Carmel belle **Warning** Racism is being supported by you when you eat at this restaurant.

**Warning** Racism is being supported by you when you eat at this restaurant. My wife, my son and I were having a beautiful morning. Went to Carmel bakery and grabbed some food before my wife had to go to work.  After walking her to work I decided to go to Carmel Belle.  Worst mistake of my entire life.

What you’re going to read will sound like fiction, but as a busy computer programmer I can assure you I wouldn’t take valuable time concocting this event and sharing unless it was extraordinarily egregious.

My son and I walk in, find a booth in the back corner as it was the only available table. For those with children, you understand setting up a 1 year old,  situating the stroller, making his food, and waiting for him to calm before you buy your food is a whole thing by yourself.

As I’m calming him so I can purchase a root beer and an oatmeal cookie,  I start nibbling on the breakfast burrito  I got from Carmel bakery and I notice someone hovering over me and my son.  I look up and it was the owner angrily looking us and  yelled “ I have a lot of customers you can’t sit here and eat that food!”  I said “ok I was going to buy something, but I’ll buy it now”  he looked incredulously at us angrily turned his back on us and walked away.

I said politely “ we’re customers too, i come here all the time and I was setting up…”

He cuts me off ( and now he has an audience of people surrounding us and sitting down staring at us) he said “ I don’t care I’ve never seen you her before….”  

I repeat he said “ I’ve never see you here before” loudly so those watching could take in the unnecessary drama.  What does that fact have to do with anything? And how does he know he’s never seen me before with as many people that visit this establishment?

I’m the only black person there and I’ve seen this “movie” before so as I stood in line I said “you know what just leave me alone, I’m buying something right now”

He speed walks over to my and my sons face about 10 inches away and angrily says “what did you just say to me?!”  I said “ get away from me sir I’m trying to buy something and you you’re chasing me around the restaurant, leave me alone! “  everyone is now staring at me like I’m causing trouble, very embarrassing as my son watches and witnesses this type of behavior for the first time.

He then yells “ you know what!! I’m not serving you, you guys can leave! Go!” Now he’s grandstanding for the ever growing audience in order to embarrass us even more and save face.

I told him, “ I’m a paying Customer and you’re kicking me out because I told you to leave me alone? Sorry that’s neither ethical nor moral and borderline harassment.  Please leave me alone!”  At that point he came to his senses and walked away and went behind the counter and I finished my food. 

My wife shows up and can feel the tension and says “ what’s wrong baby.  Now for context my wife is beautiful,red headed Caucasian woman of Irish decent.

When I go to ask what the name of the restaurant is he first says” you eat here all the time and you don’t know the name of this restaurant!?” Laughs and waves me away and try’s to talk politely and intellectually to my wife to explain to her what happened.

We both looked at him and said “ we are married why would I take your word over his, don’t talk to me.”    I asked him again “what is the name of this restaurant” he yells “ look it up!  Google it!” And walks away.  My wife was shocked and asked “ how is this angry man still in business?”  

Now I’m a college educated, busy computer programmer 

Who moved my family here to raise my son in a calm accepting city.  I lived here in the 80’s as a military brat on fort ord military base and remembered the acceptance and inclusion I felt and since we moved her it has been amazing until I met this owner who now has me second guessing this move.

So because I’ve seen this “ movie” before and did not want him trying to take action secretly because he seems like an instigator, my wife and I called the police and asked them to come down.  They showed up within 8 minutes! The Carmel police department deserves an award for the way they listened to us, responded quickly and made me feel heard after this horrific experience.

They said there wasn’t much they could do because a business owner can choose not to serve anyone that they don’t deem fit to serve.  Which is true, but in my America I thought those days were over.  I guess not..  But they did go and talk to him to get his Side of the story.

He told them he NEVER told me to leave.  And so as a business man his character is such that he will lie in order protect himself.  He also told them “he is MORE than welcome to come back and eat here”. Notice the quick switch up….obviously he knows what he did was bullying others wise he would have just told the truth and let the chips lie where they may. And why would I be welcome back if I was causing trouble?

One couple saw how he treated me said I don’t want to eat here. Left their meal stood up smiled at us and promptly left.  Several patrons apologized for his behavior, but I told them it’s not their responsibility to apologize for someone else’s misguided behavior, but thanked them any way.   Another patron ,an older couple, said “ I hate to say it but I wonder if he would have been as shrewd to us as he was to you in the exact same situation, then rubbed her finger on the back of her hand pointing to her skin”.  I said I’ve never experienced this before in my life, but you may have a point there”.

We will never eat there again.   The businesses in the area have embraced my family, our new church has lovingly embraced our family, and the residents have embraced my family.  It’s too bad that in the midst of all this love hate still exists.  Thank you for reading.