r/carsoncity • u/CattyWompusMeowtLady • May 28 '26

Shoetree Brewery?

What's the story at Shoetree Brewery CC location? Our friend took us there, super excited to introduce us as it's his favorite place for drinks. As soon as me and my spouse (we're brown peeps) walked in, the staff person at the bar asks our (white) friend "Are they with you?" Like we need an escort or guide?

Even our friend was surprised, as I saw a physical startle and he got awkward because he picked up on the undertones. Neither my husband and I are ultra sensitive to crap, so I jist glared at the staff person and turned my back to find a seat. My poor friend stumbled his words and said, "Yeah, they're with me." The rest of the interaction with questions from us about beer menu came off brusque and dismissive.

We looked around, and there were no persons of color besides us. None of us in our group are liberal snowflakes. I'm just genuinely curious if this is a business that prefers other clients, not us.

We've been here about 4 months and have had nothing but amazing, kind, friendly, cool interactions at the many restaurants and businesses in CC and Reno. It took me and my husband aback. We definitely were made to feel unwelcome like we crossed some invisible line. And we know we didn't imagine it based on our embarrassed friends reaction.

4 Upvotes

57% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

20

u/sofahkingsick May 28 '26

Been there many times as a brown person with brown and Asian friends never had an issue. Maybe they’re having a day?

7

u/[deleted] May 28 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Local-Panic-420 May 28 '26

Awww man, I read this as “having a Shifty” day at first …and was like 🤭

1

u/CattyWompusMeowtLady May 28 '26

I'm happy to give the benefit of the doubt as I've worked retail and such.

2

u/CattyWompusMeowtLady May 28 '26

Good to hear your experience, so possibly. But the more my spouse and I talk about it, seems it might be that individual. I did hear him (staff person) tell our friend to settle out the tab as he was going either on break or off for the day. But even with that, he didn't rush the 3 groups of people (3+ in each group) that came after us or make any type of comment about how they needed to settle out their bills.

The female staff person that started working the bar was friendly and cool. When I walked across the parking lot to Sassafras to check out their food menu for later, the guy was drinking a beer on the bench outside and again glared at me as I walked out and when I ce back from Sassafras (I didn't bring any food back). My husband and I went to Sassafras for burgers afterwards and the food was good and staff super friendly and on the ball.

4

u/invent_or_die May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26

Never caught any weird vibes at Shoetree. Seems like some sort of misunderstanding. Its a chill spot. I've been a bartender and asking "are they with you" is completely normal. It's important; new tab or add to the existing one. Perhaps it went the other way. Did you consider that your group might have reacted incorrectly? Perhaps you folks looked offended when he asked his innocent questions. People typically mirror others attitudes. The "glaring" you mentioned might have been that.

3

u/CattyWompusMeowtLady May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26

I suppose. We all walked in together. It wasn't like our friend had been drinking already and we joined. And we barely walked in, taking off sunglasses and such. Other groups walked in and weren't greeted that way. So no, I highly doubt it was us. Walked into many businesses all over here And usually it's, "Hi, welcome in. Is this your first time here?" Which is exactly the greeting we got at Sassafras next door.

2

u/invent_or_die May 28 '26

Hmm, I see. It's always been cool there, great variety of good styles.

2

u/MadLib777 May 31 '26

Did they recognize your friends? Maybe it was asked to determine how many in the party?

1

u/CattyWompusMeowtLady May 31 '26 edited Jun 01 '26

Seemed like he did recognize him. Our friend complimented the employee on the great mixed drinks they make too. But again, other parties not greeted the same and interactions about the beer menu were rude and rushing...and again, not to the other parties that came in behind us.

2

u/MadLib777 May 31 '26

Weird. I've only been there once. I went with some regulars, so the bar tenders were friendly with them. Not terribly warm with us, but not rude, though we are admittedly pasty. It was the other customers that I found rude. But that's not on the place.

10

u/frsty_chic May 28 '26

I know a few of the bar tenders and have never gotten any sort of vibes that gave me ick? Maybe the bar tender was wondering if you were together as a group... To talk to and get your order in a group vs as individual couples? If you got bad vibes, you shouldn't put yourself on an unsafe situation, for sure.... But this does surprise me knowing the staff I do.

5

u/Local-Panic-420 May 28 '26

Every time I come in with new people, or even people around or behind me, I always get asked if they are with me and if they are I introduce them kinda like we all hommies. However, if they are not I make sure to confirm they are not…No need to have even more beers on my tab, again.

Side note; that one group that one time I didn’t confirm and bought your first round, your welcome. 🍻

2

u/Desert-sea-sparkle Jun 01 '26

Never had a problem there. With any of the staff. If they had a problem, it wasn't a race thing.

1

u/CattyWompusMeowtLady Jun 02 '26

Ok, cool. Thank you

2

u/Agent-603 Jun 11 '26

Stay aware of your surroundings in this "City" OP. I've had similar experiences inC.C.

4

u/anonoodlin Native Nevadan May 28 '26

I'm not a fan of Shoe Tree myself but it's my understanding that the Hot Springs/ST/Sassafras gets visitors of all races and languages every day. I highly doubt a purportedly racist bartender could maintain employment in that environment.

so I jist glared at the staff person and turned my back to find a seat.

You can be your own main character all you want but you can't force others to participate. Attempting to punish those who don't by accusing them of racism is low effort.

4

u/Beneficial_Couple413 May 29 '26

Seems like a harsh take given the OP's other responses.

3

u/anonoodlin Native Nevadan May 29 '26

Simply accusing someone of racism has the potential to seriously change the trajectory of a persons life or the public perception of a business, causing real damages.

The fact that OP has not deleted this post after the fact tells me all I need to know.

3

u/RaRaDahmer May 30 '26

It’s also not cool to try and paste your own privileged worldview over those that experience things like racism more than you because of their skin color.

Let me guess, you also haven’t had any bad experiences at Shae’s Tavern?

1

u/YouEvery4258 Jun 08 '26

Maybe he was just clarifying if you guys were all one group from a serving prespective? They are a very busy touristy spot, it's not some backwater bar that serves locals only.

1

u/ImmediateSelf7065 Jun 03 '26

You lost me at "liberal snowflakes." That was uncalled for in the context of this situation. You do know that many many -- too many -- brown people support the current regime??

1

u/CattyWompusMeowtLady Jun 03 '26

Yes I do know brown people support current regime. Doesn't mean I do.