la F.
Google
I came in with my friend who has a service dog a golden retriever, depending on the person who’s at the counter you will get different responses. I walked to the counter and the guy with the red/ginger beard i think named Malcom . Thinking he was doing his “job” immediately saw me and instead of “Hello, how are you” like any other normal barista he just said “No pets are allowed in the coffee shop.” Me , not being the owner of the dog responded that it was a service dog. The law is you ask the owner of the dog/person handling the dog. My friend was still by the door with the dog, she was on the phone with her sister not aware of what was happening . The barista made no attempt to question the owner of the dog. His entire demeanor was very hostile, he asked me “what service does the dog perform “I said “it’s my friends dog she’s a seizure response dog “ right then he should have just started to ask the owner of the dog not me, but he quickly snapped , “I asked what service he performs not your disability”. I responded “he alerts seizures you shouldn’t be asking me, it’s my friend’s dog “ I saw how hostile he was and rude so I walked over to my friend and explained to her the issue , she was going to speak to the guy but she overheard him speaking to someone else that works there “I don’t think it’s a service dog “ so she didn’t feel like debating her medical reality with a barista. We tied the dog outside , ordered two mid lattes and stale pastries and called it a day. To be fair LEGALLY speaking, “seizure response dog “ is a perfectly acceptable answer under the ADA. He was being purposely obtuse. I’m from Harlem, we are both native New Yorkers and it’s a shame to see my neighborhood lose its charm and be policed by hostile white transplants who treat disabled people of color with suspicion like we’re running a scam. Do better, Plowshare. Train your employees to be friendly considering they work for tips. Severe attitude issues with that one. Sipsteria just one block up is a charming ,better, friendlier, smaller place that welcomed her service dog. Maybe because it’s run by immigrants…