local: doesn't always mean kind

Have you ever been chastised when you walked in the door of a cute little coffee shop, the one you like to frequent on Sunday mornings with your journal and book and a mostly-good cup of coffee? Me neither; that is, until about a month and a half ago.

Oh dear, I've debated writing this blog. But, if I'm taking a "No Chain Challenge" in favor of local restaurants, telling you all the reasons that local is generally a better choice, then I also have to tell the truth about these experiences - even the ones that are less than desirable.

The victim? Poplar Perk'n (or me, depending on how you look at it). The crime? Pen marks.

What? That's right pen marks. One Thursday morning, I go in to get my coffee, and 3.8 seconds after I walk in the door, I hear, "Hey, you're the one who was in here on Sunday. You got pen on our couch." Stunned. "What is she talking about?" I think.

"What? I'm so sorry..."

"Yeah, weren't you writing over there? Well, you got pen all over our couch; we'd just gotten it that morning." ("We're not mad at you or anything," another barista chimes in.) Really? Seems you're not happy with me either.

The story could be longer, but I'll stop here. I'm sorry about your couch; I'm sorry I brought a pen anywhere within 100 feet of your couch. But don't worry; I won't be coming back anytime soon. I'm too embarrassed and shocked that I was treated like a 5 year old.

The point is this: local establishments still choose their standards; they still choose who to hire; they still choose how to (or how not to) value their customers (who, honestly, didn't mean to get pen marks on that nice, new couch). This is by far uncommon in local, Memphis restaurants (though I can think of one other coffee shop that makes me feel not-cool-enough when I visit).

But still - go there. Support local business. Figure out for yourself. But dear friend, please don't take an ink pen through those doors...