Lily & Sparrow Mercantile, LLC. — Restaurant in Covington

They deleted my review. I am posting it again because I think the public deserves to know my story. Sharing your story can prevent things like this from happening again.

Reported to the owner a loiter outside who was creeping on my little sister. The loiter (person with no purchased items) sat himself right behind us outside on the patio, he sat in the opposite way you normally sit at a picnic table to orient his body towards us. He continuously kept staring at my 16 year old sister up and down. He had two phones in his hand that he would text on after looking at her. We left because we felt so uncomfortable. But he followed us. He went all the way to the curb and watched us get in our car. Then he left immediately.

This was very suspicious and strange behavior that understandably made us feel unsafe.

I told the owner all of this. The owner dismissed me with little to no real concern or action. He told me who he thought the loiter might be (not who he knows he is) and gave him complete benefit of the doubt. He told me he (the guy he thinks he is) picked up an umbrella that fell outside one time when he passed by. He said he wasn’t even sure who the guy was, but yet he gave him all the benefit of the doubt, even oddly enough kind of praised him. He showed no care for us and said no apology.

This was my favorite go to spot, but after this I will not be coming back. I don’t feel safe here. And I definitely wouldn’t bring my kids here.

A good business doesn’t allow this to occur at their restaurant. And a good community protects their women...

The only place I ever buy my coffee beans now (for making espresso and V60 pour-over at home). I was buying from several out-of-town roasters and found that this local roaster is top quality. His beans are as good as any I've ordered online, often better. He knows what he's doing, labels them accurately (some others just don't line up with the supposed tasting notes -- these usually do). And best of all, it's not terribly far from home. There are a couple of other roasters near, but this shop's are quite a bit better than the others. It's always a fun experience to pick up a new variety that he's gotten in and roasted and to look forward to seeing how this new one tastes. I did not score the food because I have so far only ever bought whole coffee beans here, but sooner or later I'll set aside a bit of extra time and actually order something served at the shop so that I can properly score that category as well. I'm so much in the habit of pulling my own shots and steaming my own milk that I don't often think to enjoy a latte prepared by a professional with better equipment than mine while I'm out. Next trip to restock, I'll stick around for...

I finally had a chance to visit Lily & Sparrow, and I’m so glad I did. The last time I was at this location, it was still my father-in-law’s car repair shop — long before this cozy café came into existence. Sitting near the entrance on Reynolds Street, sipping my coffee, brought back a wave of nostalgia. I used to hang out right there around the 4th of July, watching the world go by, and those memories made the experience feel even more special. The atmosphere had all the inviting, relaxed energy you'd expect from a good coffee shop — warm, comfortable, and thoughtfully put together. The staff were friendly and welcoming, which made the visit even more enjoyable. To top it off, they’ve already rolled out their fall menu, so I got to try the PSL Caramel Latte — and it was absolutely delicious. Just the right blend of seasonal spice and smooth sweetness. I also sampled the Fig, Fruit & Fromage dish, which was surprisingly flavorful and well-balanced. Overall, Lily & Sparrow managed to honor the past with its location while creating something entirely fresh and inviting. I’ll...