Keeper Coffee Co — Restaurant in Portland

Witnessed Unprofessional Staff Behavior We visited Keeper Coffee today and witnessed extremely concerning staff conduct that demonstrates poor management and lack of professional training. One of the female staff members engaged in highly inappropriate behavior that violated customer privacy and dignity.

What We Observed: Staff Interference in Customer Conversations: We watched as the female employee deliberately interrupted a private conversation between two women customers who appeared to be discussing someone's academic achievements and school performance in a positive manner. Obvious Eavesdropping: The staff member was clearly listening in on customer conversations and felt compelled to intervene when she overheard positive discussion about someone's educational accomplishments. Lack of Discretion: Her interruption was not subtle at all - it was obvious to everyone present that she was trying to redirect or stop the conversation. She wasn't "slick about it" and her interference was painfully apparent. Professional Concerns: Customer Privacy Violation: Staff should not be eavesdropping on customer conversations or attempting to control what customers discuss while patronizing the establishment. Targeted Behavior: It appeared the staff member specifically didn't want the customers to know about someone's positive academic performance, which raises serious questions about her motivations and professionalism. Poor Training: If you're going to try to "downgrade somebody," at least be more professional about it rather than obviously interrupting conversations between paying customers.

The Person Being Discussed: Academic Achievement: We happen to know the individual they were discussing, and he absolutely did complete his educational program successfully and holds a professional degree that the community is aware of. Awareness of Situation: The person being discussed definitely picked up on what was happening and was able to read the situation very well due to the staff member's obvious interference tactics. Educational Success: This individual had excellent timing in school and performed very well academically, which makes the staff member's apparent attempt to downplay his achievements even more inappropriate. Recommendation: Staff Training Needed: Management needs to train employees about: Customer privacy respect, Professional boundaries during customer interactions... Appropriate workplace behavior that doesn't interfere with customer conversations Conflict of interest management when personal opinions affect professional conduct Avoid Until Improvements: We cannot recommend this establishment until management addresses the unprofessional staff conduct and implements proper customer service training. Community Standards: Portland businesses should maintain higher standards of professionalism and respect for customer privacy.

Anonymous Review for Protection: We're reviewing anonymously to avoid potential retaliation from staff who clearly have issues with maintaining professional boundaries.

This establishment needs significant management intervention to address staff conduct that interferes with customer conversations and violates basic professional...

The pastries and coffee are pretty good. However, there are other aspects of Keeper that make visiting unpleasant and that have led me to write this review.

Plenty of reviews here mention the 20% service charge, which people are rightfully upset about. The owner has been responding, making her case for the service charge, and I believe her premise is flawed. If a "huge imbalance in wages" is happening, that's... okay? That's not necessarily a problem to be solved for? People are paid different wages with different pay structures for different jobs. If I'm a server at a restaurant, I am going to make a different wage than someone working in the marketing department at that same restaurant. Additionally, the service charge was at least partially implemented based on the inability to tip kitchen staff. I think this is a fundamental misunderstanding of what a tip is. A tip is on the service provided to me, the service provided by a barista or front of house staff. I do not believe a tip is intended for someone working in the back of the house who doesn't interact with customers. That is a different job with a different pay structure. Also, forcing a 20% service charge on items that require literally no labor (placing a pastry in a box, purchasing coffee beans) is simply egregious and indefensible.

Finally, Keeper refuses to obey Oregon law around animals in food establishments, namely OAR 333-150. Literally every single time I step foot inside, there is at least one dog that is clearly not a service animal. During the summer months I have counted as many as five dogs inside at one time. The owner has made half-hearted attempts to pretend to be in compliance, stating in emails that pets aren't allowed inside. However, the problem persists, and the employees there do precisely nothing to stop people from bringing in pets. They even go so far as to give treats to dogs who are inside the restaurant in direct violation of Oregon law. It is unsanitary and completely unacceptable, and it's one of the many reasons I cannot patronize Keeper any further despite living within walking distance of it.

I hope that the owner will seriously revisit the service fee policy and will start actually enforcing the law and keeping pets out of...

UPDATE: AS OF MARCH 5, 2022 I went in to Keeper’s to use the rest of my gift card and had the pleasure of speaking with the owner. She was kind and gracious and explained her original thought-process with regards to indoor seating vs outdoor seating based on vaccinated vs non-vaccinated. I appreciated her candor and her willingness to be polite and professional and NOT lose a customer. I hope Keeper’s becomes a long-time staple in our neighborhood!

FEB 26, 2022 Received a very generous GIFT CARD from a friend for my birthday and was super excited to come see what Keepers was all about - - also excited for the location as I live in the Woodstock neighborhood and Ye Olde Town Crier was one of my FAVE places to eat when I was younger so I love seeing old beloved buildings re-purposed and made beautiful! Love that you service Coava coffee (it’s so good!) and your staff is very pleasant.

HOWEVER I am very disappointed that you discriminate. 😯 Very surprising considering we live in a world where tolerance, diversity, and equity seems to be an over-arching theme....especially in Portland. 😳 I was VERY surprised by the amount of GARBAGE out on the corner stage-left of your front door, which is un-sightly and NOT hygienic but you discriminate against people that make personal health choices. Interesting. There is also NO sign on the door indicating you discriminate against certain people which would have been helpful to know before we had planned on coming to eat inside and making it an enjoyable event. As it was, we ate in our car....and as much as I love my car, enjoying the ambiance of a new coffee shop would have been very cozy and fun.

All that to say, your coffee-house is beautiful. The pastries we bought were delish. (Every the GF 😉 ) The coffee was delish (of course) and your people seem pleasant. I even left a tip. But your discriminatory practices leave something to be desired and once my gift card is used up, I’ll probably never spend money with you again. Which is unfortunate because I love sweets, I love Coava coffee, and I’m a BIG believer in supporting OUR local businesses over big-box stores every....