I came here for a morning of relaxation with a few friends and one of their mom.
We had an appointment set for 10 am and I was scheduled to get a pedicure and a new dip set. I ran 8 minutes late due to a small family hiccup.
When I walked in, I was NOT greeted by a single soul. No one asked me what service I wanted or what colors to look for. If not for me talking to my friend and her speaking up about me being in her reservation, I'm 100% sure no one would have spoken to me.
After waiting around for roughly 25-30 minutes, I sat down to get my pedicure first. The technician who serviced me was great. She was in the back when I arrived, so naturally she assumed I already picked a color. She was shocked when I told her I never received a pallet to look at. She apologized, grabbed all the colors she could, and got me a sprite as well.
I began to notice that other women (who came in after me) were being sat to get their nails done. I figured they would do my nails towards the end of my pedicure. HOWEVER, my friend's mom showed up without an appointment, sat next to me in a pedicure chair (without getting a pedicure), and was serviced by a willing technician immediately.
Mom's nail tech was young, loud, gum smacking, and clearly annoyed to be there. She maintained this attitude for the duration of our time there.
All and all, no one ever came to do my nails. Even after it was pointed out by my friend to her tech. I was told to wait and someone was coming. The tech made a statement in her native language and pointed to me. I had some hope, so I waited. I waited 32 minutes AFTER my pedicure for someone to start my nails, and no one came. In fact, techs went out of their way to appear busy until another customer walked in the door. Then they would sit them down to do their nails. For 32 minutes my friends and I watched this happen. I grabbed my shoes and wallet to pay, a tech yelled something out loud, then SUDDENLY a woman comes rushing from the back with a cart and quickly asking what color I picked.
I politely told her it was fine and that I would pass on getting my nails done at this time. She fussed at me a little saying she was there to do my nails now. I politely declined and said it would take too long. By this point, it was 12:58 and all I had to show for it was a 65 minute pedi. I had been there since 10:08.
The tech wouldn't even look at me. She huffed, grabbed her cart and rushed off while throwing one hand in the air and yelling something out loud.
I chuckled and went to speak with my friends and mom (young tech moved her to a regular station) as they wrapped up their appointments. They all asked me what happened with my nails, and I told them quietly and with a smile. The young tech decided to jump in the conversation saying that everyone who came through the door had appointments. I asked her if they were all before my 10 am appointment, her response was that they're all under staffed. Excuses for what was truly happening. She hadn't spoken to me the entire time I was there until that moment. She then proceeded to tell my friend's mom that it was her nails' fault that her dip was on so thick and that if she shaped it any thinner she'd be back next week crying to get it fixed. This girl was RUDE.
My friend's tech began to talk to my friend about how I refused to wait to get my nails done and that I'm clearly upset. But someone was willing to do my nails, I just wouldn't wait. She spoke to her as if my friend was my mother and I wasn't standing right there. She didn't even look at me or acknowledge me. When asked why she was talking to her and not me, she said because the appointment was under said friend's name and she thought she was paying for me (not anyone else in our reservation party). She assumed I didn't even have the money to pay for my appointment.
I immediately said I was ready to pay and stood at the counter to ring out. Who was the only willing person to ring me out? My pedicure tech. I verified that her tip went to only her and left.
I was the only black woman in this facility for roughly 3 hours on a Saturday. I was treated as such. I knew it within 10 minutes of being there, I just hate that my new friends and a mom got a front row seat to it. It was subtle, but it was evident. This place isn't for my kind.
None of us will be returning. read more