TAMPA, Fla. — How often are you at a restaurant, waiting for your food or refill, and overhear a conversation where a customer is saying he loves his server?

What You Need To Know

  • Marjorie Leppla, better known as Margie, has worked at Village Inn as a server for 50 years

  • Initially, she worked at a different Village Inn, but moved to her current spot on Dale Mabry in 1983 when Tampa hosted the Super Bowl

  • According to Leppla, she still works full time, and has not decided when she plans on retiring; she has developed many relationships among customers and employees

It's probably not too often, but if you’re Marjorie Leppla, it’s a typical Tuesday.

“Can I tell you, I love you?” the customer asked.

“I love you too,” said Leppla, a server at Village Inn.

Better known as Margie, Leppla is all over the Village Inn on Dale Mabry.

Whether it’s cleaning up tables or serving sweet tea, this has been part of her work routine for the last 50 years.

“I like to make sure everything is as clean as possible, because that's how I would like it when I go out to eat,” she said.

It’s a motto that has been a cornerstone of her work ethic since she started working at the Village Inn at just 15 years old.

“I was still in high school,” Leppla said. “They didn't have child labor laws back then like they do now. So, I worked full time since then.”

And while other servers would spend a short while waiting tables only to move on to other jobs, Leppla never left.

“I always planned on going to school or moving on,” she said. “But this just worked out so well. It makes me happy, and I do fine.”

It’s not surprising to hear that when you see Leppla in her element.

People who come to the Village Inn know Leppla and she knows them.

She says in her 50 years, she’s served celebrities, sports stars and political leaders, while developing close relationships with the regulars that come in often.

“No matter what it is, I can go anywhere, talk to anybody,” Leppla said. “I feel good doing it.”

People spend so long searching for what makes them happy, whether it’s finding love or loving work.

With this job, according to Leppla, she got both.

“I met my husband here,” she said. “I mean, I grew my family here.”

So, when people ask Leppla why she stuck around 50 years.

Her answer is: Why not?

“They treated me like family,” Leppla said. “Everybody I worked with, I’m still friends with from 50 years ago.”

It’s not often you find that sense of peace and joy next to the ketchup and menu for pie.

Leppla says she started at a different Village Inn location but moved over to the current spot on Dale Mabry when Tampa hosted the 1983 Super Bowl.

She says she’ll eventually retire but she still hasn’t decided when that will be.