Van's Pastry Shoppe — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

On 5/12/2023, I went to Van's Pastry Shoppe to buy glazed donuts for myself and 2 family members. There was an older female employee who had been cleaning the windows outside of the bakery before I went inside. When I went inside the bakery, there was a customer in front of me being assisted by the employee who had been cleaning the outside windows. Another older woman came into the establishment after I did and stood behind me before going to the right side of the bakery to look at other baked goods.

There was a young male employee working behind the counter who never acknowledged my existence and decided to wait on the customer behind me as if I had not been standing in line first. I informed the male employee that I was standing in line before the other woman who came into the bakery after I did. Not only was I not offered an apology by the male employee, but I was ignored, and he never bothered to make eye contact with me. The other employee apologized and offered to serve me, but I told her that I was not going to purchase anything after what I had experienced. The older woman in front of me confirmed that I was in line before the other older woman who came inside after I did.

I walked out, however, I went back in to ask for the name of the owner of Van's Pastry Shoppe so that I could make a complaint against the young man who willfully chose to disregard me as a customer in favor of the older white woman who came into the bakery after I did. The woman behind the counter was very apologetic, but the apology should have come from the male employee who decided to ignore me as a customer. I informed both employees that this kind of behavior "would not fly" in this day and age.

The customer that stood behind me apologized and stated that it was her fault. I stated to her that both parties, meaning her and the male employee, were both responsible as she was aware that I was in line before she was, and that he chose not to serve me. I placed 2 calls to this business on 5/13/2023, and both times my calls were not answered. This is unacceptable behavior.

I filed a BBB complaint against this bakery and the owner's response was rude and hostile. As stated above, the older woman came in AFTER I did, not before, and I stand by everything I have said. The owner of this establishment did not care that racism and discrimination took place in his bakery and dismissed the issue.

The owner has poor customer service skills, needs to learn how to accept constructive criticism, and how to speak to people. I have seen some of this person's responses right here on Google and he is beyond rude. Just because this bakery has been open for decades, that does not mean that the owner has the right to be rude and aggressive with his responses.

The owner condones racism and discrimination, otherwise, he would have apologized for the way I was treated in his establishment.

I'll take my...

I have wanted to come by several times to make arrangements for my annual Shop Hop cookie purchase (as I was advised to do so given the quantity) but have driven away because masks were not being worn by all employees, including the owner. This review comes from a good place and with genuine concern for our neighborhood, community….AND the future of Van’s Pasty Shoppe.

I’m seeing that the owner is attempting to dispute the feedback by claiming that the people never entered his building, but I think that’s the point; they’d like to enter but cannot or will not because of safety concerns. I am concerned about this business owner not enforcing masks for a myriad of reasons, but mainly because he alienates people who would like to patron his business, so much so that there will be a great number of us who will never return (I am one of them). But what he’s not acknowledging is there are many of us who would like to return, but do not feel comfortable doing so until masks are worn.

Again, this review comes with genuine concern and care. I do not recommend visiting this business until they are in compliance with MDHHS recent order (effective today). I will gladly edit this review once masks are worn and the owner has made an effort to show genuine concern for his community during a global...

I have not gone in here since I retired a few years ago but I decided to go in just because I see they let people have free will and they're not cowering to this tyrant of a governor that we have. For all the people on here giving bad ratings because they feel everyone needs to give up their freedoms why don't you just stay home and just be afraid to live? It seems the people that are getting covid are the ones that were wearing masks all the time which makes total sense because you are wearing down your own immune system by being so afraid and letting the media put so much fear into something they found is not as deadly as first thought. Just try to think back during flu seasons were you this afraid to go anywhere without a mask on your face which does not keep the virus out anyway. Thank you Van's for awesome pastry and your prices are awesome too. I for one will...