The Celtic Way — Local services in Asheville

Intrigued by the store front and name. My understanding of things Celtic is Ireland (Enya!) and Scotland. I’ve been very interested in the Ullieann Pipes (from Ireland).

So I went in to ask if they had any Celtic musical instruments. Innocent. Well, things were very interesting, to say the least.

The shop lady inquired where I was from. SC. Oh, that wasn’t a good answer. I was born in NC, in the capital. That answer was not good either - that place is the pits she says. She asked what I did there, nothing, except being born there. So, trying to keep things light, I say I have lived in Pitt County as well. She didn’t really care. I’m asked about my ancestry. I say my name is Gaelic, but I have German ancestry. She wasn’t too happy about that. Why was I interested in the store then? Well, I’m interested in Celtic music, specifically the Ullieann Pipes. Those are similar to Scottish Highland Pipes, in that there’s a canter and drones, except the air comes from a bellows and not the players lungs. A stern no was the reply. Well, what about instruments in general? None of that nonsense here - except she used to have a pipe kit (Scottish Highland of course!). This is a Scottish Store, she says. If you want Irish, go down to Savannah - there’s a bunch down there.

The reply: In these hills, it’s ONLY Scots. Oh, I said, I know there’s an Irish heritage down in Savannah - I’ve worked there too. So, trying to have some reason to stay in the store, I mention that I’m Episcopalian. And this Church continued in America only because of the Scottish Episcopal Church, because of the Revolutionary War with England. I was sternly reminded it’s the ANGLICAN church overall. And how King George II, of Hanover ancestry, somehow issued an edict of genocide against the Scots. So this store is strictly Scottish. Not Irish. And definitely NOT English. I didn’t dare ask about Wales.

Then she goes on to saying it was people with Scottish ancestry in NC who were behind the independence of the US of A, in writing the Declaration of Independence/Constitution and in fighting the war. How the world is F’ed up because of England. How our best presidents were Scottish or having some Scottish ancestry - even the current one, being only a half blood. By then I knew it was getting close to getting the heck out of there. But I decided to play the game. I said I can’t call “him” a president, especially if he can’t act Presidential. This is when her Republican came out. In DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE NORTH CAROLINA!

Feeling threatened, I quickly escaped to the very welcoming yarn shop (my mom knits, it’s getting close to Christmas...), which was the literal warm welcoming place that the rest of Asheville is. There, I learned that my experience at The Celtic Way was not uncommon, and that this eventual review would be one of infinitely many of low ratings.

I did note, however, that the shop lady had a bobble head figurine of Queen Elizabeth II. Go figure! I dare someone to quiz her about that. And maybe even Celtic Christianity.

I don’t think this place helps to keep...

I'm not usually the type to complain on the internet, but then again I have also never been thrown out of a shop because of my race before.

I came into this shop, and was told "We're not open for browsers." Well, I might have found something to buy if I could have browsed your store, especially since I don't know what all you carry and you have no website. But fine, I guess I'll keep my money to myself. Why do you even have a sign if you don't want people to come in your store?

In a nearby shop, I learned from the proprietor that he regularly gets customers in his store complaining about their treatment in The Celtic Way, and that the other shop owners receive the same treatment from her.

At first, I thought she was just a crotchety old lady. Then, a local chimed in to defend her. He used phrases like "she just wants to preserve another way of life." He also pulled me aside and told me it was probably because of my "dark features," and that she must have thought I was a threat. Buddy, you haven't made me want to accept her behavior. You've made me wonder whether I inadvertently stumbled in to a front for the local KKK chapter. For those that are interested, I am half Irish and half European Jewish. Not exactly dark featured, but I guess all you need to be thrown out of The Celtic Way is brown hair and a slightly olive skin tone.

I bumped in to a black family outside the shop, and they told me that they, too, weren't allowed in the shop. My sister, on the other hand, who has more Irish features, pale skin, and long, straight, light brown hair, went in and had trouble disengaging from the suddenly warm, engaging, conversational proprietor.

To respond to Bill McAlleister, the one star reviews have nothing to do with politics. I didn't even see any political signs in her store or storefront (not that I could be considered an expert on the inside of her shop, since I spent 30 seconds in there before being thrown out). I am leaving a review because the proprietor was unbelievably rude and racist. Further, Bill, If she wants to run her store like a Scottish shop where you aren't supposed to say "just browsing," perhaps a busy tourist strip in a desirable holiday destination is the wrong place to set up shop. I'm not usually the type to scream racist, but it's clear to me that this shop wants no custom other than that from white people.

EDIT: Hey Bill, I just spent two weeks in Scotland. Not a single person was any less than delightful my entire stay. Sometimes people would just strike up conversations with me out of nowhere. Beautiful country, lovely people. I'm sure all the true Scots wouldn't tolerate this vile old woman for a moment. No way in hell that she is acting...

It’s been hours since I got home from my day trip to Asheville and I’m still in shock at how rudely I was treated at this shop.

A friend and I were browsing downtown and I noticed this shop on our way to lunch. The storefront caught my eye because my ancestors were Scots-Irish who settled in the western NC mountains, and since my grandfather is particularly interested in our family history I thought it might be a nice place to find a Christmas gift for him. I should note that we have our family tree traced back to the original Scottish immigrant who came to this country in the late 1700s, and though I grew up in a different state I have always been aware of my family history and have met several of my distant relatives still living in the area because of what is clearly a shared family passion for our history. So, suffice it to say, I feel like I would be the target demographic for this lady’s shop.

HOWEVER! Apparently I don’t look like the right kind of person for this lady, because I wasn’t even two feet into the door before she was assaulting me with a verbal barrage of demands about what I was doing and what I was looking for. I made the mistake of saying, “I’m just looking around!” Immediately, she launched into a tirade about how she runs a specialty shop, and that “just looking” isn’t allowed there. “We charge for that!” she screamed at me. At this point, I literally still did not know exactly what the shop was selling. I could see a few of her wares, but because she has a blockade set up, I really wasn’t sure if she specialized in only tartans or if she had any other items. I wish I could have given her a better response but I was so shocked at her rudeness that I tried to reason with her. “I saw your storefront and was interested because of my family’s history. I just wanted to see what you had for sale.”

Her response: “You should know what you want before you come in to a specialty shop. Do you go into a bank just to look around? No! You should leave!”

My friend and I were in absolute shock at this. In a perfect world, I could have talked with her about my family’s history, asked for her advice on a suitable gift for my grandfather, and went happily on my way. I have no idea how she ever manages to sell anything.

I regret walking into this store. I have to wonder, if I hadn’t been dressed down in a t-shirt and jeans (my friend and I were planning on going on a hike later), and if I didn’t wear my hair in a short, men’s style haircut, whether she would have treated me...