Stephen E.
Google
I recently had one of the most unsettling and disappointing shopping experiences I’ve ever had at this Marshalls location. What should have been a simple, calm visit with my wife after the New Year turned into something that left us feeling targeted, disrespected, and deeply uncomfortable, to the point where we questioned whether we were being racially profiled.
At first, everything felt normal. My wife and I were browsing in a narrow aisle near the front of the store. The first employee who passed us did so politely, saying “excuse me” and moving around us without issue. But moments later, another employee came from behind the register area and walked directly toward us. Before we could even step aside, she tried to force her way between my wife and me — no “excuse me,” no acknowledgment, nothing. It was abrupt, intrusive, and completely unnecessary. We exchanged a look, both of us confused and uncomfortable, but we tried to brush it off.
Unfortunately, the behavior didn’t stop there.
We noticed this same employee repeatedly appearing in our area, hovering and watching us in a way that felt unnatural. At first, we tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, maybe she had tasks to complete nearby. But when we moved to the opposite side of the store, she followed. And again, she attempted to walk directly between us. This time she said, “excuse me,” but the tone was cold and insincere. It felt less like courtesy and more like a performance, something she said only because she knew we were watching her behavior closely.
By that point, the pattern was impossible to ignore. It felt intentional. It felt targeted. And it felt wrong.
My wife and I were no longer browsing. We were tense. We were aware of every movement around us. We were questioning why we were being singled out. No one should have to feel that way while simply trying to shop.
When we finally checked out, the cashier who helped us was kind and professional, which we appreciated. But the emotional impact of what had happened overshadowed everything else. We left the store feeling unwelcome, judged, and singled out for reasons we should never have had to question.
This location is convenient and usually has great selection, but after what felt like racial profiling and intimidation, we made the decision not to return. I was in the store around midday on the 11th of JAN 2026, and I am confident that store leadership can review the cameras to see exactly what occurred.
To Marshalls leadership: I hope you take this seriously. No customer should walk into your store and leave feeling the way we did.
To fellow shoppers: trust your instincts and stay aware. Experiences like this can happen when you least expect them, and no one deserves to feel targeted or uncomfortable while simply trying to shop.