Tropical Smoothie Cafe — Restaurant in Virginia

This has nothing to do with the manager, he was very nice when I told him about this incident over the phone. It has to do with his three employees working tonight, who I hope receive some kind of repercussion for their actions. Before I say anything, I want readers to know that I am a huge, third trimester, pregnant woman. Okay so, I had the worst experience at tropical smoothie tonight, December 6th, 2017 😭. My 2 year old son started throwing up in line and the girls in the back weren’t paying any attention to the customers. I don’t think they had acknowledged me at all since I had walked through the door. Anyways, I was frantically running around their store trying to find napkins to help him with (there were literally zero napkins anywhere). My son was chasing me around, getting upset, still throwing up all over. It was a scene. Still being ignored, these young, male customers in line were finally like we need some help out here! So, one of the girls behind the register looked at me in disgust and handed the smallest towel to me over the counter. Her face was typical teenage “ew you can handle this”. So me being 30 weeks pregnant tomorrow (huge🤰) was crawling around on their floor cleaning up my son’s throw up with a tiny little rag while he’s standing there starting to get really upset 😢. And NO ONE helped me. Finally one of the girl’s in the back (there were three) was like I guess I could get the mop, after I had cleaned all of it up already. I was so shocked by how rude I was treated I got back into my car and started bawling. Granted I’m overly emotional right now, being so pregnant and all, but dang, what way to treat a super pregnant lady...

Clearly, any sort of review regarding the manager at the Stafford location will go unnoticed due to the fact that he is related to the franchise owner himself. That being said, he is by far the rudest individual I have come in contact with. He (maybe unknowingly) makes the customers feel incompetent. I have witnessed on several occasions the snapping and rude demeanor not only to employees but to customers as well. This type of behavior is unprofessional and inappropriate on all accounts. Quite frankly, I am disgusted that these reviews made over a year ago made no impact on the decision of hiring a new manager or at least training the staff on appropriate behavior/tone in the workplace. That being said, if you choose to eat at this location please keep in mind that if you ask any type of question, change your order or even say the wrong thing you will be reprimanded and spoken down to. His attitude is repulsive, he is loud and rude and snappy. I honestly don’t know how they even keep employees around, maybe that’s why they are...

Not all Tropical Smoothie Cafes are created equal, which is what I learned last week and it compelled me to write this review after visiting again today. I’ve been ordering mobile pickup via Google and now their app from this Stafford location for a few months now and I have to say: 1. They make smoothies better than other locations (for example, I couldn’t even taste the added peanut butter or other additions I paid extra for at a different location I ordered from twice in North Carolina—fairly certain one time they just flat out forgot it). 2. I highly appreciate the Stafford team keeping pickup order smoothies in the actual fridge/freezer behind the counter until you get there!! The other location did not do this and the smoothie gets runny! 3. The team members up front helping are always friendly, smiling, joking at times, helpful and honestly fun to see each time I go in there. It’s a busy location and it runs well....