Georgina S.
Yelp
Absolutely appalling experience. I wouldn't recommend The Shack to ANYONE--certainly not anyone planning a special event.
I reached out about months ago to host a "beer, burgers, and babies"-themed baby shower on their back patio for 50 guests. After weeks of silence, I finally got a confirmation via text from April, their events contact. She said we were locked in for June 28. When I needed to push the date back two weeks due to a family emergency, I called and emailed repeatedly. No response. A random staff member finally told me the new date was fine--so I sent out 50+ invitations.
Then, just 10 DAYS before the shower, April calls my husband (not me) and suddenly demands a $1,000 reservation fee. Not a deposit, not applied to a minimum--just an arbitrary, last-minute shake-down. I had already told her I was spending over $3,000 on food and drinks. Then she casually adds: we'd have to move the time earlier because "it's summer," can't play music, and everyone would have to order food individually at the bar. For FIFTY guests. So what exactly is my "reservation fee" going towards? I never got an answer...
I texted her immediately to clarify. She ignored me. I had to call her to try to get a straight answer. Then, today, without warning, I get a cold, impersonal message:
"We are no longer holding the patio space."
No phone call. No apology. No accountability.
I followed up, asking for the name and email of her manager or the owner. No response (of course)
I'm 7 months pregnant, traveling for work, with a hospitalized parent--and April left me scrambling to replan a 50-person event because she couldn't communicate like a professional. And let's be honest: The Shack isn't nearly popular or good enough to act this entitled. The food is just ok, the service is worse, and the people running it couldn't care less about your experience.
Fortunately, I've already found a better venue--nicer team, better food, more accommodating.
The Shack lost my business forever--and if you value respect, reliability, or basic decency, I strongly suggest you go literally anywhere else.