Midwest Restaurant Closes Early Due to Rude Customers
This is a reminder to be kind to your servers!
If you've gone out to eat recently, then there's a pretty good chance you've experienced one of the common issues that restaurants all over the country have been facing. Food costs have increased, certain menu items are hard to get, and there just aren't enough employees to keep up with demand. In the face of these difficulties, it's important to remember that they're NOT your servers fault.
According to a new article from WISN, a popular business in West Bend, Wisconsin called Skinny Vic's Diner & Coffee Shop recently closed down early, not because they ran out of food or nobody showed up for work, but because customers were being rude to staff members. The owner left a note on the door that read:
"We are understaffed... severely... just like everywhere. My staff chooses to be here to serve you! Unfortunately due to mistreatment towards them, I have closed for the rest of today. Be kind & respectful!"
On the day of the early closure, owner Vicki Lehnerz said that they didn't have a busser or a dishwasher, and both a cook and server called in. Because they were short-staffed, the employees that did show up were on the receiving end of some not-so-nice comments from frustrated customers. Vicki addressed the issue on Facebook, writing:
"None of our staff have to be here!
They choose to to be, being mistreated makes them want to quit!
SO WHEN YOUR FAVORITE PLACES ARE CLOSED DUE TO STAFFING ,OR IN OUR CASE TODAY, RUDENESS TO THE STAFF, you can understand why!
We are all working very hard to SERVE YOU- please be kind and if you must- reach out to the owner! My staff doesn’t deserve to be treated with such disrespect."
Since the early closure, Vicki and the staff at Skinny Vic's have received a lot of support from the community. As frustrating as these issues are for customers, it's important to remember that they're even more frustrating for employees. Many of them are working incredibly hard and dealing with a lot of things that are completely out of their control. They deserve respect and kindness, so bring some of that with you on your next trip out to eat. We're hopeful that nothing like this will happen here in the Corridor! You can read more about the situation in West Bend, Wisconsin HERE.