April Alario
17:43 12 Apr 26
When I was a brand new mom, I went to this coffee shop to sit and talk through my postpartum depression with someone. I had my sleeping baby with me. I bought a single cup of cheap tea, and sat for a long time journaling after the other person with me left. After about an hour and half, I was kicked out because apparently I was taking up too much space for too long. My baby was quiet, asleep in a stroller. I had kept to myself, and I was respectful. I asked why I was being kicked out, and they said I only ordered one cup of tea and it was time to leave. It was not busy, and I was not bothering anyone in any way so there was no reason for them to do this, except for some kind of weird standard about which customers were worthy of time to sit and which were not, but I left without another word. In my four decades on the planet I’ve never been treated like this at a coffee shop. I am a writer, and have spent many hours at coffee shops writing around the country. This was the only time in my life this has happened. What made it sting the most was that it was when I was emotionally vulnerable and working through depression with a brand new baby. But not only this, add to this moment that this coffee shop professes to be a place that does good and loves God. God had nothing to do with their inhospitable attitude. I am writing this literally nearly seven years after it happened, for no other reason than this moment was so hurtful that it’s still popping in my head that much after the fact. For this reason alone, for the damage it left in my mind, they deserve this very poor review. I never went back after that day, and if you are reading this, I encourage you to stay away if you are at all a vulnerable person. This is not a welcoming place. It is not an emotionally safe place. Don’t give them your business.
(339) 440-4563
61 Munroe Street Lynn, MA
