Sparing a thought for your pennies

No one ever takes a penny. That’s because it lost its street cred years ago. They are transient, spending time in a pocket before being given away to a restaurant, the wishing well or a dusty jar.

In fact, a restaurant on College St. stopped using them a long time ago. No one is sure when, but they do know why.

“I was lazy,” said Signe Lewis, a server at Utopia. “We don’t want pennies, customers don’t want pennies and now it’s just part of our training. It’s what we do.”

“And we have no space for it in our till,” added Andrew Smith, another server at the restaurant in Little Italy, The toonies sit in the penny’s old spot, while one-cent coins are tucked at the back of the register, for financial emergency.

“I usually just take them home,” Lewis said. “We usually round in the customer’s favour. Not once in all my years here has someone complained about not getting a penny. I mean, it’s worthless, re- ally.”

On Thursday, the federal government killed the penny in a move that is expected to save taxpayers $11 million.

Clerks at nearby Soundscapes were startled at the news.

“What will we do with prices?” asked Colin Medley, shortly after giving two pennies to a customer.

“I have no idea,” said Carly Ogo- nek, “I guess we should tell the owner.” Neither respected the penny much, although Ogonek was nostalgic, yet couldn’t elucidate why. “I guess I don’t like change,” a laughing Ogonek said, pun not intended. Everyone, it seems, has a jar of pennies at home, waiting to be rolled into stacks worth half a loo- nie or, like a surprising number of those interviewed by the Star Thursday, tossed into the garbage. Many reminisced about rolling pennies and learning the value of money. Of course, 300 pennies will still get you a lift on the TTC, something Dana Burke recently did. Comic books could be had for just 10 pennies in the 1940s, but now it’s at least $3 for the latest Spider- Man, making the penny nothing more than a nuisance for Joe Kilmartin, manager of The Comic Book Lounge and Gallery.

“One cent is just not what it used to be,” he said.

One man wearing penny loafers refused to discuss news of the cent’s demise.

“I just have nothing profound to say about the penny,” he said.

Joe Kilmartin, manager of The Comic Book Lounge and Gallery: "I think it’s time to get rid of the penny. Frankly, I’ll be glad to stop counting them."

Carly Ogonek, 25, clerk at Soundscapes: "I’ve always despised the penny, but now I’m a little nostalgic. I don’t know why. But, really, the penny is terrible."

Signe Lewis, 26, server at Utopia café: "We killed the penny years ago. So this won’t affect us. Now the rest of the country will be following our lead!"

Colin Medley, 24, clerk at Soundscapes: "I never thought the government would actually pull the penny. I’m just shocked, really, just shocked. I’m not sure how to feel."