I went to Jersey Mike's around 8:40 p.m. yesterday to get dinner for my children after cheer…read morepractice. Jersey Mike's is one of my daughter's favorite places to eat, which is why this experience was especially disappointing.
When I walked in, a young man greeted me and asked what I wanted to order. I told him I wanted a steak sub, plain with only lettuce. He told me to wait a moment and went to get another employee. A young woman then came out and asked what my order was, so I explained again that I wanted a plain steak sub with lettuce.
I then told the young man I wanted another cold sub. While looking at the menu, I saw that they offered chicken salad, so I ordered a chicken salad sub. After that, I told him I also wanted a turkey sub. He responded, "Is this your last sub?" I told him yes.
While my last sub was being made, I noticed the young woman wrapping my steak sub without lettuce. I politely told her that I had asked for lettuce. She stopped, gave me a blank stare, rolled her eyes, and did not respond.
At that point, it was around 8:50 p.m. I asked the young man if they were about to close, and he said they closed at 9. I told him I could tell they were trying to leave because of the customer service I was receiving. I explained that I come to this location regularly, have always received excellent customer service, and had never experienced anything like this.
He told me they had things to do after work and that he was trying to get out of there. I explained that the restaurant was still open and that customers should not be rushed or made to feel like an inconvenience for ordering before the posted closing time. If there is a cutoff for taking orders, it should be clearly communicated.
The situation then escalated. He told me he did not have to serve me my food, refused to give me my order that was already made and told me to leave. I asked why because I had not cursed, raised my voice, threatened anyone, or been disrespectful. I simply questioned why I was being treated this way.I asked for his name he was mot wearing a name badge and he refused to give me it.
He then told me that if I did not leave, I would be considered trespassing and that he would call the police. He ultimately called the police in front of my children, refused to serve my food, and I had to leave.
Jersey Mike's has cameras inside the establishment, and I strongly encourage management to review the footage from the moment I walked in until the police were called. The cameras should show exactly what occurred.
I am a Webster resident and know that Evan Myers and his Jersey Mike's franchise do a lot for the community. That is why I sincerely hope this interaction does not represent how customers who do not look like the employees are treated. As a Black customer, I am deeply concerned about whether race played a role in how I was treated.
This is also personal to me because I worked at a sub shop when I was younger--Bella's--and we understood that customers deserved respect until closing time. We never rushed customers, rolled our eyes at them, or treated them poorly because they came in before closing.
I am extremely disappointed that a simple dinner order escalated to having the police called in front of my children. I am asking management to review the footage, speak with the employees involved, and explain why my order was refused while the restaurant was still open.
I hope Jersey Mike's takes this seriously and ensures that every customer, regardless of race or background, is treated with professionalism, respect, and dignity.The male employee gave me his name once police were called Alex He works evenings to close.
