I've been a steady customer (for personal & occasional business use) of the Paper & Provisions Warehouse on Westminster St. for many years, I really appreciate the extensive selection & great prices. HOWEVER I have had the same complaint as Carly B in her review from 6/2011, that my visits there are always been peppered with random come-ons, unwanted attempts at flirtation, and what is basically sexual harassment from one of the workers, a portly, middle aged white guy whose name may or may not be "Wayne", based on the printout on the receipt. a year or so ago, he cooled it down, and I thought, "oh, maybe they read the review on Yelp & saw that they were losing business and someone told him to cut it out, great!"
Today, however, as I was packing my purchases into my bike bag, "Wayne" and a co-worker were working together to push a cart full of someone's stuff out the hallway leading to the door. as "Wayne" was walking back into the store past me, he reached out and grabbed my waist, let his hand linger there for a moment, and then kept walking. I was stunned and it took me a couple seconds to say "Don't do that!" He was like "What?" I said "You just grabbed my waist when you walked past, don't do that, it's gross!" He said, in rapid succession, "What are you talking about, I didn't do that... I'm sorry! I slipped on the floor, I had to steady myself on you! I mean, I didn't do anything!" I said, "That's gross, it's embarrassing for you. Don't do that any more!" and left. I talked to the co-worker (a younger man with dark hair) who was working in the parking lot and told him what had happened, and said "I don't know who the manager is, but can you tell your co-worker not to do things like that? it makes women not want to come to this business."
I was too surprised by the whole incident to ask who the manager actually was and when I could talk to him, but I'm going to try to talk to somebody next week and file a complaint.... I'm sad that I can't go to this business any more because I have to feel like I am on my guard against men being gross and touching me unwantedly! this is terrible business practice, not to mention just poor form, to allow this guy to continue acting this way to women. read more