Warning: if your a person of color, be on your guard. It's taken me days to be able to put this in writing. I was told that the owner wanted to attempt amends to the victim, my friend, but its been over 24hrs since I left a message. No word from him. I've been dumbfounded and in shock having never witness true hatred and bigotry before this. My friend and I are 2 women between the ages of 47 and 58. She came with me while I was checking out property.
The store was a cute, tiny space which one could not avoid being close to each other. No one was wearing a mask and it appeares to be a friendly place.
My friend and I were looking at sunglasses, I put then back when she move to another table that caught her eye. This blonde hair older-ish white woman says to my friend " eew! Get the f^*k away from me!" Then quickly steps to the other side of her husband. Her husband gruffed saying "you can't be less than 6 feet from us. [As I said its a tiny store and there is no room for any feet away. Folks were standing next to each other with absolutely no problem] My friend retorted "Then, if your uncomfortable, you should be wearing a mask" He says "no I don't cause I was born here. You should wear a mask!" She says "I was born here too, stupid!" Then to my horror that couple started spewing and vomiting the most grossful hateful bigotry I would never want to hear again!!!!! I was so shocked I couldn't react!!! This man also put his hands on her, shoving her as he got even closer, into her face!! I was horrified!!!! She tells him "Don't you touch me, don't You put your Hands on me". You would think the manager would say something... Nope!! Nothing, nada!! So we left, still hearing him vomiting hatred. Well, guess who came chasing us down... The manager came out running saying "Hey!!! I need you to open your bag! There may be shades in there!" She was Not apologetic. She was demanding!!!!! Our guess was that couple had been watching us the whole time and decided to add evil onto evil and told the manager we stole.
After this experience, I wonder if this is the kind of environment that my family and I should move to or was this a chance encounter with another tourist? But, no one in the store came to our rescue. No one. The store owner never called back or the employees through out the message. I just don't know. Either way looks bad.
I had to witness my friend, my sister, be targeted for assault, not only emotionally, but spiritually as well.
So, if your a person of color, avoid this store. You will find no help from these people! read more