Grassroots Kava House — Restaurant in Tampa

I began frequenting Grassroots about a year ago. At first glance, the establishment offers an inviting atmosphere, with well-lit, tastefully furnished spaces, clean restrooms, and, most importantly, quality Kratom. However, while the ambiance is commendable, the experience beyond that leaves much to be desired.

The majority of the staff are polite and friendly, and there are a few genuinely great employees. Unfortunately, the establishment suffers from poor management, which has led to a few bad apples among the team.

I’ve visited many Kratom or Kava shops in the Tampa Bay area. Grassroots is the only one that has a “no vaping policy” that is enforced “only” by its management. The reason I would imagine the employees don’t enforce it is because they would lose half their customer base, guaranteed. While I acknowledge that vaping indoors is likely prohibited by law, the manner in which this policy is enforced at Grassroots is a bit obnoxious.

About a year ago, I was vaping when an unfamiliar man approached me and, with an air of smug authority and a stare, simply stated, “stop vaping” then stormed off. At first, I had no idea who he was, as the staff at Grassroots wear neither uniforms nor name tags. I quickly deduced that he was the manager.

My last time there, a few months ago, I purchased a Growler. One of the employees, she consistently exudes an air of indifference, as if she'd rather be anywhere else. I don’t know her name but it always looks like she just left the beach. Despite her general overall poor customer service skills we never had a conflict - until that day.

Upon placing my order, I noticed that the price seemed off. When I inquired, she nonchalantly responded that the prices would be reflected on the receipt, showing not even the slightest concern. I attempted to print the receipt, but the printer lacked paper. By this time, she had already walked away, forcing me to call her back over to reload it. She did so begrudgingly, visibly irritated. The moment the paper was in, she turned on her heel and walked off again.

When the receipt finally printed, I saw that I had been charged for two sixteen-ounce servings instead of a single thirty-two-ounce Growler—a mistake that resulted in a higher charge (I could be off with the numbers here, but the point is that I was overcharged) . Again, I had to call her back because she had walked off. Her response? A dismissive glance, followed by sarcastically stating, "Would you like that in Kratom or dollar bills?" Stunned, I simply replied, "Wow," and requested a refund.

The next time I walked in, the assistant manager pulled me aside to talk. She informed me that an employee, Addy, reported that I had touched her arm, and they have a strict no-touching policy. As a gay social worker, I can confidently say that there was nothing inappropriate or sexual about any interaction I have ever had with her. Addy is someone (up to that point) I genuinely liked and respected, and I fully understand that she , apparently, does not want to be touched - at all—I more than honor that boundary. But this was the reason I was banned --- and it was the day after my “wow” comment. Hmmmm. A brief, incidental touch on the arm can happen. If her personal space needs are that stringent, she may find it challenging to work in a setting that involves regular interaction with the public.

I’m not saying don’t go there, just...

Poor Customer Service from the Blonde Girl

I don’t want to be rude—I don’t even know her name, but she was blonde. There were a few customers at the bar, but I wasn’t served any drinks. Instead, I was left waiting for even the slightest bit of kindness. Unfortunately, she wasn’t friendly at all.

This was my first time visiting, and as someone who works in the industry, I like to take time to explore new places and try different flavors. I’m not sure if she’s the manager or the owner, but her customer service was terrible—she looked at me with contempt and clearly didn’t want to serve me.

What she doesn’t realize is that I could have brought her a lot more business. It’s disappointing to encounter people in customer service who have no idea what it means, especially in today’s world. Unfortunately, I won’t be returning, and I can’t...

I have been looking for a local coffee place near me happy to support my community. The inside is very spacious so you don't feel like you are side-by-side with others. The barista I had was Heather and she was extremely friendly and very informative on my questions about Kava. She kept her mask on so if anyone was concerned about Covid, this is a good place to go. They have a large variety on their menus of coffee, teas, kava, and snacks. I haven't gotten a chance to try out there Kava, yet but I will definitely be back for it. They are also dog friendly! Did I mention that they have kombucha on tap? Very chill atmosphere with great music. If you have a tried this place out yet I recommend going.

BONUS: they have coffee punchcards. After your 6 cup of coffee you get a free coffee. Who doesn't love...