OK, this one might be a bit too bizarre. It’s certainly shows the AMAZING power of the Internet.
We (my wife, Kay, and daughter, Kelly) were in Bellingham, WA this week for the Washington State High School Golf Championships (see my previous post).
On Tuesday evening, May 20, all the parents and players from Kelly’s school, Life Christian Academy, went out for dinner. We eagerly looked forward to some great pizza and Italian food at Stanellos, because it had been recommended by friends.
Apparently, what our friends hadn’t experienced was the totally rude and insolent attitude we met from the owner, Stan Velis. After most of us had been seated in a large, mostly empty and nondescript room, the last group of three people, including Kelly’s golf coach, showed up. Stan told the latecomers they could NOT sit with us in the mostly empty room and led them to an upstairs room, equally large and completely empty. One of the three told Stan they wanted to sit with the group, not alone upstairs, and the fireworks started. Stan became very upset and told our coach and the two parents with him that he didn’t like their attitude.
Of course, they decided to go somewhere else. As the rest of us found out what was happening we also asked Stan why they couldn’t sit with us in the large empty room. Stan blew his stack and chewed out one of the mothers. I then went to Stan and said, "You’re going to lose all of us, if you continue to treat us like this." His exact words? "I’m GLAD you’re leaving!"
So we did. We walked across the street to Mambo Italian Cafe where we were greeted with open arms and great food. We all give it big thumbs up.
So here’s where it gets bizarre. Yesterday I wrote several scathing reviews of Stanellos and submitted them to restaurant sites. Today, the Stanellos site announces they are CLOSING on June 5! I had no idea those reviews were so powerful.
Amazing, but true.
So how much did Stan lose? Well figure roughly $30 per person, plus 20% tip. Just under $1000. I’m sure his wait staff was thrilled to watch that tip walk out the door.
I must say I’m not surprised at the poor treatment you recieved at Stanello’s, it’s not a rare occurance. Being a local around here I have learned to avoid that restaurant at all costs, plus the food isn’t that great anyways. My favorite restaurant in town is just above Mambo Italian Cafe. It’s call The Black Cat, or Le Chat Noir (the french version). It is by far the best ceasar salad in town, and has the greatest atmosphere of any restaurant in Bellingham. Next time you are in the area I highly recommend that restaurant.
Thanks, Chelsea! I’ll spread the word to the other parents about Le Chat Noir. We’ll definitely check it out.
Steve – Not from the area, so not familiar with the place. Also, I don’t condone bad customer service in the slightest, but wondering if something isn’t going on in Stan’s life that makes him so rude. A personal issue – sickness, divorce, etc.
Sounds like your area won’t lose any sleep over the loss of that restaurant!
I received several flames from someone calling him or herself The Invisible Hand. He or she really lit into me about what a jerk I am. I have no problem being labeled a jerk. That’s their prerogative and it doesn’t really bother me.
However, I’ve deleted the comments for two reasons. First, this person doesn’t post their own name. That’s an act of a coward. And second, he or she resorts to unacceptable language.
If you want to yell at me, please do it in a civilized manner.
BTW, TIH also thinks I’m taking credit for Stanellos closing. Apparently understanding irony and tongue-in-cheek humor is beyond his or her ken.
Quite honestly, I’m not surprised that Stan kicked you out. From the sound of it, you’re a large group of uppity individuals with an even larger group of annoying students. Restaurants hate that. Why you ask? Because people such as yourselves walk into a place with your massive numbers, dominate the eating areas, and tend to be quite loud and boisterous, often to the point of disturbing others in the area. Many restaurants will seat you and suffer the consequences of dealing with a group such as yourselves. I’m in the restaurant business and frankly, I can’t stand it. I’ll take the loss of your business in exchange for the well being of everyone else in the restaurant, don’t think that you truly could effect income for the particular day or time period. Just because a restaurant had the, quite crudely termed, balls to stand up for themselves and eject a large group is a statement to the integrity of the restaurant and their refusal to be pushed around by arrogance and numbers.
I love it when people leap butt-first into a discussion with broad, closed-minded, uninformed, clearly biased arguments like this. Hey “John,” what part of “most of us had been seated in a large, mostly empty and nondescript room” did you not read in my post? Oh and where did you read he kicked us out? We left. Geez, John, if you want your arguments to be taken seriously, use the facts correctly.
The only other people in the room were the parents and team from LaSalle High School and their own large group.
Also, I enjoy seeing posts from “people like you” to use your own phrase, who show instant understanding of a situation YOU DID NOT SEE.
Oh, and here’s a freebie tip, If you don’t like large groups, don’t take their reservations! There’s rocket-science thinking for you. (You’re not really in the restaurant business, are you?)