Don Johnson visits Portland? Not really...

This story, though not my own, is too funny not to share. I'm going to leave details/names out of this to protect the no-so-innocent, but it should still be just as entertaining.

A month or two ago, one of the departments at work did an 80's day where a bunch of people came to work dressed for the decade. It was suggested for one guy--let's call him Walt--to come dressed as Don Johnson, even though he doesn't look a thing like Don. Being quite the joker, Walt went along with it. He went to Men's Warehouse and bought a white suit, some bright colored shirt, and shoes. He slicked his hair back. He looked as much like Don Johnson as someone who doesn't look like Don Johnson could.

Evidently, it was quite the scene.

Fast forward a few weeks. A small group of people in the aforementioned department decided to plan a lunch at a nice little local Italian joint. One of the guys--we'll call him Duncan--basically dared Walt to get some more use out of his Don Johnson clothes and dress up for lunch. Walt responded that he would be happy to dress up as Don Johnson for lunch if someone called the restaurant and told them that Don Johnson was going to be in town and wanted a low-key lunch at a nice local place. Duncan accepted the challenge and notified the restaurant.

When the group arrived for lunch, they were immediately escorted to a private room in the back of the restaurant with a table set with all the nice dinner plates and glasses--during the lunch buffet. The owner and his wife just happened to be there. Employees kept peeking around the corner into the room. The bartender had printed out a picture of Don Johnson that Walt autographed. They were so blinded by the glory of having a 1980's TV star in their restaurant that they apparently didn't notice how unlike Don Johnson Walt actually looked. They bought it!

And that's not all they bought. The owners comped the meal even after repeated declines by my coworkers who had realized long ago that they were in WAY too deep. As Walt walked out, the cashier completely turned her back on the customers she was helping so that she could say goodbye to the "star."

Walt's wife went back later that day and insisted on paying for their meal. I think if I had been with them that day, I'd be afraid to ever step foot in that restaurant again. I would have been mortified if I'd been there, but it sure is hilarious to hear about it after the fact.