Foxtail Coffee Co. - Dr. Phillips YMCA — Restaurant in Dr. Phillips

This coffee shop is attached to a gymnasium that we are members of. Today my husband and I were there to get some work done, buy some food/coffee as soon as we got rid of our prior drinks, and then hit the gym. The owner complained and said that she's scoping the place for people who take up a table without buying. Of course we don't want to take a table from a paying customer. This establishment has 5 tables. There was one customer in one table, besides ours. It's a huge room that could fit close to 30 2-top tables, but there are 5 tables only. It looks strange to say the least. There's an extremely uncomfortable bar that's set to the side up against a plant feature that no one uses and arguably isn't usable. Instead of merely asking politely if we would like anything to buy and creating a conversation/relationship with potential buyers...she ran us off. We had brought in cups from another establishment to finish off our breakfast sodas and she said we would need to throw them out if we are in her dining area.... and, even if we threw them out that we would need to pay for something to remain. Since there is no adjoining door to the lobby of the gym, and rather an open room.. we explained that it looks like a joint lounge with the gym and that had we stayed, we would have bought something... that it was our plan. We told her we would leave, of course, tho... and so we did. But I had to ask her why there were only 5 tables. It was too odd to me that such a huge room was set up like this. When asked, she said that they lowered their tables numbers because they didn't want more people coming into the shop to lounge and linger (presumably without purchasing?). Gobsmacked! First off... let me just say,... People come to businesses they need to see if it's what they want. They buy from businesses (and owners) that they like. You then come back to places and people you like. You want people in the doors at least checking it out...even if albeit using a [vacant]table to enjoy that time. It's good to have enjoyment or personal time in your business. It gives the air of fun and encourages purchases, and more people to come in. What she apparently doesn't recall is that my husband and I have purchased from their store at almost every single gym trip we have taken. Instead of remembering us and thanking us for our prior business and making a good conversation... she has to complain and explain too much about the policing.... to us, the only other potential customers she could have at the moment for a second table. Of course, we didn't want to throw away our previous drinks because they were paid for either. We also no longer liked her and didn't want to purchase from her now. So we politely left. What causes my husband and I have to have the audacity to come into her establishment and do as we did? Because it's known that coffee shops throughout Florida welcome loungers and remote workers. They get purchases from them. These are people who thrive on or survive off of repeated caffeine doses all day. They need that liquid gold to keep going. I've not been to one coffee shop in Florida that has a policy of kicking anyone out who is remote working... till today. And believe me, we have been to most if not all in this area. If you are gonna open a coffee shop, you know this phenomenon well. It also doesn't help this owner's case is she has bought a business that is clearly wide open to the lobby of the gym and has the appearance of lounge area to the gym. You set the stage, Owner.

This model could be totally different. Put 20 tables in there. Get your regular 2 to 3 tables with your customers.. as per usual. Let anyone lounge. Bake some amazing smells. Brew some amazing caffeine highs into the air. And watch the line grow like any other coffee shop that doesn't do what just happened here. Every single person that you give that speech to,.. as well as us.. will likely not want to give you their funds...

Warning ⛔️ this location discriminates and does not universally enforce their “rules”. I am a member at the Y and frequent the Dr Phillips YMCA almost every day with my two small children. This cafe location is inside the YMCA. They have asked me to leave the cafe, even though I have purchased a coffee or tea, bc I brought snacks from home for my kids bc they do not allow any outside food or drink, even if one has bought something. They stated that because they are a “restaurant”, they do not allow outside food or drink, regardless of if it’s for babies or children.

I have also been asked to leave on an occasion where I was the only one in the café (multiple open tables for other customers to sit down). I sat down with my laptop and was looking at my cell phone prior to setting up to do some remote work, prior to purchasing a drink. Before I could even set up my space and purchase a drink, I was passive aggressively warned by the female owner to not to set up my workstation because I would not be allowed to sit there if I did not purchase something. At that point lol, I did not feel very motivated to purchase anything after being treated that way, in order to sit there and work, even though that’s what I had planned to do anyway.

Since having these experiences at this location, and as I am there every day, I began to take notice of other people that were also sitting in the café space. Every day I see people with absolutely no product bought from the café, working remotely, or scrolling on their phones, or just talking with a friend, or people sitting there with their kids with a drink from the café and giving their kids snacks, and not being asked to leave.

I truly am unsure what is the motivation behind why they run their business this way, or why they target some folks and not others, or why they don’t realize that other restaurants don’t treat customers (with children) that way, and even less so within an inclusive family space like a YMCA. It’s a shame as this could be much more friendly and much kinder space for everyone,...

I absolutely love that we have a Foxtail Coffee inside the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA!! All of the staff have always been welcoming, attentive and quick to complete my order. I’m there so often, 3-5 times per week for meetings and workouts, that most of the employees know what I order and every food item I’ve ever eaten has been DE-LI-CIOUS!!! They’ve got something for everyone… freshly baked snacks for the kids… healthy tea options for those more health-conscious… wholesome food items to satisfy your appetite… and COFFEE anyway you can dream it! Pricing is comparable with other coffee brands and quality is exceptional across the board. I’d like to mention that at no one time have the employees pushed me to buy merchandise… though I have bought a coffee mug to do my part for our planet. :) I love supporting small businesses and the owners, Matt and Sarah, are always there. They are invested in the Y, engaged in our community and are genuinely good,...