After my three-year-old son and I were harassed and threatened by the owner I thought I should share the email conversation as to warn customers of this business.
Here is my email to the business the day after the incident:
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention an incident that occurred at the Black Cat Coffee Shop on Sunday, November 12, at approximately 3:10 PM. I have been a regular customer at your establishment, having enjoyed the Black Cat Bomb numerous times, and I have never encountered any issues until this recent visit.
On that particular day, I entered the coffee shop with my three-year-old son, as I have done many times before. We approached the counter to place our usual order. While standing there, my son innocently reached to look at the tip jar, and to my surprise, the employee on duty snatched the jar away in what I can only describe as a very violent manner. I calmly pointed out that my child was just curious, not understanding the situation, and suggested that such a reaction was an overreach for a small child who didn't know any better.
To my dismay, the employee responded with a concerning comment, saying, "Do you want to see me freak out?" This statement, which I interpreted as a threat, deeply alarmed me, especially considering my three-year-old son's presence. I want to emphasize that I felt threatened by her words, and this is not the kind of experience I expect or tolerate as a customer.
Despite my efforts to de-escalate the situation, I found the employee's behavior unsettling. I expressed my disappointment in the quality of customer service provided, and in response, she forcefully ripped my card from the point-of-sale system, instructing me to leave the premises.
While I understand a business's right to refuse service, I believe it is important to address and rectify situations where a threat is made against a customer, particularly when accompanied by aggressive actions. I am sharing this incident with you because I believe it is crucial to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all patrons.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and kindly request that you look into the incident to ensure that such interactions do not occur in the future. It is my hope that this can be addressed promptly and that Black Cat Coffee Shop continues to be a place where customers can enjoy your offerings in a friendly and respectful atmosphere.
Thank you for your time and understanding. I look forward to a resolution to this matter.
And here is the owner's response:
I can add a lot of adjectives to really elaborate this email like you have but I don't feel that's necessary. It seems that we have formed opinions about each other so this may be one of those agree to disagree situations. In your email, you were implying I thought your child initiated the problem in the situation. The problem was when your child reached for the jar, you as the parent did nothing. I did act fast in that moment because it doesn't take long for accidents to occur. What would have happened if he pulled that jar off the counter?
You took this opportunity to insult me. When I said "do you want me to freak out" it was a sassy response instead of insulting you back. Did I overreact? Yes, I can see that I did. However my staff and I do not come to work for us to be insulted or stolen from.
Thank you for the support you've given us so far but perhaps a different coffee shop is better fit for you. Pure green and D'Lite both sell a smoothie similar to your order.
Please be observant of the overreacting owner who cares not for kids or customers. read more