The Staff Refused To Serve His Order But When He Appeared The Next Day They Were At Loss For Words

Better Not To Know

She wouldn’t clarify why she wouldn’t serve him, either. He did not join the queue for 45-minutes to be handled like this. And so he was undoubtedly not used to people refusing to obey his guidance or having to look at him like this – no one should ever be! She didn’t seem to have any clue as to who he really was or what power he had at his fingertips; it was undeniable indeed. So he couldn’t wait to see her face when she found out.

A Much Needed Day Off

For Alexandria, the VA man, Karl Baker, this was a day off that had been deemed necessary. After working several 12-hour shifts, he was quite fully prepared to relax and unwind. He’d already arranged his day out. He was about to sleep in, eat out, explore the city, and wrap up the day lounging in front of the TV with just a drink in his hand. But circumstances are not about to go as anticipated.

Lunch Time

Baker woke up with his dog hopping on his bed, the sun was shining on his face, and it was lunchtime already. He got ready, began to pour a cup of coffee on himself, and thought about where he might go to have a nice brunch. Decided, he jumped in his car and began heading for a restaurant on the outskirts of town that he hadn’t previously been to. That was a choice he was going to dread afterward.

Joining The Line

They began to look at him with absolute contempt. It’s been a long time since Baker had been confronted with some utter disregard. His chosen profession normally managed to keep him from being mistreated, but no one here knew who he really was. Baker walked in and decided to join the restaurant line. His hunger began to grow as he looked at the menu on the wall, just like the time he was waiting in line.

Bad Choice

His pick had long been limited down to two meals. In several aspects, Baker was wonderful, although, in one way, he had always been renowned for just being a picky eater. He was selective, to say the least, so when he decided on a dinner, he had great expectations that his research would actually pay off. He was convinced that it would be good enough to wait in line to justify the 45-minute wait. He was entirely wrong.

Waiting For A Long Time

Even if it was an unusually long time waiting to make a purchase, Baker was indeed a patient individual. This statement about that trait was driven far beyond the boundary, however, and pretty soon. By the time Baker actually arrived behind the till, he was starving and eager to buy. However, what happened next would have sent his head spinning.

Not A Good Day

Baker had respectfully greeted the cashier, who had welcomed him back with an appearance strongly reminiscent of frustration and perhaps irritation. She had been chewing gum and apparently looked as if she hadn’t had a decent day. Even so, while ordering his meals, he insisted on smiling. He understood that life wasn’t always rainbows and apple drops because Baker loved to make people smile when he could. It was certainly not for this employee, though.

Not Available

Baker ordered and then was shocked to hear her tell her that his initial order was impossible to produce. He was unhappy, but there were still some other choices available. He switched to his second option, which was not available once again. Befuddled, he glanced at the list and asked the restaurant for the only other meal he desired. She began to roll her eyes and repeated her previous reply.

Poor Attitude

It irritated Baker. He was actually only spending so much time lining up for food highlighted in chalk under today’s special offers. If he had known that these meals were not available, he would not have stood in line. And the situation was not helped by her implacably poor attitude. He also hindered his dissatisfaction and began to ask if there was anything that was not outlined on the list.

You Need To Leave

Once again, she began to roll her eyes and started to look at him disapprovingly, as if to claim, telepathically, that maybe the question he was asking was stupid. Now, alongside their misleading advertising, her conduct was just too much. He had plenty to say. However, it was as if she were reading his thoughts before he could even open his mouth. “Listen, mister, if you’re not going to order, you need to leave,” she snarled.

Making A Scene

“That’s it!” thought Baker. He stayed in place and then said nonchalantly, “Can I speak to your manager?” Without a word, she walks to one side and shouts at the back of the kitchen. She returns her empty stare at Baker, and then a lady comes out in response to her call. She starts looking at Baker, and then at the queue behind him, “What’s the problem here, sir? You’re holding up the people behind you.”

The Manager

Baker saw where the behavior of the worker had come from. This is not really going to be fun and interesting, he realizes. He ignored the demeaning accusation that he is the reason for such ridiculous lines and tried to explain what had actually happened and how the issue he observes in her establishment must be fixed by management. Her remark was completely unexpected.

They Laughed Instead

After that, a female cook happened to come to the register to notify the manager, pointing to Baker, “You better pull me off the line because I’m not serving him.” He decided to wait for the manager to take action, but she began laughing. Baker managed to keep his cool and informed them respectfully to manage their customers better, or there would indeed be consequences.

Men Like Him

As Baker expected, she didn’t want to listen to his recommendation. “I understand that things didn’t go your way today, sir, but that’s life. Now, if you could kindly remove yourself from my establishment. I don’t serve men like you,” she scoffed. “Men like me?!” Baker responded incredulously. What did she mean by ‘men like him’?

Enough Is Enough

Baker has enough. He was not playing Mr. Nice Guy anymore. In conversing with her, attempting to speak with greater authority, he reaffirmed his goal and assured her that he was saying things for her own benefit. Now, he asked her to clarify what she implied by “men like him.” But what she’s doing next in his thoughts will end up settling any doubts about retaliation.

Don’t Look Down On Me

She seemed to be both cold-faced and arrogant. “I don’t need to explain what I meant to anyone. Get on out now before you cause a scene,” she said. He was not used to people who refused to obey this sort of order. And he was certainly not accustomed to others looking down on him.

Without His Uniform

She didn’t seem to have any clue as to who he really was or what power he had at his fingertips; it was obvious. Without his uniform, he often figured it was a great way to see what people were like. And this proved successful. Baker really realized that she wasn’t going to talk to him like an older person. He felt totally mistreated as bystanders began to notice.

The Audacity

He started looking around at a few of the ears and eyes that paid him interest. As he came to realize, almost everyone was staring at him in the restaurant, his face turning red. He did not even recognize anybody there, but he began to wonder if some of the customers had identified him. They certainly wouldn’t even assume that a restaurant would have the audacity to address him like this if they did.

Won’t Let It Go Unpunished

Without anything more to discuss, Baker decided to leave the restaurant. He was disappointed, angry, and embarrassed by their behavior, behavior that he could not just let go unpunished. He would overlook the disturbing beginning of his day in the uniform that indicates addressing and beginning serving everyone with respect and coming back to terms with this terrible experience tomorrow during normal working hours. How are they then going to respond?

Man In Uniform

The following day, Baker threw on the attire of his police chief and went back to work. He had so many things to work on. He was worried, but he had promised himself to call the restaurant and reveal his real face. He can’t sit tight and see them trembling in their boots.

With His Uniform On

Baker decided to stop at the restaurant on his journey back from some call-out in the area. He pulled his cruiser up and pushed through the doorways, lucky to find the parking lot. His face appeared strict. The entire restaurant was loaded with the aura of his appearance. Baker was indeed a broad, big guy, and with his uniform on, he seemed to embody power.

All Smiles

They were all looking at him now for all the best reasons. He was approached with a smiling face and with honor. Even the expressions of all the staff and the person at the checkout, who is now somewhat more attentive, suddenly lightened up. She greeted him with a smiling face that began to fade once she had identified him gradually. Dumping formalities, he requested the manager.

Where’s The Manager?

The cashier appealed to the manager tentatively. That being said, at this moment, she began to walk to the back kitchen door and screamed. Now she seemed to be mindful of her manners, it seemed. Baker stood with one hand resting on his waist belt and the other carrying a radio device. For obvious reasons, he played the part. Especially as his radio call bleeped with officer notifications, he waited for her to see her show up.

It Went Viral

At the moment, though, a different manager was working. However, she was quite upset by what Baker tried to tell her and immediately apologized. She also pledged to publish an internal review of her co-worker’s actions. After bystanders who had been there report about the officer’s mismanagement, the story managed to reach social networking sites briefly. The restaurant now had to come out with a statement.

They Did Not Deny

A representative for the restaurant did not attempt to deny the allegations when asked more about the officer’s disturbing treatment. She told the media that everything had actually happened, as Baker had described. The restaurant was shocked that a law enforcement officer had been shown disrespectful and agreed to look more into the problem. But would it really be enough?

Discrimination

One enraged reader decided to write, “I don’t know why the offended officer doesn’t sue for $150,000. This is NO DIFFERENT than the Oregon bakery’s refusing to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. Discrimination is discrimination!” Whereas another took a more rational view. “We are working with the appropriate authorities and local police association representatives to get to the bottom of and resolve this matter as quickly as possible,” added in a statement.

Trying To Save Face

“We have made efforts to reach out to the police officer involved but have not yet spoken with him. We will continue to look into the situation and will take the appropriate actions after this review.”The story immediately began doing all the cycles on Twitter and Facebook, to the uproar of thousands of users, even after the establishment’s urge to save face.

Outraged Responses

One enraged reader stated, “I don’t know why the offended officer doesn’t sue for $150,000. This is an awful behavior that can easily be considered a breach of customer rights.” At the same time, yet another took a more principled perception. “If I were a cop, I’d be way less concerned about these people who are openly anti-police than I would about someone quietly harboring resentment and handling my food.”

Good Relationship

And though Alexandria Police Union Representative Pete Feltham applauded the restaurant for its coordination and rapid apology, the damage was already done when the restaurant rushed outside the restaurant to place banners to support law enforcement officers. Instead of intensifying the conflict, he disconnected and believed that Baker “handled the situation perfectly.” Still, he said he was shocked that such an event took place in Alexandria because police forces usually have fantastic relationships with citizens and local businesses.

No Turning Back

None of the statements by Feltham did anything to soothe the outrage of the public. Thousands of comments were left on the restaurant’s Facebook page, grumpily notifying them that they were beginning to be boycotted completely and encouraging other customers to do so as well. There was even debate on social media among individuals about stealing from the restaurant after the incident. Baker decided, nevertheless, to make his stance on this simple.

Two Wrongs Do Not Make A Right

He said that he is not really in favor of ‘cancel culture’ due to this, and neither does he want to see criminal activity arise in the restaurant. He also discourages anyone from trying to stop supporting the establishment. “Take the high road!” he said. “The actions of a few do not equate to the actions of many.” Two wrongs, after therefore do not make a right.

The Backlash

In responding to the huge amount of criticism, the restaurant focused its efforts on its promise. As per The Washington Post, just under a week afterward, they made an official statement. “In a statement, the company said that ‘the views and actions of these individuals’ were ‘inexcusable’ and do not reflect those of the company or the rest of the staff at the Duke Street location,” said the source.

Resulted To Dismissal

The establishment started in the follow-up remark, “We have concluded the two team members in question acted inappropriately, and we immediately terminated their employment,” continuing, “We have the utmost respect for law enforcement officials and value the relationship we have built with the local Alexandria Police Department over the years.”

Going Out Of Their Way

The night manager and restaurant tracked Baker to apologize for three staff members’ horrific behavior and attitude and plan to go out of their way to clarify to anyone and everyone that they support law enforcement. The situation even caught Allison Silberberg, Alexandria’s mayor. She said she appreciated the company’s “full-throated apology of the company for this unfortunate situation.” but how would other law enforcement members feel?

What Did The Others Say?

The head of police said to the station, “Well, your first response as a police officer is anger.” “These are tough times right now with our relations with everyone, and to have one of my officers treated in that manner unnecessarily – your first response is anger, then you calm down a bit.” When she saw a similar incident taking shape, a waitress decided to step in.

“Suck It Up”

Britanny can feel the anger that is forming inside her. She can’t believe that a rude person like that exists. She didn’t ask for it. All along, these people were trying to get her to agree with them. She went to the manager, but she was just told to suck it up. How could such a thing happen to her?

The Couple

Brittany Spencer had already been working as a waitress for the past couple of years, and she figured she had seen everything. Almost every type of person arrived at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, through Fat Joe’s Bar & Grill. But when an elderly couple came through the door, she didn’t think anything about it first.

They Looked Around The Diner

When they sat down, their gestures started to change. Immediately, Brittany knew it was going to be really tough. The couple looked all over the restaurant, frustratedly slapping their faces as if they were stepping into their dreadful nightmare. Reasonably enough, this was not a Michelin star diner, but the food is great.

She Smelled Something Awful

Brittany had dismissed her first observations. She thought she might also make them laugh with her charming personality. And yet, she had no clue how entirely wrong she had been. She approached them and also decided to offer the menus. There wasn’t a hello back when she decided to hand them menu options. The lady wrinkled her nose as if she were smelling something nasty.

Laughing At Another Customer

She stepped away, and when she turned around, she could see the pair watching and laughing at yet another client on the edge of the restaurant. The focus of their bile was a frequent and also very friendly client.

In Deep Discussion

The pair were deep in discussion and largely unaware that Brittany was waiting next to them at another table. Brittany’s ears twitched, and she paid attention to their conversation. She was in complete shock when she heard what they were saying. How can they do something like that to an individual they didn’t even know?

Vile Judgment

As Brittany went to them to begin accepting their request, they decided to ask her what she was thinking of the other “client.” If she thought it was as horrible and disgusting as they obviously did, they questioned Brittany, asking why someone like that would be allowed anywhere near the diner. Their old faces were filled with nothing other than disagreeable judgment.

“I Can’t Serve You”

She replied to the elderly couple before walking away from them, “Sorry, but I can’t serve you. And I’m afraid I have to disagree with what you said.” However, she did not just abandon it and began asking her manager if the table could otherwise be allocated to some other staff member. But circumstances were just about to become even further tangled.

“Suck It Up Or Go Home”

Her manager continued to refuse, basically having to tell her that she should “suck it up or go home.” Brittany realized that she could not begin serving the table with customers who had such terrible views on a human being, not even considering trying to make one of her regulars feel very uncomfortable. So she picked up her bag and went through the door barging. But the implications of her conduct were just about to unfold.

Everybody Is On Her Side

Brittany decided that night after work to share what had just taken place on Facebook. People reacted, praising Brittany for trying to stand up for herself, and many even named the restaurant where the incident occurred. As she turned off her laptop and tucked it away into her bed, Brittany let out a breath of relief. There’s everyone on her side, she thought.

She Was Fired

The very next day, management told Brittany that she had been dismissed! Exploding with rage, she snatched her laptop and immediately proceeded to Facebook. She updated everyone on the dreadful development. The reactions were intense. “But I’ll always choose my morals over money. See ya!” she indicated. But the owners of the restaurant do have very opposing viewpoints.

Neutral Approach Didn’t Work

The restaurant’s co-owner stated that Brittany had been dismissed since she refused to do the job she was appointed to do. She said that she heard a few discussions throughout her years in the industry that she disagreed with herself, but you get along and do your job. That being said, the stormy waters were not soothed by their neutral approach.

Blind Eye

Brittany and others said that it turned a blind eye to allow racism to occur with little or no response in your institution, which she perceives to be the same as simply stating one’s own hurtful things. But Brittany still thought she had made the right decision. As for the diner’s current conditions as well as core values?

Continue The Same Approach

Brittany ended her viral post on Facebook with: “Please feel free to leave a review on their Facebook page, Fat Joe’s Bar and Grill.” They started receiving far too much hatred for temporarily removing their Facebook page, but it’s up again. Not long after the circumstances made headlines, a few personal demonstrations forced the diner to contact the cops. After all, they declare the incident has not significantly affected their daily operations and will proceed with much the same moral approach. Yet there was one crucial feature they deliberately missed, many people neglected.

Just Taking The Order

Brittney behaved with enough professional competence to ask politely to change tables, which is not really a huge request. The manager’s initial response (“suck it up”) reveals the mentality towards their staff member’s convenience. What about being allowed to deny service to customers trying to impose viewpoints on someone who wants to take their request? And what would the owners, Joe and Whitney Wallander, have to say?

“Everybody Has Their Opinions”

During a question and answer session with CBS, “Everybody has their opinions, everybody is entitled to their opinions,” said Whitney, who is the co-owner of Fat Joe’s. Whitney continued to say that her management group had come to a decision with regards to letting Brittany go home but they didn’t actually fire her.

Screenshots

Several members of staff from the diner decided to show the Wallenders screen captures of the thread Brittney had posted about the incident on Facebook before the team meeting that Sunday morning. While Fat Joe’s was not directly mentioned in the thread, Tad Wallender said Brittany’s Facebook account listed Fat Joe’s as her workplace. Taking this into account, people were able to directly make the link between the post and the restaurant.

Unprofessional

The fact that they were openly criticized on Facebook, Tad along with Whitney was not impressed and didn’t take it lightly. To put things simply, each company has the responsibility to protect, however, Tad was concerned that maybe Brittany’s position had changed the perception of the whole situation. But it needed to be clear Brittany’s part in it all was very inappropriate. When she showed up to the team meeting, she was immediately fired.

Living With People That Have Different Opinions

“She decided she wanted to post stuff on Facebook about being sent home. And we just made the business decision that we can’t have employees that aren’t going to make us look good as an establishment. We should be able to get along as a community. Everyone has different opinions, and I think it’s important that we know how to live with people that have different opinions than us,” Whitney stated.

Taking Pride In Their Decisions

“We don’t take a stand on any conversation people have. We’re not going to impose anyone’s political beliefs, moral beliefs, ideals on any single person. We’re just here to serve food and drinks,” Tad also said to USA TODAY. Even though the shareholders of the diner take pride in their decisions, others contend that they should’ve just made a better choice. What do you think?

They Shut Down Their Facebook Page

In more recent years, discrimination has sadly been the center of many social media and political platforms, with initiatives trying to raise awareness of these terrifying issues. As a result, more and more people are letting this type of bullying fall through the cracks. Fat Joe’s Facebook page after Brittany’s post turned into a major battlefield,” Tad said, pressuring him to shut it down. The thread from Brittany was never something he never actually wanted the diner to be associated with. So just a few days afterward, many frightening emails had been received by the company…

Not An Issue

Fat Joe’s try their best to be unbiased and of course considerate, according to comments that were made by the owners. Following that, frequent customers at the diner are both the customers who decided to make the nasty comments as well as the person they were speaking about. Tad then added that there had never been a problem like this before where it involved the two different groups.

She Didn’t Want To Cause A Scene

“If they felt they were being harassed, if they did, I apologize… that was never my intention. I don’t want anyone to be harassed, but they do need to know that what they did was wrong. Letting people say transphobic things is not remaining neutral. I didn’t make a scene. I wasn’t asking for them to be kicked out. I didn’t want to take a table,” Brittany disputed.

Everybody Is Welcome

Following the large public outcry, the diner seemed to have been doubling down on its part. Tad said that everybody is welcomed to come by the diner and that this was mainly about pompous customers who have no care in the world about verbally abusing other customers. “If you want to walk in our front door and you want to have our food or drinks, watch TV, watch live music we provide, we’re going to serve you as best we can and make you happy to your standards,” Wallender stated to WTMJ.

Unchecked Hate Speech

Brittany also noted that she did not provoke up any rotten karma towards the Fat Joe’s or the owners of the establishment, but she hopes that the reaction they received online will start serving as a learning curve that they’ll never allow hate speech to go unnoticed. “I hope this incident will open people’s eyes that hate like this is still occurring in 2019 and the idly standing by and spreading hate is just as bad as spreading it yourself,” she exclaimed. Wait until you see this next story that also took place in a family restaurant…

Jackie and her husband were experiencing a rough patch in their relationship after she gave birth to her third child. They decided to go for dinner with the whole family when their night went completely different than expected after their waitress did this.

Behind Her Back

Jackie left the table to go to the bathroom and when she came back she saw something that made her so angry. The waitress put something on their table that was unacceptable. She couldn’t believe what she saw.

The Tears Came

She wasn’t interested in creating a scene but at the same time, she couldn’t imagine just watching this without doing anything about it. Naturally, she insisted her husband let her see what their waitress gave him, and when he did there was no stopping her tears.

Motherhood

Being a mother is challenging but nothing was nearly as difficult as what Jackie Johnson-Smith experienced in the local pizza shop in Des Moines, Iowa that evening. She planned to have a relaxing evening with her family, but it was the opposite.

Stirring Up Drama

Their waitress saw this family sitting together and was even serving them. When Jackie went to the bathroom, she took this as her chance to slip her husband a note. Jackie couldn’t believe what she wrote and how brave she was to do this in front of his entire family.

Not Someone To Mess With

Jackie was a bold girl who even served in the U.S. Military. She wasn’t the sensitive type and you didn’t want to get on her bad side. Besides spending spend in the army, her main purpose in life was being the best mother she could be.

A War Hero

Jackie was one tough cookie. She rarely cried and she didn’t let most things bother her. However, that evening something happened that made Jackie feel more vulnerable than ever. Even her husband was surprised by how she acted to this.

Not So Glamorous

Jackie always made sure she looked presentable, despite feeling exhausted and dirty from watching her children. Her husband was naturally good looking, which would maybe cause problems down the line…

He Got A Lot Of Attention

Jackie was smitten with her husband and was aware that other women found him go looking as well. She didn’t want to let this irritate her but after seeing how the waitress was acting, she couldn’t help but be annoyed.

A Blind Eye

It was clear that their relationship wasn’t the same as it was in the beginning. After having three children, her physical and mental abilities were not in tip-top shape and she was exhausted.

Feeling Uncertain

She had moments of uncertainty in her relationship and hesitated before mentioning her insecurities. She typically would push these feelings away but that night she couldn’t help but burst after what happened.