Vanessa
Google
I've been a regular customer at Village Well and recently I met the owner Jennifer who left a very bad impression. Village Well has been a safe space for me to do my work, a place where I've made friends, joined events and have made a great financial investment. In gratitude of this and to support local businesses, I always make purchases when I visit, resulting in earning many points as a rewards member. Hence, the day I met the owner happened to be just another day for me at Village Well spending close to $70. However, what transpired after left me in disbelief. I sat in the "computer free zone" area to read a book I had purchased and after a while, I needed to use my laptop but the seats in the computer area were all taken. While I waited for availability, I sat with my computer open on my lap. Shortly after, Jennifer (owner) said to me in front of other costumers who also witnessed her unfriendly aggressive behavior, "This is a Computer Free Zone space!" I immediately responded, "ok I will move shortly". She raised her tone in anger and responded, "you are being disrespectful!" I was unclear as I had politely told her I would be moving shortly. I thought she was perhaps a very impatient customer who wanted to sit where I was, so I asked if she wanted me to move so she could sit. Arrogantly and authoritatively she said, " I AM the owner and I want you to move RIGHT NOW." So much for first impressions. I gathered my belongings and left. I was so disappointed that I thought to return what I'd purchased. There are ways to communicate with customers with kindness rather than with hate. Had she employed a positive and empathetic tone it would have significantly improved my experience.
If I were the owner, rather than lashing out on a regular customer whom she's benefited from to stay in business, I would focus on the following:
1) Making sure non-handicap cars don't park in the Village Well handicap parking spots. Not to mention, non-customers that park there to go elsewhere for hours. There's never parking to say the least.
2) Customers who use computers for hours if not all day making it impossible for new customers to use the space. Some don't even make a purchase. They bring their own snacks.
3) BENCH computer area is NOT handicap friendly. When I told the owner I couldn't sit there due to my condition after her demands for me to sit there instead, she brushed me off with zero empathy.
If you're wanting to check out Village Well, I sincerely encourage that you go elsewhere. There will be no availability for you to use your computer, the books are cheaper on Amazon with a much broader selection, unreliable parking, the food is expensive for what you get, and the owner if you've read this far will have a sense on what to expect.