m hoping Dot enjoys a well-deserved break in her retirement,” Sweeney added.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

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