The woman at the center of controversy and New York City Bagel & Coffee House (Facebook and Google Maps)
June 16, 2020 Staff Report
The bagel store at the center of a viral video that shows a woman deliberately coughing on another customer has apologized for the incident.
New York City Bagel & Coffee House on Broadway–near 30th Street–condemned the woman’s actions in a social media response posted Sunday.
“The behavior of the woman is unacceptable in our establishment,” the message on the NYCBCH Instagram page reads.
“We apologize for the horrific behavior of this woman,” the company said.
NYCBCH said that customers should never be treated in that manner and said it has barred the woman from all of its locations.
In the viral video recorded on June 6, the woman comes into NYCBCH to pick up an order without a mask on. Another customer complains to an employee about it.
The woman takes offense and erupts into a fit of anger. The two exchange words and the staff then serve the woman without a mask her order.
The woman grabs the order and then goes over to the customer who complained and coughs in her face.
The video has gained 4.6 million views on Twitter.
The victim, Ally Goodbaum, later criticized the staff at NYCBCH for serving the customer, according to a Facebook message she posted. She also criticized the staff for not asking about her wellbeing following the incident.
NYCBCH said that its staff were caught off guard and were mostly inexperienced workers, according to the statement.
“Most of our staff and the cashier who were working that day are high school students who were frightened by the behavior of this woman,” the statement reads.
The company stated that it called the authorities but no one came to the scene. It did not specify when the authorities were called.
NYCBCH insisted that customers and employees must wear a mask in all of their stores. The company has three other Astoria locations.
“We told our staff to never serve anyone without a mask or face covering and if the customer gives them any issue to immediately call authorities,” the statement continues.
“We have been making it clear to our staff that all customers must follow proper protocol for their own safety and the safety of those around them.”
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I frequent this establishment everyday. It is by FAR the best establishment in Astoria. The staff works extremely hard but I go for the coffee, the best, bagels, soups, smoothies, you name it, the best.