BJ . Q.
Google
I’ve been a loyal, regular customer here for a long time — I’ve spent plenty of money and genuinely liked supporting this place. But recently, the way I’ve been treated has made me feel unwelcome and frustrated.
It all seems to have shifted after a day when a woman who appeared to be homeless was standing on the public sidewalk near the entrance. She, like me, had darker brown features and politely asked me for help. I bought her an ice cream and a soda, and while I was inside gathering her items, the man behind the counter kept running in and out, yelling at her to “get away,” even though she wasn’t inside or bothering anyone. I hurried to pay since she was waiting for me, so she wouldn’t keep getting yelled at.
A couple of weeks later, I came in and, after looking around indecisively, I gathered my things and sat briefly on a chair near the registers to get my payment ready. I’d been coming here for a long time, so you’d think the staff would recognize me by now — I’m in there often enough. I understand employees need to monitor the store, but this felt unnecessary for someone who has consistently supported the business. Still, an employee promptly came and told me I couldn’t sit there because “the boss doesn’t like that,” even though I was preparing to check out and wasn’t bothering anyone. I got up, paid, and left quietly.
The first bigger issue was with the hot water which happened a couple of weeks after the chair incident — I was told I had to pay, but the staff didn’t give me a price, they just told me “you’re good this time, but next time you have to pay,” so I bought and left two York bars with tap-to-pay for around $2 to cover it.
About a week later, they told me it was 50¢ per cup because I bought the noodles somewhere else (some guy I never met before was behind the counter and made up the charge on the spot). I showed them the noodles and asked them to please have their manager stock the store with them so that I could buy it from them instead. I then tried to pay $1 by card but was told there was a $5 card minimum. I left, got change, came back, and paid in cash. They gave me chopsticks for free that time, as they had plenty of other times when I used hot water while it was free for noodles whether bought in-store or at the market across the street.
Later that same day, I came in again to use the hot water. I immediately gave the guy 50¢, made my noodles as usual, and went to the register to get chopsticks — like I had done many times before. That’s when I was suddenly told I had to pay for the chopsticks because I hadn’t bought the noodles in the store. The rules and prices kept changing, and It was repeatedly and inconsistently happening to me despite always being a fair, respectful, and loyal customer.
This inconsistent treatment makes me feel disrespected, and unwelcome. I’ve supported this store happily, but after these incidents, I no longer feel comfortable coming here.