I moved back to Port Townsend in 2003, about that time Aldrich's burned down. There was a HUGE outpouring of support for the owner David Hamilton. I don't recall how much money was raised (no pun intended) to assist with rebuilding the store. Of course condo sales sure do help too, but that may need its own story.
Now, I'm sure that most people in PT were a little upset when they found out that Hamilton had recently sold the uptown establishment. It has only been a few years since the rebuild.
My cousin Mariana has been working at Aldrich's part-time for the last year while she goes to school at the local Peninsula College branch and raises her 2 year old son Ryker (aka Hootie). I stopped in around 6-7 to get some dinner and say hi when she was on her shift. It was a slow evening, not many customers at all, a few people upstairs using the wi-fi.
I had been there about an hour, Mariana came up once for about a minute to see what I was doing and catch up and she was back downstairs at the checkstand. A little bit later, her boyfriend, who was babysitting that evening, dropped in with Ryker. They were probably the only customers in the store at that time.
Shortly after this had happened my cousin came back upstairs and was visibly upset. She informed me that she had just quit her job there. When I asked why she told me, that the new owners (who I have not met yet) wanted to know if Ryker came by the store when she was on shift. The manager told her about this and she quit immediately.
Now, I don't know if Ryker was coming in regularly during Mariana's shift or not or if he was a distraction from her job duties.
I'm not sure what to think about this. I think that the owner's expectation that Ryker not come in to the store is a little unrealistic, everyone goes to Aldrich's. The owner certainly is entitled to have reasonable expectations of their employee's conduct and performance, but it's not like she made the choice to bring him in to see her. That was the babysitter's choice.
The manager could have just as easily let this go. It wasn't busy. Ryker wasn't keeping his mom from her job. But he was just doing his job.
Never mind the fact that it's MOTHER'S DAY!!! That is what blows me away more than anything. Why can't a son see his mom on Mother's Day?
Anyway, I won't be going to Aldrich's anymore. Management and I have a different set of values that are irreconcilable.
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8 comments:
Man, that's lame, isn't that what Aldrich's is all about - community and family?? That sucks for your cuz Kyle. Little goochie goo Hootie couldn't come say happy mother's day to his momma without the manager having to tattle tale?? hmmmmmm
Well, I'll just say that Aldrich's has never been the same the days John Clise had it. Of course, I'm ancient, so remember it when the Aldrich's owned it, and sold furniture upstairs!
Hamilton was no great shakes, that I could tell. I know. Let's ask Harry the Handsome Cashier about the new owners!
I heard that the new owners are from Sequim, but thats about it.
David Hamilton was kind of a odd duck and interesting owner. The store looks great, but it's not really the same anymore is it?
The other PT institution that I really miss is Melville & Co. books, that was a really interesting store.
i would like to add that while i (the baby sitter) entered the store i was there to purchase items. i bought around ten dollars worth. mariana briefly said hi to her son and promptly went about her work. you would think that a "community store" would have a little more concern for it's employees. perhaps sitters in the past pestered her at work in the past but i very much doubt that. ON MOTHERS DAY? the nerve...
i feel bad for getting mariana scolded for bringing her child in??
I am not an unbiased observer to this incident. I am Mariana's mom and Ryker (AKA Hootie)"s grandma. I have seen Mariana sacrifice family gatherings, social events and Hootie's needs so that she could work the crappiest hours for Aldrich's. She has without complaint cleaned the public toilet, mopped the floor and done whatever was asked of her. Mariana worked hard while also going to college full time and being a full time single parent. She cared about the people that she worked with and for. But, when thar caring was shown to be a one way proposition, she made a snap decision to stand up for her dignity and her status as a mom. I am deeply proud of Mariana...for how hard she has worked, for how much she has sacrificed and for her clear moral compass. she had the courage to stand up to her employers and say, "You are wrong." she will bear the consequences of her actions with the same courage that she has faced all of her challenges. I am, as I have been so often, profoundly proud to be Mariana's mom.
This story has me conflicted, because, as much as I love to boycott places, the working week just isn't possible without Sentosa's sushi. I don't know if the sushi area is sub-leased, and/or whether Aldrich's owners get a piece of the profits. I do know my life would be lessened if I couldn't have seared albacore with chipotle sauce and wasabi mayo, and I could no longer flirt with Sam and Zeke behind the counter. It's not the same now there's no Kyle with which to gossip during lunch, but still...
Having just had dinner with someone who deals with Aldrich's new owners on a business basis, I report that she thinks they're great; she's happy with the change in management.
Also, I saw Harry the Handsome Cashier at the high school's wonderful production of "Anything Goes", and he told me they were good to the staff.
That's all to report for now.
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