Story time:
Prior to the new ownership this store was always able to provide decent food for a good price considering the area.
Last week I ordered a 16" mushroom and hamburg pizza a just after 7 pm. I was told 30 minutes so when I arrived just prior to 8 pm I stated I had an order for Dan and apologized for arriving late (15-20 min) to pick up my pizza. Two employees, kitchen and cashier, were present and said it would be a few minutes as it was not quite done, I said that was fine and to please not take it out too early.
I then tried to use the ATM and was scolded by the cashier who told me it was down/out of money. I moved to the cooler in the rear of the store and considered buying some beer. I was as far away from the cashier as I could get but all I could hear was the cashier complaining about her boss not paying her enough so he should have plenty of $20 bills to put in the ATM. I'm confident whatever she gets paid is far too much. In the next few minutes I was asked "are you Chris?" and later "are you Adam?" and each time I answered that I am Dan and stated my order. I decided against buying anything else. Soon I was informed my pizza needed 2 more minutes in the oven.
While waiting in line a 3rd employee, Jerry, arrived and appeared to be in charge because the cashier tried to rationalize to him why she was giving away coffee filters to another customer.
My pizza came out and I paid for it with a card. When I picked it up I noticed the box was quite heavy. I carried it to the car where I inspected it to find a puddle of canned mushroom juice pooled in the middle, no cheese or crust had begun to crisp; my pizza was woefully undercooked. I estimate my $20 pizza had at least $8 worth of cheese alone and the excess cheese and undrained mushrooms gave the box extra weight and likely kept it from cooking properly.
I walked back into the store, past the kitchen employee who was now smoking a cigarette 3 ft from the main entrance and I pulled Jerry aside. I wanted to tell him about the disaster I had watched over the last 10 to 15 minutes but I quickly realized he either didn't care and/or had limited English. He was respectful and I was able to communicate that I wanted a refund and the email address or phone number of the owner or manager of the store.
As Jerry was making my refund I was interrogated by the cashier who felt the extra toppings made it a good deal and that I was out of line to ask for my money back. A customer in line with me agreed, privately, that the pizza was undercooked and the store and its food was no longer as good as it used to be. I got the refund and a phone number for Andy.
Multiple calls and texts to Andy over the next day were not returned. It is only after failed attempts to make a complaint with the staff in the store and the owner after that I have decided to leave a negative review.
I drove nearly 20 minutes to A E Robinson in Corrinna where for about $1 more I got a perfectly cooked Hamburg and mushroom pizza that was ready on time and I was treated respectfully by all employees throughout. read more
