So today ... our family met after our father died last week. We decided to meet at Cracker Barrel on Bear Creek in Columbia, TN. My brother and spouse drove from Atlanta with my father's ashes in urn, his will and some other personal possessions that were left to me.
Of all places to meet - Cracker Barrel - my father's favorite. My brother exhausted and driving overnight arrived to Cracker Barrel probably 5 minutes before us - he asked to be seated before we arrived. Having diabetes, overweight and neuropathy and with the toll of literally just loosing our father ... simply a seat and a coffee at "family restaurant Cracker Barrel."
He was told by the hostess she couldn't seat him till we were all there. Corporate policy - no exceptions
He finally explained he needed to sit and he found a small 2
Top and
sitting there waiting for us . When we arrived this hostess wouldn't even acknowledge us. I asked her where she would like us to sit and pointed to a 6 top behind the hostess stand. She wouldn't speak or even acknowledge -
She grabbed menus
And started walking ....We found our spots by the window.
While talking about our father, discussing the will and knowing my brother had a 14 hour drive to Nebraska we were deep in thought
Then came a bag of coffee thrown at our table - with a person and the HOSTESS from Cracker Barrel.
There THEY stood after throwing the coffee on our food and said, "Merry Christmas - Here's your coffee- next time don't be an Asshole".
As the hostess looked directly at us with this other person. She stood there and then walked away in tow.
We were deep in the moment of our discussion about family plans, medical bills, will, selling house etc. The next thing we knew - we had coffee thrown on the table - and a verbal attack in front of
A restaurant FULL of people. We couldn't really relax after that and were genuinely shocked at the lack of restraint -
So - we left and the bill was paid .... But, after thinking about it, I asked to talk to management - TY was his name.
He had no idea what took place - as we spoke the hostess kept
her head down. We were 2 feet from her discussing the situation.
So he approached her - she was very ameniable and kind all of a sudden. And she sat us in a Nice
Window seat. She was a different hostess than we had encountered!
So, Apparently we are told by your hostess .....the person paid "her"
to show her our table because she thought my brother "was short" with her. After paying her , apparently they purchased the coffee and so customer asked the hostess to show her our table - and asked her to accompany her. And she did just that.
Obviously, this hostess knew who the coffee was for because of the money involved , the conversation and finally accompanying her to our table and...she knew the customer was disgruntled.
Cracker Barrel employee was nothing more than an a compliance to HATE, HOSTILITY and aggression toward me and my family. Obviously, we felt threatened and attacked. We sat in dismay. NO ONE from management came to our table. We exchanged ashes and he went
On his way.
As we parted ways - we have this indelible memory of embarrassment, fear and utter disgust knowing this is how an employee of Cracker Barrel would in this day and age ... pay to be part of this rage and anger that a "Karen" had toward a simple cup of coffee and simply wanting to sit before you're allowed .
Granted I'm sure he was short - I'm sure he was forceful , but that doesn't give licensure for this aggressive act conjured up by "so Customer" and Cracker Barrel employee.
Why on earth would your hostess accept money from a " customer" and then escort her to our table and stand there while the coffee is thrown and verbally
Attack us? Why didn't she see a problem with this type of aggression and have management intervene?
Why? Because she wanted and deliberately made herself part of the plan - that stemmed from aggression and complacency -
What if this would
have been a concealed gun?
To act so aggressive and
physically act out
Is alarming. What's just as alarming is that your hostess doesn't have the skills or ability to recognize a hostile
Environment and get help.
Instead she collaborated.
There are no explanations. There is nothing right about any of this.
* Definition of assault:Assault means intentionally causing someone to reasonably fear imminent harm, which can include threats or aggressive actions without physical contact. read more