When we moved to Knoxville 4 months ago, I found this great store off Old Broadway. I ventured in with my very well behaved children and we read the rules on a board at the front of the store out loud so all the children could hear. I could feel the eyes of the store owner all over us as well as her single employee. We were not wanted. The owner must have had poorly behaved children in her store in the past. We looked around briefly and left. A couple of weeks later, we went back to admire the store again. Still, the same uneasy feeling of unwantedness, although my children we exemplary. A third time we returned, leaving the 3 year old at home and taking an older child, a friend of my eldest daughter with us. We arrived, read the rules allowed and proceeded about the store. Eyes peered on us. The uneasy feeling returned. Our guest, my daughter's friend stuck a feather into a bird cage while my back was turned. There was nothing in the rules about not sticking feathers into cages. My children new better but the guest made an error. The employee quickly swooped down, fussing and grumbling at the poor child. She told her and my daughter that they new they were doing wrong, but in fact, the little girl had no idea. She is a 10 year old child who was very interested in the birds and made a harmless mistake. I feel for the owner, having to deal with poorly behaved children in her store from time to time, but the unwelcome feeling emitted cannot be excused. I won't be back.
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