"After having just one drink each, we decided to leave, but I needed to use the restroom again. As we headed to the back, having no access to the front restroom, security stopped us and informed us that we could not use the bathroom because it was for a private party—even though I had just used it. They then proceeded to escort us out of the bar and into a neighboring bakery that was closed, with all the lights turned off and the chairs stacked on the tables. We were then guided to a restroom tucked away in a corner.
After using the bathroom, I requested to speak with a manager because the entire situation was utterly ridiculous. I was told they weren’t sure if the manager was available, even though I knew she was, as it had only been around 25 minutes since my last visit to the restroom. When I finally spoke with the manager, Catherine, she approached me with a smile and laughter, dismissing my concerns as if they were trivial. I explained that it was inappropriate for a male security guard to escort two women out of the bar and into a closed bakery to use the restroom. I was met with laughter and told that I could have turned on the lights, implying there was nothing to fear. This lack of understanding about the dangers women face in such situations is astonishing.
When I asked for the contact information for someone above her, I was told it was public knowledge and was once again laughed at. I looked at the security guard and expressed that he should never have been put in that position; it seemed clear he felt pressured by the manager, Catherine. All she had to do was show some empathy for the distressing situation we had just experienced, but instead, she was rude and unprofessional.
Once my anger subsided, I felt incredibly saddened. As a strong-willed 31-year-old who wasn’t under the influence of alcohol, I couldn’t help but think about how different this could have been for a more vulnerable individual. With a security guard who had ill intentions, things could have turned out much worse. The establishment needs to do better—not just as a business, but as responsible human beings."
