Rain, snow, or shine, Sidney Carter wakes up every morning, hops on his bike, and ventures from his home on the west side of town to Kim’s Diner on 18th Street for work. Carter’s positive outlook and work ethic earned him Employee of the Year at the restaurant for a second consecutive year.
Kim Roberson owns the diner and said despite facing many obstacles, Carter is one of the most dedicated members of her staff. Roberson purchased the restaurant on March 1, 2022, and renamed it Kim’s Diner. Before that, it was the Dugout Diner, where Carter worked for several years before the change.
“He’s been with me since Day 1, and he’s known all over town for his hard work,” Roberson said. “He shows up 30 minutes early with a smile on his face every day. He locks his bike up in the back and begins helping anyone and everyone.”
For years, Carter rode the same tricycle to work until the rims eventually wore beyond repair. He’s been using a backup for the last few months until Roberson and company surprised him with a brand new bike on Monday.
“He’s 6’1, and I could tell what he was riding was bothering him and hurting his knees,” she said. “I bought it, my husband assembled it, and the entire staff was there to present it to him. It was very emotional for everyone, especially him and the crew.”
Carter said, “It feels great — I got a bicycle. I like the people I work with. I have some good friends.”
Roberson said she and Carter look at his phone daily to determine what to wear the next day. That could mean a rain jacket or a head-to-toe snowsuit, but she said he never complains.
For nearly 2 years, he’s only missed 1 day of work, and Roberson said that’s because there was a state of emergency.
“I don’t know what we would do without him,” she joked. “He took a vacation once, and we all agreed that if he did that again, we would all just take one because we would struggle to function.”
Robinson said seeing him react to the new Schwinn put things in perspective.
“The tears of joy that came to his face were priceless,” she said. “We would all be lost without our vehicles or quick to complain when something breaks down, but not Sid. If you’re at the diner before Christmas, congratulate him and wish him a Merry Christmas.”
Kim’s Diner is located at 1212 East 18th Street in Owensboro. They’re open from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to noon on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday.
