Jonah W.
Google
I gave this place a try only because Grand Central Bakery is closed for renovation for a few weeks. My very first experience was less than ideal, but I decided to give them a second try and the exact same thing happened.
The owner refuses to do anything about the general atmosphere and comfort of paying customers. There is a well known man in the neighborhood who comes in apparently every day with an un-neutered pit bull, a ginormous backpack, and package of dog food, and you can smell the pit bull from half the shop away. He goes into the only bathroom for 20 minutes at a time with the pit bull, and I’ll leave it to the reader to imagine the lingering impression that leaves in the bathroom. I complained about this to two of the workers (it’s not their fault or responsibility, I understand that), and although they made me feel heard and essentially agreed with my opinion, they explained that animal control has already been called before and the man has been removed before for yelling at the dog. So why do they continue to allow him in with the dog?? The workers confirmed the owner is aware of this happening. All they could say was, “It’s a tough situation.” The man doesn’t buy anything in the shop but simply comes in to charge his devices and do God only knows what in the bathroom with the dog. I was going to speak to the owner about this personally, but clearly he already knows and refuses to do anything about it. Lest you think I’m being a Karen, I guarantee I’m not the only person in the shop who felt uncomfortable, it was visible on multiple faces, but nobody else is willing to say anything about it. The workers encouraged me to speak up when I feel uncomfortable, but the reality is that nobody is going to feel comfortable speaking up while the man and dog are in the shop.
This is not a problem that I’ve experienced in Grand Central Bakery, or at any other businesses in Burien in general. This could easily be solved with two policies: bathrooms for paying customers only, and only clean, well behaved service animals allowed. It’s quite literally a health hazard to allow that dog in an area that prepares food, so don’t be surprised if the health inspector starts visiting.
This is beyond frustrating, because how would the owner feel if I start coming in with outside food and outside drink? Of course they would enforce a policy against that, but they will do nothing about this man bringing in dog food and a stinking dog that he constantly yells at to sit? I would give this place a lower rating if it was possible, and I’m not the kind of person to attack businesses. The coffee is fine and the food is fine, but I will not be coming back. I can go to the public library if I want the kind of atmosphere the owner seems to be ok with.