Meet the Publix cashier who customers wait 40 minutes to see
By Kaitlyn Ross
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ACWORTH, Georgia (WXIA) — There’s a full-court press at the cash register when Michael Masterangelo is working.
At the Publix in Acworth, customers will wait 30 to 40 minutes to check out in Michael’s line.
“They will come here specifically just to get in his line,” his mom, Dayna Peshel, said. “They will wait 30 or 40 minutes just to get in his line. It means everything. I am so proud of him.”
Michael, who has an intellectual disability, has worked at the same Publix for 10 years. He greets nearly every customer as if they were an old friend.
“I like ringing people up and seeing people every day!” he said. “I’m just so happy to be here, every day to work.”
As soon as some shoppers arrive, they start scanning the lanes, not for the shortest line, but for him.
“As soon as I walk in the door, I look for him,” one customer said. “And if he’s here, it just changes everything.”
Store Manager Courtney McGuinness says that kind of impact can’t be trained.
“His positivity that he comes in every day with, it makes working and shopping here enjoyable,” she said. “He’s always smiling. He’s always interacting.”
And Michael isn’t just greeting customers. He’s rallying a team.
“This is his team that he’s raising the money for,” McGuinness said. “And he was very focused on meeting his goal.”
That team? Special Olympics is a community Michael has been part of since he was 7 or 8 years old.
“I enjoy what I do! I love doing this for the Special Olympics organization,” he said. “I like to have fun playing sports with each other. I love this whole event.”
This year, Michael set a personal fundraising goal at his register.
Then he shattered it.
“I can’t believe I did $31,603 by myself, at my register!” he said. “My personal goal is crazy! And I did that in 6 days!”
He raised more than $31,000 in less than a week, right there between scanning groceries and counting change.
“He raised more alone than certain districts in our region,” McGuinness said.
Michael remembers the moment the biggest donation came through.
“The biggest donation I got was $1,200!” he said. “I was like WOW, oh my goodness, no way, this is crazy!!”
Customers weren’t just donating. They were cheering.
“He’s my buddy!” one shopper said from behind the counter. “He is one of the few people I trust!”
Michael treats everyone in his line as if they matter.
“Him being so genuine, he truly cares about every single person he comes in contact with,” McGuinness said. “Whether it’s a child, it’s an adult, someone he played a sport with, someone he grew up with, he genuinely cares about everyone.”
And they care right back.
“They make me so happy and cheer me on and stuff!” Michael said about the customers who show up to his basketball games. “Next coming weekend, they’re coming to watch me play basketball!”
For his mom, watching the community show up for her son is overwhelming in the best way.
“It makes me feel amazing,” Peshel said. “I feel like I raised him right, and he is just a light to everyone. I get text messages, phone calls. I am very proud. I am a very proud mom. I don’t worry about him. I know he is going to be okay. Because he has so much love with family, friends, and community.”
Michael says the feeling is mutual.
“It feels like I am so special, helping people and others,” he said. “And I love this whole community, and everyone loves and supports me!”
Between ringing up groceries, talking Georgia Bulldogs football, and hyping up every customer who walks through his lane, he keeps the energy high.
“I am always so positive,” he said. “I am always encouraging people, like, ‘ Oh yeah, you got this, let’s go!!”
Then comes the final send-off:
“Welcome, have a good day, come back and see us!”
At this Publix, it’s not just a checkout lane.
It’s a team.
And Michael? He’s playing to win.
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