On Saturday, May 2, 2026, an employee at Gibbs Cheese & Sausage, at Findlay Market, snatched off…read morehis cap and apron in a rage, and in front of a crowd of customers & co-workers, he used foul language, calling me and my companion c---suckers (an old gay slur that rolled quickly and easily off his tongue) and threatened us with bodily harm. He dramatically stormed the back entrance of his work station to approach us in the common area of the market to "beat our asses." We have since learned that his name is Sid. That's him in the blue cap.
Why? Twenty minutes earlier, we'd stood in a long customer line that went all the way back to the next vendor. Sid repeatedly ignored the line by helping random customers who congregated in front of the line. After waiting an inordinate amount of time, he finally worked his way to us, and that's when I decided to call it to his attention. I wasn't rude or nasty; he just didn't like being called out! "Do you want to place an order or not" he says. I ignored his surliness and attempted to place an order. "Just shut up already" he added before I could get my words out. He pushed the final button, and for a hot minute, I sank to his level; we traded profanities and then I left with my companion.
We didn't have to think too long to decide that his flagrant display of disrespect was not acceptable. We chose to launch a formal complaint. To show exactly who we were dealing with, we came back to snap his picture. We told him that he didn't get to treat us with such disregard and expect us to spend our money with Gibbs. That's the moment he lost his mind! Before the situation escalated any further, we left the establishment again, this time seeking the assistance of John Bird, the director of Market Operations, at Findlay Market.
Mr. Bird assured us that he would talk with Claire and Jeff, the Gibbs owners, but warned that any disciplinary actions would be up to them. Weeks went by, and we decided to reach out to Gibbs ourselves. Over the phone, Jeff acknowledged that he definitely heard from several sources what happened. He gave us a weak apology and tried to justify Sid's behavior. We all have bad days, but there is no justification for Sid's arrogance, anger, and unprofessionalism. We're not of the customer-is-always-right school, but Sid was WRONG! It was an ugly and extremely uncomfortable situation. We shop at the market on a weekly basis, and don't feel as if we have to tip around a powder keg. Perhaps that's how Gibbs feels about their repeat customers. Perhaps that's how they do business these days - a tap on the wrist for ugliness that would've gotten anyone else fired! Yes, we think Sid should be FIRED! Oh, and might I add the employee pictured in the red cap cursed us and royally gave us the middle finger as we walked away.
For all of these reasons, we're no longer Gibbs' customers - and Jeff agreed that was a determination we had to make. Now that you know what we experienced, perhaps you will choose to be a former Gibbs customer as well. As easily as it happened to us, it could happen to you!