I had an extremely upsetting experience on August 18 at the Bonchon located at 3059 Waldorf Market…read morePlace in Waldorf, Maryland. I placed an online carryout order scheduled for 1:19 PM and arrived around 1:30.
Another customer was being assisted at the counter, so I patiently waited. A male employee came from the back and began calling names for carryout orders. Because I couldn't clearly hear one of the names, I politely asked him, "Excuse me, sir, do you have an order for Katrina?"
I want to emphasize that I was speaking to the male employee distributing carryout orders, not the woman assisting the other customer. She nevertheless interjected, "When your order is ready, we'll call for you." I simply responded that my order was already ready. As I said this, the male employee retrieved my order from the rack and handed it to me.
I took my food and began walking toward the exit. The woman told me to "have a nice day" in a tone I perceived as sarcastic. I nevertheless responded, "Thank you, you too," and continued leaving. She then added, "Please don't come back."
Confused, I stopped and asked why. She accused me of previously coming into the restaurant and "doing the same thing"/causing problems.
This is extremely important: this was only my SECOND time ever coming to this location for a carryout order. My first pickup was approximately three weeks earlier. I walked in, collected my food, and left within probably 30 seconds with no argument, complaint, or negative interaction. I had also never seen or interacted with this woman before. Because the history she described does not match my actual history at this restaurant, I believe she mistook me for another customer.
I asked for her name or information for someone above her because I wanted to report the interaction. She refused and stated that she was the owner and that because Bonchon is a franchise, there was nobody above her to whom I could report the incident. I continued requesting management/corporate information, and she called the police.
Because police had been called, I initially believed I should remain to speak with the responding officers. In hindsight, I should have waited outside.
While waiting, I called my mother for advice. Another customer who witnessed the interaction independently approached me. I did not know this woman. She told me she believed the way I was treated was wrong and helped me locate information for reporting the incident. She later identified herself to police as a witness and described what she observed.
The situation escalated after police had already been called. The woman repeatedly demanded that I leave, and we both raised our voices. During the confrontation, she told me to take my "ghetto sh!t outside" and that I was "going to jail." I did not call her names or curse at her. My mother ultimately told me to leave the restaurant and wait outside, which I did.
The police arrived shortly afterward. The woman described me to them as "belligerent" and said she did not want me returning. I gave the officers my complete account, identification, and explained my very limited history at this restaurant. The independent customer also spoke with police as a witness.
I was ultimately informed that I could no longer return. I will respect that instruction and have no intention of returning after this experience.
What concerns me most is how this began. Before any argument occurred, before police were called, and before I remained inside requesting management information, I had received my food and was already walking out when I was told not to return. The explanation was that I supposedly had a history of causing problems there.
I do not.
I had never interacted with this woman before, and my only previous carryout pickup approximately three weeks earlier occurred without incident. I strongly believe I was mistaken for another customer.
I hope someone above the restaurant level reviews this incident and, if available, surveillance footage from approximately 1:30 PM on August 18. I would also like any alleged previous incidents involving me reviewed because I maintain that no such history exists.
The food at Bonchon is delicious, my order was ready on time, and the male employee who handed me my order was helpful. Unfortunately, my experience with management overshadowed all of that. What should have been a routine pickup resulted in accusations about conduct I did not recognize, a police call, and ultimately being banned from a restaurant where I had never previously caused a problem.
