Line sitting, also known as line waiting or line standing, has become a common practice in big cities like New York, where people pay others to wait in line for tickets, the latest iPhone, or a table at a popular restaurant.
How it Works
Professional line sitters, like those employed by Same Ole Line Dudes in New York, take requests to wait in line for anything that requires a wait. The company requires customers to book a minimum of two hours for $50 and charges $25 for each additional hour.
One of the earliest viral food crazes to fuel this business was the cronut, a revolutionary pastry that combines a croissant with a doughnut. Today, line sitters are waiting in line for items like dot cakes from Manhattan’s Butterfield Market, which have become a viral sensation on TikTok and Instagram.
Why it’s Happening
According to David Henkes, senior principal and head of strategic partnerships for Chicago-based food service consultant firm Technomic, people are chasing the high of novel new things and experiences, and food always seems to be at the center of that, particularly when there’s an exclusivity angle to it.
Line sitting reflects this continued consumer demand for newness, while also exposing the realities of the economy today. People are time-strapped and, particularly those with higher incomes, are willing to pay more for experiences but don’t want to go through the hassle of waiting.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
