Pine Cove Tavern — Restaurant in Sacramento

Dear Pine Cove Management,

I am writing to formally report a serious and troubling incident that occurred last night—Thursday, June 26, 2025—at your bar during karaoke night. I’ve been a longtime supporter of Pine Cove and have always considered it a fun and welcoming space, but what I experienced between 8:15 and 10:04 p.m. last night left me feeling unsafe, humiliated, and physically at risk—due entirely to the actions of your staff. While I was there, a male patron shoulder-checked me—twice—with deliberate and aggressive force. Later, I saw another man speaking to him. Not knowing he was a staff member, I quietly warned him, saying something like, “Be careful—he doesn’t like women,” based on the behavior I had just experienced. Roughly 30 to 40 minutes later, the same man approached me and falsely accused me of flipping him off and heckling “everyone.” These accusations were simply untrue. The only person I reacted to was the man who had physically harassed me, and that was during his karaoke performance. I made no rude gestures and did not heckle anyone else. When I questioned why I was being removed, the employee said, “It’s your word against mine.” At that point, it became clear I was being kicked out not because of my behavior, but because the staff member appeared to be protecting his friend—the man who had harassed me. I was being retaliated against for standing up for myself. Before leaving, I confirmed with the female bartender that I had paid and tipped. She verified that everything was settled. As I made my way to the stairs, I tipped over two empty, unoccupied bar stools—an expression of frustration, not a threat. No one was hurt, and nothing was damaged. Then the situation escalated even further. The same female bartender who had previously been friendly suddenly yelled profanities at me and shoved me with enough force that I nearly fell down the stairs. I weigh about 180 pounds, and she had at least 100 pounds on me. There was no excuse for that kind of physical aggression. It was reckless, dangerous, and unjustified. Importantly, my partner Brian was with me the entire time and witnessed everything—from the initial shoulder-checking to the final shove. He can attest that I did not flip anyone off, that I was not heckling people, and that I was physically assaulted as I attempted to leave peacefully. To summarize: • I was physically harassed by a male patron. • I was falsely accused and removed by a staff member who appeared to be friends with the man who harassed me. • I was physically assaulted by a bartender as I exited I was told “it’s your word against mine,” despite having a witness who observed the entire incident. Because of the seriousness of what occurred, I am formally requesting that you review any and all available video surveillance footage from Thursday, June 26, 2025, between 8:15 p.m. and 10:04 p.m. That footage should clearly confirm the following: • I made no inappropriate gestures. • I was not heckling other patrons. • The bartender did shove me with force near the stairs. • I left the premises without threatening or endangering anyone.

I am requesting the following: A formal acknowledgment of this incident. A full internal review of the conduct of the staff involved. A written commitment that physical aggression by staff toward patrons will not be tolerated. A statement on Pine Cove’s policies around retaliation and harassment. A plan for immediate staff training on de-escalation, harassment response, and anti-discrimination.

If I do not receive a response within 7 business days, I will escalate this matter to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and explore additional options for formal accountability.

This complaint is not just about how I was treated—it’s about whether Pine Cove stands by values of safety, fairness, and respect. I hope to see your establishment take responsibility and act accordingly. Time of Incident: 8:15 p.m. to 10:04 p.m. on...

I’ve been to the location twice before tonight and it wasn’t crowded at all, but it was packed tonight. We’re all there to have a good time, have a few drinks and get your karaoke on!

I had a dull day and I’ve been wanting to just sing so I decided to go with a few friends. I arrive at 1030, I add my name to the roster to sing, knowing there maybe a chance I won’t sing.

So I’m waiting patiently and the KJ some white lady white blonde hair probably mid to late 30s just doesn’t give off a good vibe.

Anyways.

The singers loop to the beginning and I’m sitting by the entrance at a window. I’m just watching passer Byers, people drunkenly strolling in, drama outside yada yada yada etc etc so I see who’s coming im after me.

It’s now 1245ysh I see my name pop up on the screen, as that happened a girl and her date walk in and prob 45mins before her some drunken dude walked in. Both this girl and the drunken guy go up on stage and sing before me, and I had been there prior to them for at least an hour.

So now im confused and hella irritated because its now 115am! It’s late! I waited just to be pushed behind whomever? I approach the booth and asked if she skipped me? She asked for my name and she said I was coming up in a few. I’m confused and I told her that I arrived way before the guy on stage. She states that she wouldn’t have bumped me down, yet I never accused her do that, and I told her I literally watched his drunk a$$ walk in here AFTER ME and Pointed out that the chick before him also arrived after me.

Here’s the part that pissed me off, because here comes that privileged gas lighting bull ish, she Says “I’m not going to argue with you…” argue? I have literally been sitting here kindly and patiently awaiting my turn and you’re basically gonna try and call me crazy? Oh and in the midst of her mistake which I’m sure she was aware of the entire time, try’s to rectify it and says “I’ll put you next…!”

First your approach was horrible, if u don’t like your job then quite, this isn’t rocket science you’re a KJ!

Second you better watch what you say to certain people because I wanted a drama free night but I am usually loud.

Third if you ever try to gas light me again ill probably end up in cuffs.

The feeling that she made me feel was extremely frustrated and here’s the catch to it, she’s probably calling me crazy or dramatic, probably even thinks I’m drunk, but I don’t drink.

After she tried to fix her mistake I had to separate myself from the bull ish she was serving, I through up my hands and I walked out.

All I seriously wanted to do was sing, for myself and end my night on a good note, but people like her don’t care. They don’t care or even consider or take the time to think about what someone’s day had been like.

If she had been grown and mature enough to admit her mistake I wouldn’t have felt neglected or “Crazy” due to her trying to gas light me or “mom” Me.

People suck, and get this I had every intention on bringing all my music and dance friends here, because even the friends that I brought to the bar tonight had never been, until now!?

This slum lot will never see me nor my friends offer our time or money to this irritating establishment, but we’re expendable aren’t we? However word of mouth is a strong thing.

Thanks for ruining my night and me leaving me to...

I came in plugged my phone in to charge then took a seat at the bar to order a drink & wait 4 karaoke to begin. The 2 female bartenders whispered and chatted away never acknowledging me sitting at the bar but looked at me. Finally I took a seat back by my phone away from the bar and called the bartender on the phone to ask what time karaoke began. About 5 min later the female dj who runs karaoke announced that it would b starting soon but that a 1 drink minimum was enforced...another patron who put in his 1st song request said I've already bought drinks to which she replied "Oh trust me I know who had and hasn't I take account of the room when I get up here" since I was the Only 1 in the room without a drink it was a clear reference to me but I was ready and wiping to spend my money in the face of their innatentive bar staff so I found it insulting to be announced like that quickly grabbed my bags and left as the do whispered about me to another patron from her booth on my way out past them...I was the Only black person in the bar, I am an attractive young female perhaps threateningly so but I found their behavior grotesque. I travel for work as a transporter and was in town just 4 the night. I got back in another $8 uber and headed over to Old Ironside and Loved it and met some incredible djs and sound engineers and musicians...what a find ending up right where...