For God's Sake Smile!
I haven't been visiting the coffee shop around the corner from my house all that often recently. Used to be, I was pretty much a fixture in that place, Steve and I would often arrive around 6 am and not leave until mid-morning. He was working on his book and I was writing software. This was better than a year ago or more.
Ever since the new owners have taken over, it just hasn't really been the same place. The previous owners were real nice, and they always had plenty of people working the counter and they always (and I mean always) were prompt and friendly.
There have been a few times over the last couple months (since the "transition" of ownership) where I've observed interesting, if down-right idiotic behavior. Most recently (and with a certain personal finality) was yesterday...
I was swinging by to grab a quick cup of coffee. Not a coffee drink (latte, mocha, etc) -- just a plain-jane cup'o'joe. As I was parking, I watched another patron walk in just a few seconds before I did. When I walked in and up to the counter (towards the back of the store), I noticed that the person that walked in a good 15 seconds in front of me was standing in front of the register where you normally place your order. There was also a customer standing near the sugar/creamer bar.
Now comes the interesting part...
The owner was standing behind the counter at the register talking on the phone. Right there. In front of this new customer. And me. Not once did she look up. She was standing at the exact spot where drink orders are taken and paid for and she didn't fucking care to do that job.
As I stood there, I noticed that the person standing at the sugar/creamer counter was waving the pitcher of creamer in the air. And I'm not talking about kinda holding it up, I'm talking about arm fully extended over the top of his head waving this large aluminum carafe back and forth.
Wow.
And the owner's husband is standing behind another section of the counter but he seems a bit preoccupied with cleaning something under the counter or on the back wall, because he's got his head down and his back to us!
Well this went on for about a full minute. The lady in front of me and I made eye-contact and she had that kind of apologetic, "I'm sorry they're not helping me." look.
Dammit, it's not your fault!
I couldn't take it any longer. I walked out. I won't be going back. I'm thinking about buying them a copy of Raving Fans, but then, I'm pretty sure it won't do any good. It's easier to tell them how I feel with my wallet.
Ever since the new owners have taken over, it just hasn't really been the same place. The previous owners were real nice, and they always had plenty of people working the counter and they always (and I mean always) were prompt and friendly.
There have been a few times over the last couple months (since the "transition" of ownership) where I've observed interesting, if down-right idiotic behavior. Most recently (and with a certain personal finality) was yesterday...
I was swinging by to grab a quick cup of coffee. Not a coffee drink (latte, mocha, etc) -- just a plain-jane cup'o'joe. As I was parking, I watched another patron walk in just a few seconds before I did. When I walked in and up to the counter (towards the back of the store), I noticed that the person that walked in a good 15 seconds in front of me was standing in front of the register where you normally place your order. There was also a customer standing near the sugar/creamer bar.
Now comes the interesting part...
The owner was standing behind the counter at the register talking on the phone. Right there. In front of this new customer. And me. Not once did she look up. She was standing at the exact spot where drink orders are taken and paid for and she didn't fucking care to do that job.
As I stood there, I noticed that the person standing at the sugar/creamer counter was waving the pitcher of creamer in the air. And I'm not talking about kinda holding it up, I'm talking about arm fully extended over the top of his head waving this large aluminum carafe back and forth.
Wow.
And the owner's husband is standing behind another section of the counter but he seems a bit preoccupied with cleaning something under the counter or on the back wall, because he's got his head down and his back to us!
Well this went on for about a full minute. The lady in front of me and I made eye-contact and she had that kind of apologetic, "I'm sorry they're not helping me." look.
Dammit, it's not your fault!
I couldn't take it any longer. I walked out. I won't be going back. I'm thinking about buying them a copy of Raving Fans, but then, I'm pretty sure it won't do any good. It's easier to tell them how I feel with my wallet.
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