Dairy Godmother, Alexandria: RUDE and AWFUL

[Anonymous]

No matter what its called - it wasn't very good and the staff was rude. I don't think that was the point of the initial thread (that places have closing times) but I'm not shocked that you pull what you need out of it to feel important on an anonymous mom blog. And I do hope you teach your children name calling and judgement of others (or I guess you just call strangers names on ice cream...er...CRAPPY YOGURT....threads). Get a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read through all the posts but if the OP is still reading, welcome to Alexandria! When we moved here from the Northeast a few years ago, many people told us how about Del Ray and how great it is and I'm still trying to figure out what they mean. We don't live in the neighborhood but go there occasionally to eat and wander around and are nearly always disappointed. DG is certainly overpriced and seems to be run by a bunch of surly teenages, the large Mex/Salvadorian place is worse than a zoo, the taco place is bland and St. Elmo's coffee is disgusting.

Still, given the price of real estate around there, I must be missing something...

I agree - I moved here from the Boston area (Arlington MA) and we chose Del Ray for the same reasons. Four years later, I'm still scratching my head about what the big deal is. It's ~meh~. In fact, the whole area is.

Why ARE real estate prices so crazy here?

[Anonymous]

OP -- businesses don't let folks in after closing for many reasons -- one of which is the threat of robbery. Heard of the LuLu Lemon case? The worker feigned forgetting her wallet to kill her co-worker.

Someone could use their kid as a pawn to get in and rob. Sorry...it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read through all the posts but if the OP is still reading, welcome to Alexandria! When we moved here from the Northeast a few years ago, many people told us how about Del Ray and how great it is and I'm still trying to figure out what they mean. We don't live in the neighborhood but go there occasionally to eat and wander around and are nearly always disappointed. DG is certainly overpriced and seems to be run by a bunch of surly teenages, the large Mex/Salvadorian place is worse than a zoo, the taco place is bland and St. Elmo's coffee is disgusting.

Still, given the price of real estate around there, I must be missing something...

I could've have written this myself - St. Elmos Coffee is the worst, the mexican place is overpriced, the Dairy Godmother is a wicked witch. I like Caboose Cafe though.

[Anonymous]

The Dairy Godmother is a wicked witch. We know where not to go after the fireworks this weekend.

Not that I have ever found the service or the yougurt to be very good.

[Anonymous]

Have to agree... we went there today at 3:30 pm- very excited for our treat after driving up from Springfield. We were "greeted" by the Scary Godmother who told us we couldn't have the stroller in there. We hadn't even glanced at the menu. We hadn't noticed the sign, and were really taken aback. So, we walked out... I had to go back in and tell her that, due to her rudeness, she had just lost our business. She didn't apologize, just said that the fire marshall had mandated this, etc, and that St. Elmo's down the street didn't allow strollers either, etc. What was strange was that she kept blaming the fire marshall. I pointed out that there was another woman in line with a stroller, and she said "Yes, I have spoken with her". I told her I didn't think it was a good way to run a business to not even let us order because we had a stroller (we would've taken our custard outside), but clearly there was someone else with a stroller in there. So, frustrated, I walked outside. She followed me, and started going on and on about the fire marshall, etc, but to us it made no sense to have a certain time to kick out strollers instead of an maximum occupancy. If you don't want strollers in your store, you don't want them, and that's fine... just say you don't want them.

What bothered me the most was that she didn't even care that she had lost business... she was rude from the moment she saw us. There was a much better way to approach us instead of immediately kicking us out. Our baby was in the stroller sleeping, and I asked her what she would have us do with him... leave him outside? She also kept telling us that, in case of emergency, strollers would block people's way out... hmm.. wouldn't that apply to wheelchairs,and, for that matter, tables and chairs???

We went down the street to the Caboose cafe. While they don't have custard, we had drinks and smoothies, were welcomed in with our stroller, and the staff even gave us free bread (I had asked to buy a roll for the baby who was being picky with food). That was a lovely experience.

[Anonymous]

Yawn...

Yes it is correct, several businesses in Del Ray have been ordered not to allow strollers in. It's simply a safety hazard considering the number of people coming through these businesses. Having had to deal with fire inspections of commercial property I can say it’s not good to be fined, which would happen if the business did not follow an order. A violation would also show their lack of concern for safety of all customers.

I could see why the Caboose Cafe is allowed to have strollers, as they don't get close to the amount of business. As for wheelchairs being in the way, it does not take a study to show there are many more strollers than wheelchairs in Del Ray.

Bottom line is that you disagree with the fire marshal order, while not perceived kind, at least the owner made an effort to explain the reason. Instead of complaining to someone who can't change it, why don't you complain to Alexandria's fire marshal that can actually do something about it? http://alexandriava.gov/fire/

[Anonymous]

Not that I have ever found the service or the yougurt to be very good.

It isn't yogurt. It's custard.

[Anonymous]

Bottom line is that there is no code that bans strollers, so just admit it's your own rule, and don't allow some with strollers and not others.

Not perceived kind? No, it was downright rude.. obviously the business owner does not care about losing business since her shop is so popular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not that I have ever found the service or the yougurt to be very good.

It isn't yogurt. It's custard.

Yogurt, custard, whatever. It's still a year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have to agree... we went there today at 3:30 pm- very excited for our treat after driving up from Springfield. We were "greeted" by the Scary Godmother who told us we couldn't have the stroller in there. We hadn't even glanced at the menu. We hadn't noticed the sign, and were really taken aback. So, we walked out... I had to go back in and tell her that, due to her rudeness, she had just lost our business. She didn't apologize, just said that the fire marshall had mandated this, etc, and that St. Elmo's down the street didn't allow strollers either, etc. What was strange was that she kept blaming the fire marshall. I pointed out that there was another woman in line with a stroller, and she said "Yes, I have spoken with her". I told her I didn't think it was a good way to run a business to not even let us order because we had a stroller (we would've taken our custard outside), but clearly there was someone else with a stroller in there. So, frustrated, I walked outside. She followed me, and started going on and on about the fire marshall, etc, but to us it made no sense to have a certain time to kick out strollers instead of an maximum occupancy. If you don't want strollers in your store, you don't want them, and that's fine... just say you don't want them.

What bothered me the most was that she didn't even care that she had lost business... she was rude from the moment she saw us. There was a much better way to approach us instead of immediately kicking us out. Our baby was in the stroller sleeping, and I asked her what she would have us do with him... leave him outside? She also kept telling us that, in case of emergency, strollers would block people's way out... hmm.. wouldn't that apply to wheelchairs,and, for that matter, tables and chairs???

We went down the street to the Caboose cafe. While they don't have custard, we had drinks and smoothies, were welcomed in with our stroller, and the staff even gave us free bread (I had asked to buy a roll for the baby who was being picky with food). That was a lovely experience.

I was there yesterday about the same time...doesn't the sign say after 3pm , no strollers? I for one agree with the sign. If they allowed strollers in there it would be a nightmare. Really how hard is it to wait outside with the stroller or even better take your kid out for a few minutes.

The ice cream is ok there, the ice pops are boring.

St. Elmos - I have ordered the "coffee of the day" several times and they end up looking at me like "what are you talking about?"

Caboose cafe- just gross. I hate their menu, its weird and they have nothing that ever tastes that great anyway.

[Anonymous]

Gotta love the 'burbs! Have you ever tried to get into one of these stores when 7 or 8 of you have your double strollers? Us city moms don't seem to have these issues.

As for the after hours, I'm sure it's a safety thing. It's not like anyone has been killed in a retail store ever.

[Anonymous]

There facebook update for today ..."If coming in tonight,please respect that we close at 8pm so staff can get to fireworks. We will not let you in a minute later!"

I doubt they are kidding either.

[Anonymous]

I worked at a place like this once, and believe me, that girl would have been fired if she had let you in to use the bathroom after closing. Total safety precaution. You need to stop dragging your little one around so late. She should have been snuggled in bed at that time. So, you are the one at fault.

[Anonymous]

It's good to give the kiddos a break from the stroller. Let them use those little legs. (ever see Wall-e?) And if they are infants, I bet they would love to see the world from your shoulder! And if they are asleep, I am sure one of the parents could wait outside, and if there is only one parent there, then ice cream can wait. Simple.