Yesterday, we were at a local brewery having a beer after just having been at a different competing brewery in town. I’m a regular at the 2nd place and the 1st place just opened so me and a friend were checking it out. I was chatting with the lady pouring the beer and asking questions like "have you checked out the new place?" and "can we look forward to a Collab beer between you two?". All friendly stuff, I’ve been a long time faithful customer and feel comfortable talking with them and giving them feedback. Anyways, I then mentioned that I think I know what would give them a competitive edge, if they kept 21+ only spaces.
Some background: I’ve been going to that brewery for the last 6 years since the day they opened and I’m even a founding member. I’ve often walked in and they’re so busy that me and my husband don’t have a place to sit. This would normally not bother me, I’d just go elsewhere, but occasionally the reason there are no available seats is because the place is teeming with children. Children occupying tables by themselves, parents at different tables. The kids don’t have any purchased NA beverage or snack in front of them and the parents have maybe 2-3 beers between the 4 of them. There’s even a lounge area with a sofa and seats and the kids occupy that area like a board game, coloring book, homework area. I’ve heard some of the staff frustratingly comment that "it’s like a daycare in here". I’ve even seen kids and babies sitting at the bar top on their iPad, etc. The brewery installed pinball machines over the last few years which also takes up seating space and draws in more children.
So flash back to present day, I just told them 21+ only spaces would be a great idea because the new brewery doesn’t have that. My friend, who is also in a childfree marriage, then remarks how she thinks that’s a great idea but follows up with "Don’t get me wrong, I love kids just not when they’re running around feral". She’s a founding member too, there from day one, etc. Then I comment "Well I’m not even going to say that". The bartender, who is also the manager says "yes we know you don’t like kids and our pinball machines" and walks away. I forgot I gave feedback to the owners that the pinball machines are noisy which I’ve since actually grown to like and even sometimes play. Anyways, what I didn’t know is that the bartender is a single mom of 5 kids. My friend let me know. I felt so bad in that moment. Not because of what I said but because of what I meant – I meant to say that I’m not going to follow up with a blanket statement "I love kids" when I had just given feedback that I was serious about.
Anyways, I lost a lot of sleep over this last night and I’m feeling the need to go back and explain myself which I will not be doing. What’s worse/better is that I do see myself hanging out at the new brewery more now.. and even pitch to them my idea of 21+ only spaces.
So AITA for not saying that I love kids?