I'm writing to express my disappointment with the service I received today at the Waterford Panera. I accompanied my mom, a senior citizen and Vietnam War hero, on a few errands. During our visit, we encountered a young man named Joseph who treated us with blatant rudeness and disrespect.
When we approached the counter, I sensed an immediate bias. Joseph looked at me with disdain, as if I were a street thug, and responded to my request to order with an aggressive "Well, I'm NOT!" This would have been an appropriate moment for a courteous reply, such as, "I will be with you soon, ma'am." Instead, his attitude suggested a lack of professionalism and respect.
As I placed my order, Joseph continued to huff and puff, clearly indicating his unwillingness to serve me. I am a native New Yorker with a background as a surgeon, professor, clergy, and businesswoman, and I know how to communicate clearly. Yet, he acted as if he couldn't understand me, which was incredibly frustrating.
When I asked for a bag, his response was dismissive, and he shoved it into my hand without any courtesy. I noticed that he interacted respectfully with the Caucasian customers while being openly rude to me.
Additionally, when my mother's order was ready, I was called to the counter, and the server displayed similar disrespect, almost throwing the bag at me. This behavior is unacceptable and reflects a deeper issue of bias.
While my mother's ciabatta cheesesteak was satisfactory, the cinnamon roll was stale and should have been discarded.
It's disheartening to see such prejudice in our community. If the Waterford Panera does not wish to serve people of color, they should clearly communicate that to avoid unnecessary visits. Joseph's behavior needs to be addressed; if he cannot treat all customers with respect, he should reconsider his position.
I do not recommend this location based on our experience. Thank you for your attention to this matter. read more