‘Happy guy’ becoming a familiar face along Highway 20

Driving by on a weekday, you’ll see a guy smiling with a sign in front of Louie-G’s Pizza. He’ll give you a wave as you’re waiting for the light to turn green at the intersection of State Highway 20 and Pioneer Way. “I just wave at people and they wave back,” Demetrice Wall said. “You wave at someone random that you don’t even know and they wave back.”

By Sara Hansen • January 30, 2014 8:40 am
Demetrice Wall smiles and moves to the music while waving a sign at the corner of Pioneer Way and Highway 20.
Demetrice Wall smiles and moves to the music while waving a sign at the corner of Pioneer Way and Highway 20.

Driving by on a weekday, you’ll see a guy smiling with a sign in front of Louie-G’s Pizza. He’ll give you a wave as you’re waiting for the light to turn green at the intersection of State Highway 20 and Pioneer Way.

“I just wave at people and they wave back,” Demetrice Wall said. “You wave at someone random that you don’t even know and they wave back.”

The first time Wall was hired to be a sign waver, he was a little nervous.

“It was scary because I wasn’t used to it,” Wall said. “I got nervous. Then I just started dancing and doing my thing.”

The music resonating from his ear-buds is an eclectic assemble. Wall said he likes to mix it up with reggae, hip hop, techno and some rock.

“Sometimes if the wrong type of song comes on, it can throw you off,” Wall said.

Wall has been working at Louie-G’s Pizza for two months, but this isn’t his first sign gig. He used to work at Liberty Tax, but that job was only seasonal during tax time.

“I wanted more work and they just didn’t have it,” Wall said.

Victoria Hallett, one of Wall’s coworkers at Louie-G’s Pizza, said he’s always smiling

“He’s just a happy guy,” Hallett said. “He’s out there, doing his thing and he loves his job. He’s a good worker.”

Louie-G’s Pizza owner John Youngsman Sr. said Wall is great to have around.

Youngsman also said if it’s raining or snowing, he doesn’t want Wall out there facing the elements.

“If I wouldn’t do it, I wouldn’t want anyone else to,” Youngsman said.

Wall said it’s not just his employer who is looking out for him. During his first week on the job, a man passing by stopped and asked him if he was cold, and then came back with a hot cup of coffee to warm him up.

Most of the time people are really friendly and shout hellos from there vehicles, Wall said. During his shift, he sees people going about their day, whether it’s good or bad.

Besides being a people person, Wall said this type of job is great if you like to be outside.

But it’s not just about moving a sign around to the beat of the music.

“It’s not about the dancing,” Wall said. “It’s about letting people know about specials and getting them out there.”