My experience was an awful one. My family and I were in the area for the weekend and we were doing a little shopping. We entered the store and were greeted by who I assume was the owner. She seemed friendly enough. My husband had spotted 2 items that he felt were must haves, and I was making my way to the back of the store to see these treasures. My son was looking at some brass items. I was close by both of my children, within 4 feet and I overheard the male owner of the store speaking with my children very rudely. He told them to not touch or move anything, everything was in the exact place that he wanted it and it shouldn't be moved. I turned and the look on my childrens faces were enough to make me want to leave the store. I told them to both come with me, we were leaving. My son insisted that he hadn't done anything wrong, I told him that we were leaving so please exit the store. As I am trying to leave, the same man who verbally assulted my children, began mumbling comments. He was insinuating that I wasn't watching my children. As I approached the door, he became louder... ""read the sign on th door, be a good parent and take care of your kids."" I became quite irritated. I turned around and approached him. He was extremely demeaning and discriminatry. He stated that I should take the kids shopping at the dollar store where we belong. I told him that he was rude and I would be sure to spread the word about his shop. He started taunting me and raising his voice, saying oh please no, don't do that. He became louder and louder repeating the same words. Then he started making allegations that my children had done damage to the items in his store and he was going to press charges. I welcomed him to make the report, we hadn't done anything more than attempt to shop.
I guess the point is, this man is discriminitory. One, he seems to have no respect for me as a woman and two, he feels that a family has no place in his store. I can only imagine how I might have been treated if I were not white. I have never been treated with such disrespect. I will never give a dime of my money to this establishment and I strongly urge that you take your business elsewhere as well. I will be filing complaint with the BBB and the local chamber of commerce.
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