I will not return to a place I'm unwelcome to frequent.
From almost the moment our Meetup group sat down (after ordering a first round of drinks and pastries, mind you) we were given the cold shoulder. Then the lady came over and requested we move to make space for the lunch crowd.
This was at 10:45. Lunch????? But okay - we are nothing if not obliging of a business's wishes, however I was left baffled by the third person reference - who was "I" if not PART OF this esteemed "lunch crowd," and I was already actually there. First come first serve, right?!
Strike one.
I proceeded to order my drink and pastry.
Attituuuude.
Strike two.
We decide to distribute ourselves throughout the space with some of us sitting and some standing - others waiting for a chair or another table....only 20 of us in the space, which was a comfortable fit. An hour and a half into our coffee Meetup chatter and we are briskly interrupted by the (manager I presume) with a sad attempt at an apologetic request to vacate so there would be space for some kind of lunch crowd - which still had yet to make itself known. Those that had graced the space we're already seated enjoying their food. Perhaps they didn't know they too would experience a quick and hasty shooing to make space for a mysterious dinner crowd.
Strike three.
I had already made my mind up on the first strike that I wouldn't get a refill or anything further this morning, and by the third strike she had successfully put my desire to remain silent and forget about the whole affair to rest. Not only do I refuse to return but to now I'm compelled to alert unwary travellers to the unprofessional and unwelcoming spirit that dwells within that space.
It's really rather too bad, because I rather liked that cheesecake. C'mon though - even McDonald's provides a more hospitable service than this.
Dine alone and at your own risk. They might not see you as a viable customer but as something taking up valuable space for that lunch crowd whose surely still on their way.