Customers berate teenage workers over mask policy, Michigan ice cream shop says

An ice cream shop in Michigan is fed up with customers it says have been yelling at teen workers trying to enforce the statewide mask policy.

“So here’s a little secret: We don’t like masks either,” The Front Porch ice cream parlor in Spring Lake said in a July 26 Facebook post.

The shop is among countless in Michigan where customers are required to don face masks due to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s statewide mask mandate, which stipulates masks must be worn in indoor public spaces.

The problem? The Front Porch said customers have been yelling at its teen staff for trying to enforce the rule. The shop has no drive-thru, meaning customers must go inside the shop to get their ice cream.

“What you’re not allowed to do is to yell at my employees about why (the mandate) shouldn’t apply to you,” the shop said. “Just yesterday four different sets of people yelled at our workers and one set got so unruly that we had to call the police.”

Mask policies have become politically divisive and sparked numerous public outbursts from customers across the country.

Earlier this month, a woman was caught on video throwing shoe boxes at a Skechers worker in Oklahoma who asked her to put on a mask per store policy.

At a Walmart store in California, a man allegedly spit on a 69-year-old woman who asked him to put on a face covering.

“I am not political. I’m an ice cream store,” Front Porch owner Kelly Larson told WOOD. “We serve everyone and we’re happy to do so. I’m thrown in the middle of this as a small business owner.”

The Front Porch is urging customers who are unhappy with the mask mandate to refrain from taking out their frustrations on its teen workers.

“If you want to make a statement, call our elected officials or better yet call the governor’s office,” the shop said. “Start a peaceful protest. But to yell at teenagers in an ice cream store and make them cry is not a way to promote change.”

The shop’s post was met with overwhelming support.

“So sorry your young staff had to deal with that,” one person wrote. “It’s sad when kids are more mature than the adults and can’t see those kids are just following the rules like we have taught them.”

“Your employees are always kind,” wrote another. “The fact that someone can’t be kind in return is quite frustrating.”

“This puts businesses in a difficult situation,” wrote a third. “We are all just doing the best that we can... so sorry for your staff having to endure this.”

This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 9:22 AM with the headline "Customers berate teenage workers over mask policy, Michigan ice cream shop says."