‘A huge scene’: Store owner unhappy with group’s refusal to wear masks

On Wednesday evening, the owner of Dessart Sweets received a call from her staff that concerned her.

“Some people came to the deck to order ice cream not wearing masks,” Shelley Patterson said Thursday. “Our staff told them to put their masks on and they became irate and caused a huge scene.”

A video recorded by one of the anti-maskers was published online. The scene was not out of the ordinary in a time when anti-mask protests are occurring.

“There were about 15 of them,” Patterson said. “They were saying they have rights and were wondering if they could call the police because they were being discriminated against.

“One man was right up in my staff’s face yelling with no mask on right at the window. It was just a huge disgusting scene.”

(Warning: This video contains offensive language)

Like many businesses, Dessart Sweets continues to implement a mandatory mask policy until it feels comfortable not to do so. Staff members ask all customers to wear a mask both inside the establishment and in line on the deck.

Al Tayco, a customer of Dessarts and lover of apple pie ice cream, saw the video. He went out of his way Thursday to show his support.

“I was shocked. All they do is serve ice cream,” Tayco said. “Ice cream should make you happy.

“They are a local business and have always treated everyone with respect. They are just doing their job. Every business has their policy for what is going on right now. If we can lessen everyone else’s stress, that would be great.”

A number of people have joined Tayco in backing the local candy store. Many are planning to go to the store in the coming days to show their support for the shop and its staff.

“It is phenomenal and I am completely blown away,” Patterson said. “My faith in humanity has been restored.

“People are on my Facebook page or are coming into the store and showing support and saying, ‘Your staff is amazing. We are so sorry this happened to you.’ Someone came in and left a $40 tip (and) another person came and left a $150 tip — one of our regular customers — just to show their support for our staff.”

Patterson is proud that in a stressful situation her employees stood up for themselves.

“It’s harassment and it’s bullying. It’s not acceptable,” Patterson said.

“It’s not acceptable in the workplace. I have worked in the service industry for 37 years and there has always been (the mantra of) ‘The customer is always right’ and that is no longer true. We have a right to demand respect for our safety and the safety of others. We won’t tolerate it.”