I would NEVER go back to this place. If you are a person of color or someone with dark skin, DO NOT…read morego.
Today, I went with my friend and asked the female worker what a "Hawaiian snow cone" was. She mentioned a topping, so I asked further, "What kind of topping?" She replied that it was condensed milk. I said "Oh," and ordered a small shaved ice.
As she handed me my order, she looked at her male coworker and said, "Es por eso que no me gusta servir a las morenas." (Note: Morenas can mean brunette, but in other contexts, it refers to dark-skinned people. I am a Black woman.) I didn't understand what was said, so I thanked her and left. However, my friend, who speaks Spanish, overheard the remark and said "Muchas gracias" to let them know she understood. The male worker then smiled at us.
As we walked away, my friend explained what the female worker had said, which translates to, "That's why I don't like serving dark-skinned women." Shocked, I decided to go back and address the situation. When we returned, the woman refused to come to the window, so my friend asked the male worker to get her.
When she finally came out, I calmly asked her what I had done to upset her. She claimed she didn't understand English. At that point, I had my friend translate the conversation. I told her I was shocked that she would say something like that in front of a customer. I explained that we live in a diverse community, and it's upsetting to hear such remarks, especially when I had done nothing wrong.
Her first excuse was that there was a language barrier, which was why she made the comment. I responded that the interaction had lasted only two minutes, during which I asked just two questions. I explained that I understood her point, but asked if she realized how her words could be taken to mean she didn't like serving dark-skinned people, not just people who don't speak Spanish.
She then claimed she was joking. I told her I didn't find it funny, and I didn't think anyone else would either. You shouldn't speak negatively about a customer in front of them--if you're going to make such a joke, say it when they're gone.
Her next excuse was that she didn't remember saying anything. At that point, I walked away because it was clear the conversation was going nowhere. I didn't record the encounter because I wanted to have an open discussion and give her a chance to learn from this. However, it felt like a lost cause. To have her never once apologize or say, "I didn't mean for my comment to make you feel this way" shows that she simply doesn't care. I hope this experience makes her think twice about what she says in front of people.
So, unless you are a light-skinned Spanish speaker, I strongly recommend you avoid this place.
