Appreciation post: The waitress at 3rd Place books who told me to put the phone down

I was sitting in the cafe area at 3rd Place Books in Lake Forest Park last Saturday. Lookin at my phone while waiting for my coffee. This older waitress came by and just said "hey, look up for a second." Not rude but firm. She pointed over to a kid maybe 7 years old reading a big dinosaur book at the table next to me. Said that kid noticed I was on my phone the whole time and asked his mom why grown ups do that. Made me feel like a real jerk honestly. I put the phone away and actually talked to her for a minute about how the place has been there since the 90s. Anyone else have a stranger call them out like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

willowroberts1mo ago

Did she refill your coffee after that or nah? I got yelled at by a librarian once for putting my feet on a chair and honestly it was kind of refreshing.

james6611mo ago

Disagree completely on this one, sorry (and I'm a pretty laid back guy usually). Getting yelled at for something that minor isn't refreshing, it's just bad customer service dressed up like tough love. The coffee refill thing is kind of a big deal because it shows whether the person actually cares or is just on a power trip. That librarian probably felt good about themselves for a second, but you were the one left feeling small over a chair. I'd rather have a server who ignores my feet on a chair and keeps the coffee coming than one who lectures me about rules (especially when I'm paying for the experience). Rules have their place, but public shaming over tiny stuff just makes everything more tense for everyone.