Lakefront Fine Wine & Spirits

ts. My receipt shows that the transaction was completed at 8:03 p.m., identifies the cashier as Thomas, and shows a total purchase of $73.52. When I entered, I greeted Thomas. He looked directly at me but did not respond at all. At the time, I even made an excuse for him: perhaps he was simply in a bad mood that day. I let it go and began selecting my drinks. I purchased several packages of alcohol, including multiple six-packs and one twelve-pack. Because I was buying quite a lot, I carried the items to the counter two packages at a time. Thomas stood behind the counter staring at me as I made repeated trips, without showing any interest in offering assistance. When I brought the first items to the counter, I politely said, “Give me a box, please.” I was simply asking him to provide a cardboard box after I had finished bringing everything to the counter. It was an extremely ordinary and easily understood request. My wife briefly entered the store during this process. After I had brought all of my purchases to the counter, I politely made the same request again. This time, Thomas stared directly into my eyes. His expression appeared extremely harsh, cold, and openly hostile. In the same cold tone, he said, “I will get you a box.” His stare and tone made me feel threatened. Instead of feeling like a paying customer, I felt as though I were an inconvenience simply for asking for a box. I also clearly noticed that his fingers appeared heavily yellow-stained. I will not speculate about the cause; I am simply documenting what I personally observed. The real issue was his hostile, cold, and intimidating attitude throughout the interaction. Apparently, after spending $73.52 at this store, politely requesting a cardboard box is considered such an outrageous demand that it deserves this kind of reaction from the cashier. The customer-service procedure here appears to be remarkably simple: ignore the customer’s greeting, stand behind the counter and stare while the customer carries every item without assistance, and then make the customer feel as though asking for a cardboard box is requesting some enormous personal favor. On July 17, 2026, I reported this experience to Andrew, the store’s management contact. I sent two emails: an initial formal complaint and a follow-up. As of the time of this review, I have received no response—not even a one-line acknowledgment that my message was received. I have to give the store credit for one thing: its approach is impressively consistent. The employee ignored me in person, and management continued ignoring me by email. At least when it comes to disregarding customers, the team appears to work together seamlessly. If your ideal liquor-shopping experience involves spending your money, carrying every item yourself, being stared at aggressively, and then being made to feel as though asking for a cardboard box is begging for charity, this may be the perfect store for you. Anyone looking for alternatives may wish to consider Ye Old Spirit Shop or Beckley’s Country Store. I would rather spend my money at any business that understands how to treat its customers than return here.