A Massachusetts ice cream shop owner went viral after blasting customers who yell at his teenage employees, including one incident in which a customer allegedly lost their temper over a 20-cent price difference on a sundae.
The incident that finally pushed the owners over the edge reportedly involved a customer yelling at a 16-year-old employee and even calling the teenager a “scumbag.” Co-owner Kevin Miller said it wasn’t an isolated problem, either, as disrespect toward the shop’s young employees had become a regular issue since the business opened.
That was apparently enough for the owners. A profanity-filled Facebook post defending the workers quickly took off online, gaining more than 299,000 likes, 24,000 comments, and 8,000 shares.
Coldstuff Ice Cream is located in Blackstone, Massachusetts, and is run by brothers David Forgit and Kevin Miller, who also own Goodstuff Smokehouse and Brewery. Forgit wrote the viral Facebook post after the latest incident involving one of their teenage employees.
“I swear to God. STOP YELLING AT MY [expletive] EMPLOYEES,” he wrote. Forgit reminded customers that many workers are young and in their first jobs and will make mistakes. He also made it clear that they “aren’t in charge of anything,” before adding, “This can all be fixed with a smile and a polite attitude. It’s ice cream, for crying out loud. Grow up and act your age.”
Customers Rally Behind Massachusetts Ice Cream Shop
The support didn’t remain online, either. When Coldstuff reopened after the post went viral, customers lined up at the Massachusetts shop, with some saying they specifically stopped by because they had seen Forgit’s message and wanted to support a business that stood behind its employees.
The attention also reached people outside Massachusetts. One commenter wrote, “Shout out from IN! You guys are the BEST! I just ordered merch!” Another added, “Do I live near y’all? No. Have I heard of y’all before today? Also, no. But did I follow after reading this post? Yes, yes I did.” One person was simply enjoying the drama from afar: “Me in Kentucky watching this unfold.”
Forgit doesn’t appear to be backing away from the message, either. Speaking after the post went viral, he pointed out that buying ice cream is supposed to be a laid-back experience, not something that ends with customers screaming at teenage workers. His advice for customers getting that worked up was simple: settle down and “touch grass.”
The owners have since clarified that they weren’t calling out any specific age group. Forgit said most of the older customers they encounter are great and that his message was aimed at people who know they are guilty of treating young workers poorly.
Despite the blunt language that made the post go viral, Forgit’s message remained pretty simple. Customers can be frustrated when something goes wrong, but that doesn’t mean they should take it out on teenagers working their first jobs. After all, as he reminded everyone, “It’s ice cream, for crying out loud.”
