Von Maur — Local services in Rochester Hills

1- I’ve been shopping at this store for years. As someone who mostly shops online, this became my comfort store. I’ve spent so much money here since discovering this location, and it was one of the few places I genuinely enjoyed going. I’ve never had an issue — until now. Then again, I tend to stay in my own world, and maybe I ignored how much hate actually exists in it.

I am a white, blonde woman, but I also happen to be Muslim, and a first-generation immigrant. On May 28, I parked right in front of the store and threw on my red “Make Palestine Free Again” hat to cover my messy hair — nothing radical, just a peaceful, personal choice. The moment I walked in, I felt a shift. People — customers and employees — gave me odd looks. Over a hat. But I brushed it off. I don’t live for other people’s approval.

I was shopping like usual. I had a few returns. I was browsing bows for my daughter’s party and kids’ items — distracted, like any tired mom juggling errands. Somewhere during that, I believe 1 or 2 bows must’ve fallen into my bag. I genuinely didn’t notice. I never opened the bag or placed anything inside after checkout.

When I left, I was stopped near the door. I smiled and asked what was going on, because I thought maybe they were going to say something about my hat. I had no idea what was coming.

The moment I placed my bag on the office counter, and it opened revealing the bows, I was shocked — and immediately apologetic, cooperative, and respectful. I tried to explain. The employee said there was surveillance footage. The officer — Officer Pesko — said he didn’t need to see it and would “get to it later.” He issued me a citation and banned me from the store without reviewing a single second of video.

Then it got worse. My husband — who is half Sicilian, visibly brown-skinned, and often mistaken for Arab — calmly asked if the video had been reviewed. Officer Pesko suddenly changed his tone, turned toward us, and said: “Or I can just arrest her right now if you keep making my investigation difficult.”

Except… what investigation? He hadn’t reviewed any video. The employee hadn’t written a statement. No evidence was presented. I had cooperated fully. My husband simply asked a question. Why was I now at risk of arrest?

I was shaking. I shut down. I’ve been through trauma before, and that moment triggered all of it. May 28 also happens to be the one-year mark since a traumatic incident involving my daughter nearly drowning. It was too much. I didn’t feel like a customer anymore. I felt like an animal — profiled, judged, and silenced.

The officer claimed there was an “eyewitness” — but the only person listed on the citation was the same employee who claimed to have seen the video footage. That contradiction alone says it all. I never “placed” anything in the bag intentionally, and surveillance would have confirmed that.

But no one...

2-I truly believe I was treated differently because of the hat I wore, the religion I practice, and the man standing next to me. I’ve worn that hat silently and peacefully many times. I’ve never caused a scene, never raised my voice, never asked for anything but dignity. I spent the same green money that anyone else does — but I left that store feeling like a threat for simply existing.

I am still shaken. I’ve spent years in leadership roles at SmileDirectClub, Ulta, Redwood Dental, and SVS Vision — I know how retail protocol is supposed to go. This was not it. This was lazy, rushed, and biased. It’s now been over a week, and I still can’t shake the fear, the shame, or the helplessness I felt.

And worst of all? This could’ve been resolved instantly — if someone had simply watched the video. It will be resolved regardless but I didn’t need this inconvenience on my mental health nor finances. On top of that you took the one place I escape from time to time and showed me that the ugliest souls work there, ew. As if the world isn’t ugly enough without 9-5 employees acting as bullies that are above the law … for what a potential of $25/hr on salary basis? If you treated me like a human being and everyone did their jobs this could have been resolved. Shame on you.

This experience has made me feel unsafe, judged, and discarded. It has jeopardized my emotional health, my ability to work in management, and my trust in law enforcement and corporate systems. And for what? Two $20 bows I didn’t even know were there?

If you’re Muslim, brown, or wear anything showing support for Palestinian lives — please be careful. You could be profiled, threatened, and criminalized over something as minor as an accident.

This store used to be my escape. Currently it’s my...

The staff in this store is a joke. I went a tried some clothes on and they said we will hold them for you, then I said ok I will be back tomorrow to pick them up. The worker gave me a pink slip to fill out with my name phone number and the day I will come. I went ahead and filled it out and gave it to the staff and told her I will come back. I went today right after work and went to the woman department and went up to a lady in the women department and asked for my clothes and she tells me we put them away. I got so mad and told my boyfriend what kind of store is this they don’t keep there words. The lady I saw told me she was a manager and I was to myself you shouldn’t even be a manager she didn’t apologize I told her what kind of customer service is this she was just looking and standing. I told her what is the point to give customers a pink slip to fill out and put the merchandise away. I was so upset and disappointed that I couldn’t stay any longer in the store and told my boyfriend let’s go I am not buying nothing from this store at all, I rather give my money to someone else than people that lie to you. I was going to buy a pair of shoes and left them to. The manager tells me I remember your items and my boyfriend like I bet she put them away. They could of called and said are you coming to pick up your items but no call or anything. The manager at the women upstairs started to argue with my boyfriend and told him let go we will go to somerset and give them are business. I will never go back to this store and tell everyone what happened to me. Plus there where employees arguing with one another never again will I go there , very bad...