SJC = San Jose Cinnabon

Too bad the cool and cheap Virgin America only flies out of SFO.  When I have the choice, I almost invariably will choose to travel from San Jose's Mineta International Airport. 

Why?

1.) It's closer to my house and to my work.

2.) Traffic inevitably snarls on the way North to SFO, as you have to take 101 past two major roads onto  bridges over the Bay.  If they get stuck, 101 gets stuck.

3.) Off-airport parking is at least $1/day cheaper, and the guys at De La Cruz Parking are really nice.  You don't have to lug your stuff to a central van pickup/dropoff shelter.  They'll drive you right to your car.

4.) It's where the cheapie, off-brand airlines go.

5.) It's a smaller airport (SJC:SFO = Midway:O'Hare) so you don't have to trundle your wheelie bag through miles of people-movers and light shows. 

6.) Cinnabon.

Not that I eat a lot of Cinnabon, although I might.

And not that it smells heavenly, although it does. 

The important thing is that the Cinnabon here gives out free samples.  I became aware of this about a year ago, when I noticed a bunch of toothpicks poking up over the top of the sneeze guard where they do the frosting.

At first I thought it was a one-off, but time after time I've gone back, and they've always had a tray ready for the snacking.  But it isn't always obvious, so I think many people don't know to look for it.

The last time I was there, all I saw was one of those opaque plastic cake covers, overturned.  Uncertain, I asked the person at the counter whether they had samples.

She beamed, and triumphantly lifted the lid.

The other great thing about the samples is, really, a cubic inch of Cinnabon is about all anybody needs.  Although they smell great, they don't taste as good as they smell.  A sample is just enough get the craving out of your system and reassure you that you didn't have to buy a whole one.

Which now has me thinking, this is a terrible marketing idea.

Comments

[boots]

This is just cruel. I have such a craving for Cinnabon now.

If they would just sell little bitty Cinnabunettes, I would totally pay $0.50 for what these kids are giving away for free. Seems healthier to eat the little ones, and it does satisfy the craving. Then again, the "healthy" Cinnabon marketing campaign may be a hard sell. and there must be some reason why donut holes aren't as loved and revered by the rest of the world as I think they should be.

[Vaguely Urban]

I would pay for a donut hole sized Cinnabon, too.

One time, my mom and I were at the mall, and a new Cinnabon employee was being trained on the making of the 'bons, and so they were going slowly and we could observe how they packed two bricks (regulation brick size) of butter into the already-rolled-out dough, which surely already had a stick or two of butter in there.

No wonder they are so delicious!