I’ve been a regular here for over a year, usually coming once or twice a week for coffee and food, so today’s experience was really disappointing. I’m fasting this week, which is an unusual one-off situation for me. I came in, ordered an almond iced latte, and had a small caffeine-free Coke Zero sitting next to it. A server who knows me and has seen me here countless times told me outside drinks weren’t allowed. I acknowledged her. Instead of leaving it at that, she approached me a second time and then went to get the owner’s son so he could come over and repeat the policy to me. He acknowledged that he knew I was a regular customer, but reiterated the rule. At that point, I told him I would leave. He repeated to the server that I was leaving, but despite seeing that the situation had already made me uncomfortable enough to leave, there was no attempt from either of them to de-escalate the situation or make me feel welcome as a long-time customer. I completely understand having a no-outside-drinks policy. What bothered me was the unnecessary escalation and complete lack of discretion over something so minor. I wasn’t occupying a table without purchasing anything — their latte was literally sitting next to my Coke Zero. After consistently supporting a neighborhood business for over a year, being approached repeatedly and then having the situation escalated to management made me feel completely unwelcome. Policies are policies, but good hospitality also requires judgment in how they’re enforced and knowing how to handle a minor situation without alienating a repeat customer. Unfortunately, this experience completely changed how I feel about a café I had been happily visiting for over a long time.