Kree C.
Yelp
UPDATE from June 11th, 2021:
Although I haven't heard from the owner or a manager, Ugly Mugs has redeemed itself to five-star status after this afternoon's experience! I went in just now to order an iced chai, and all three baristas were very welcoming of my vested service dog. One even asked if he could have a little cup of peanut butter, which he was super pumped about of course. I therefore decided to thank them for being so inclusive and told them how I had the exact opposite experience at Greko Greek Foods on Gallatin in East Nashville last night. Not only did they empathize, they refused to let me pay for my iced chai even though I insisted. I hope Ugly Mugs takes this update and my original review as an opportunity to have these three baristas along with the other great ones train the two with whom I had bad experiences. As well as all new employees!
Original review from June 7th: I've lived in Nashville for six years now and come to Ugly Mugs on and off the entire time. Lately, I've moved much closer and have been here nearly every weekday for about six weeks. I do work and either sit outside or inside buying drinks and food throughout the day to support the business and do my part!
The vast majority of employees have been very accepting of my registered service dog. They know him by name and one barista, Mallory, even gave him a little container of peanut butter one day, which he loved! And followed my dog's hashtag on Instagram.
However, this morning I was awkwardly approached by someone I didn't recognize, and it wasn't clear he worked here. I thought he might be a fellow patron, who was curious or saying he liked my dog. Instead, he asked if my dog was trained to perform a service for me, to which I said yes. To which I then nicely asked if he worked here, considering I didn't recognize him, and it wasn't clear he was an employee.
He then repeated his question, which was when I asked if he wanted to see my dog's ID conveniently attached to his padded leash handle. And he responded he didn't need to see it, and that he just needed to know if my dog was trained to perform a service for me. (From what I could tell, he's the owner. A middle-aged guy with dark hair not wearing an apron or behind the counter.)
I would like to clarify that by federal law, my service dog doesn't have to wear a vest or collar showing he's registered. But I always have his vest on when inside businesses or government buildings to make things smoother for us. One would think the vest and jangling metal tag clearly labeled 'service dog' would be enough of a tip. Or the official ID dangling from his leash handle, or my dog's extremely well-behaved demeanor. (For example, whenever I order, he lays down while we wait in line as he is now while I'm working.)
I normally wouldn't write a review pointing this out, but about four weeks ago, another new Ugly Mugs employee approached me and promptly told me that my service dog was not welcome here although he was behaving amazingly and wearing his service dog collar, and I was wearing his clearly-labeled ID on a lanyard around my neck.
If Ugly Mugs is truly as welcoming as they purport to be to all races, genders and sexualities and welcome service dogs as posted at the entrance, this coffee shop clearly has some work to do. Whether I'm an every day customer or just in for one visit, patrons with service dogs deserve to feel welcome! Especially when they make it abundantly clear they have a service dog.
Ugly Mugs: Please do some training around service animals and use your powers of observation. If needing to ask for clarification, please don't make it awkward. This second bad experience with employees who don't recognize me and aren't as friendly and customer service-oriented as nearly everyone else who works here has left a really bad taste in my mouth. And is making me consider going elsewhere to spend my hard-earned money.
I'm giving two stars versus one, because I love the vibe here aside from these two employees. Everyone else is super nice and welcoming, and I love the other regulars. I hope to continue coming here but definitely won't be if this happens again.
Edit: I would like to add that in the hour since I wrote this review, two more, unlabeled dogs have been in, and the guy now standing behind the counter hasn't hassled either of those two patrons. I wonder if it has to do with the face that they both grabbed food and drinks and left, and I'm working on my laptop while charging it before going outside for a bit and ordering something else. No matter, as service dogs are allowed to stay inside with their guardians.