This retired autoworker has been greeting people at local Walmart for 17 years — and now on TikTok
Steve Taylor worked for Ford before he retired and found a second career
Walk into the Walmart in Amherstburg, Ont., and you'll be greeted with some combination of "Hi, morning, how are ya, how you doing today?"
In return, you're bound to hear a smattering of customers offer up a "Hi Steve," or "Have a good one, Steve."
It's Steve Taylor, the Walmart greeter who has been a fixture by the front door of the department store since it opened nearly 17 years ago.
"I've gotten to know a lot of people since I've been here," Taylor said. "It's a wonderful job."
LISTEN: Walmart greeter a staple of Amherstburg — and TikTok
Taylor retired from a long career as a Ford Motor Company autoworker. He says he "sat at home for a couple of years," and did some security work — before he saw the ad for jobs at a soon-to-open Walmart in his hometown.
"The rest is history," he said. "I love it. It's the people. It's like another family and everything."
Taylor greets customers as they enter and exit the store, and also helps keep the area clear and inviting for people.
A look at Taylor's bright yellow vest will show a handful of star pins — those, he says, he received after positive customer or coworker feedback. There are plenty there — but Taylor says he's not counting.
"I'm just glad to get one. It shows that maybe people appreciate what I'm doing, so I like that," he said.
Jeff Pascoe is the store manager and has known Taylor for about nine years.
"He's really the face of our store," he said, noting that Taylor was awarded the "Shining Star" of the year last year.
More recently, Taylor has gained social media stardom. Featured in videos for the store, a few of the clips have racked up thousands of likes and views on Facebook and TikTok.
In one, Taylor tells the camera to "get your own," when asked to share some Walmart store brand chocolate fudge cookies. In another, he tells his "Amherstburg friends" about the store's new hours.
"It's just a lot of fun, and I don't really know until I see them myself," Taylor said, adding that sometimes people recognize him from the videos. "We just did one yesterday, and it's gone over really, really huge. I'm pretty happy about it."
Lynore Brian is the manager behind the videos. When asked how she comes up with the ideas, she says, "I watch a lot of TikToks."
"It's just fun. I've known Steve for as long as I've been here, and we have so much fun."
Taylor says he's grown to know many of his regular customers, and doesn't see himself slowing down.
"I'd like to keep myself going because I'm getting a little older and I like to keep myself moving," he said. "This is why I do it, because I don't want to just stay home.
"I like to be around people. I enjoy seeing people come in, and I've seen people have children and bring up their families, and now they call me Steve here. It's just a nice experience."
With files from Windsor Morning