Trading Grounds — Restaurant in Marion

I am from out of town but visit the area relatively frequently so I have been coming to trading grounds for a couple of years now! I have loved coming here as I prefer to support local businesses when traveling versus stereotypical chains that are located everywhere. I’ve always had great drinks, friendly service and I love that they have a a large selection of seasonal beverages as well as a breakfast sandwich that is quite customizable!

I did however have a rather negative experience this past weekend, and while I don’t believe one negative experience discounts the multitude of great ones I’ve had, I do find it worth mentioning briefly in hopes others don’t have similar experiences in the future!

I had gotten a seasonal beverage saturday morning and loved it, so on sunday I ordered the exact same drink but upon returning home both my partner and I had tried it and noticed something was not quite right with it. I won’t get into drink details but I decided on my way out of town I would simply stop back in to see if it could get altered/remade before I hit the road back home. I’m not one to ever ask for something to be remade or altered as I know how inconvenient it can be during busy times, or when there’s other tasks to be done but seeing as it was ~8 dollars or so and the drastic difference in taste from one day to the next I decided it was worth the ask.

Upon returning to the store, I apologized but explained that my drink didn’t taste how it should and was met with instant defensiveness and a tone that I can only describe as combative and humiliating from who I presume is the owner. I tried politely to explain what had tasted wrong with it but continued to be berated and essentially told I was wrong. I have never experienced such immediate cruelty from anyone in my life. He did remake my drink which ended up tasting lovely, and thanked me for bringing it back in but I ultimately left the store in tears, both embarrassed and upset for not being heard. I had no ill intention behind bringing this beverage back in but felt as though I had somehow wronged him.

As i tried to collect myself in my vehicle before leaving town, he came out and presented me with a gift card which was appreciated (and not expected), and apologized for my “bad experience” or something along the lines, quite frankly I was still pretty upset and don’t 100% remember.

The point to this story being, I was unsure about wanting to return after such a disappointing experience but remembered I have had so many more wonderful visits. I still enjoy this coffee shop and supporting a local business and will enjoy returning in the future, I just hope this experience can be...

Me and a friend go in on our break to use the restroom, and often get a cup of ice before leaving. We just like to eat ice as simple as that. Today a male worker got very annoyed and asked me why we every day come in to use the restroom and get “free stuff.” Mind you we are sometimes charged for the ice but sometimes we are not, and we have never had an issue with paying the 48 cents for ice. I did try explaining, considering he had asked, and all I was able to say before being very rudely interrupted was “I go to the high school.” In which he responded “yes and your high school has a bathroom.” Which is correct, but if he were to have listened to my answer to the question he had asked me he would’ve known that I go to the alternative program. At the alternative program you have to ring a doorbell in order to get in so when I’m on my free period I can not just go in whenever I please to use the restroom. He was extremely rude to us both and we have never once caused a problem here. As an employee who talks to people every day you should really show even an ounce of respect to those you’re serving, especially people who haven’t done anything wrong. If he would’ve asked us to pay we would’ve payed, if he asked us to stop we would’ve stopped, but he chose to be extremely rude to both of us randomly. Before today he was very kind to both of us and didn’t show any signs that this was an issue, therefore we didn’t think we were causing any problems. And it’s not like we were walking in and being disruptive to anyone around us, we would walk in use the restroom, get ice, and leave. We have been very respectful and very quite every time we...

We stopped for a brief visit and I had asked my kids to order me a hot tea since one had to use the restroom and I had a sleeping baby in the car. I came in to check on them several times - I didn’t just have them go inside to order without me. The staff (two of them) were very rude to not only my children but to me, and said rudely how I couldn’t send my kiddos in unsupervised. Instead of telling me this in a respectable manner, they chose rudeness & we will choose not to return. Like I said , I came in several times to check on my kids and didn’t leave them there unsupervised. They wouldn’t let my kids order a TEA even though they had money to pay for it, and I had said hello to the employees from inside the door and that I would be right back. Employees, you don’t know what kind of day people are having, and kindness goes a LONG way for business. I’m sorry if you were both having a rough day, but please don’t take it out on me or my 3 kids. :(

The atmosphere is really cool and it has the potential to be awesome! We were the only people in there at a prime caffeine time of day, besides 4 middle school aged kids. Customer service goes a long way and we’d rather give our business to places that are welcoming and kind, instead of places with employees that are rude and...