By Anna Skinner
Catherine Federspiel made the switch from Ruth’s Chris Steak House – then at 96th Street and Keystone Parkway – three years ago. She settled into Prime 47 in Carmel and all was well, but she was missing her work partner, Bobby Hodge, who remained at Ruth’s Chris Steak House for another three years.
After the steakhouse moved into the Ironworks development on 86th Street and Keystone Parkway, Hodge decided to follow his longtime friend over to Prime 47 last month.
Hodge served at Ruth’s Chris for just shy of 17 years, but he admitted that the transition to Prime 47 was easy. He chalked that up to Federspiel.
“My wife calls Cat my work wife,” he said, laughing. “One of the big reasons I came here is because I’m with somebody who I know has got my back.”
“We work really well together,” Federspiel added. “People from the past have come over here now because not only am I here, but he’s here, too. Somebody said (having us both here) was like Christmas.”
The pair normally works together Thursday through Saturday evenings. They both admit that Prime 47 is similar to a Cheers type bar.
“We care about what happens in our guest’s families and their lives,” Federspiel said. “We send them cards and birthday stuff.”
“We get to know the guest, we talk to them about them,” Hodge added. “We let them in our lives, too. It’s more of a family.”
