Peter Wallace, Ltd

This year, having heard so many great things about it, we decided to spend Halloween in Lambertville. There’s something so special about walking around the stores and seeing the local art, and it’s only made better by the fall weather and festive decorations. We stopped in at Peter’s shop because my mother was interested in purchasing something she saw in the front. My daughter (who is 6) and I were in Halloween costumes, and the women at the wonderful ice-​cream place up the street had given her a free scoop of ice-​cream. I was hesitant about going in because it was extremely cluttered and was one of those places you feel like you’re going to break something if you sneeze. We stood in the front, and the man working there, whom I assumed was Peter, told us about the garden in the back. He looked right at us so I assumed he was okay that we had ice-​cream, and I had a coffee. We went to the back and my mother was looking around for something to buy. I couldn’t afford anything in there. It was EXTREMELY overpriced, in my opinion (a small terra cotta lawn bunny for $ 49, for example). Peter stood at the backdoor watching us, but I thought nothing of it. It was cute in the garden, but no very impressive. The things for sale were very used looking and again, very expensive. My boyfriend, who isn’t the classiest looking guy but not in anyway offensive, made his way to the other floors to see what was up there.
We took some pictures outback and made our way in, my mom still deciding. I stood at the front because, again, I felt uncomfortable in the small space, especially with my little one. Peter came up to us and told us we had to leave because my daughter had ice cream. Spilling in a store is bad luck. I chuckled and was about to say I understand and we’ll wait outside, thinking he was making a sweet comment to alleviate the awkwardness of essentially kicking us out, but he continued.
**** She is a child, he said, pointing to my daughter, but you should know better. I shouldn’t have to tell you. This is an extremely bad example you are setting for your child, it is unbelievable. He went on to mutter under his breath «all of these irresponsible parents I have to deal with» and continuing to insult me as I hurried out the door, embarrassed and extremely offended. I know I’m very average looking, I’m clearly not wealthy… but I felt this treatment was as if I was scum of the earth. My boyfriend, who trailed behind us out of the door coming from the upstairs, told us that Peter followed him at every corner up the stairs and through the store, at his shoulder, making it clear he felt he was trying to steal. He hollered at us all the way out, even as we were on the sidewalk, for others to hear.
Never in my life have I ever felt so upset by a store owner. I understand I shouldn’t have brought my daughter into the store, but there were no signs that said «no food» and I thought he had invited us in even after he had seen that we had ice-​cream. But either way, nothing excuses the way he spoke to me and the way he treated my boyfriend. I don’t say this lightly about anyone and try to give the benefit of the doubt in most situations, but this time I have to say it – he is an awful, awful man and I would never come within 20 feet of this building. He embarrassed and insulted me and there was absolutely no reason for it.