Cannelle Patisserie

While the coffee and pastry at Canelle are delicious, the staff I recently encountered there were oddly rude. Moreover and tragically, the encounter felt racially discriminatory. Details below, for the curious. The shop was busy when I entered on a sunny Sunday afternoon (July 21st, 2024). There were around 12 people in a slow-moving line ahead of me. I cheerfully waited in line like everyone ahead of me and behind me. But when my turn came, I was overlooked by the pastry counter staff. They instead turned to the white female customer behind me, who placed an order for sandwiches to be prepared by the kitchen. I am a tall male person of color. I was the only person of color in the shop at that time, out of perhaps 40 customers on the premises. I thought it was a bit odd to be passed over; I was there only for coffee, not pastry, but there was no way for them to know that. I assumed, however, that the staff at the cash register would take my drink order: the espresso machine was located near there. But when I arrived at the register, the staff there likewise ignored me and asked the white female customer behind me to confirm whether she ordered sandwiches. I moved to the side, as it seemed the courteous thing to do. After completing the transaction, the young female staff member then asked me if I had been helped. I told her no, not yet. She asked me what I wanted. I told her a Dirty Chai. She then told me that I had to wait in line. I assured her that I did so. At that point, the other female staff member manning the register stepped forward and rudely informed me that I had to now go to the back of the line. I turned to her, and likewise told her that I did wait in line. At that point they both silently turned to the white female customer behind me, who was at that time putting away her credit card and was preparing to leave. The clear implication was that they were soliciting her validation. The customer said to them: he did wait in line. At that point, the staff member who originally addressed me rolled her eyes, made a gesticulation of frustration with her hands, and told me, oddly: next time you have to wait in line until somebody takes your order, because there 's no way for us to know. No way for them to know: other than the fact they were told by me... twice. They took the word of the white woman standing behind me, however. And they disregarded the fact that I was overlooked by the staff manning the pastry counter... or at least that notion was, in their limited view, outside of the realm of possibilities. I was fuming by this time, and thought about leaving. I was visiting the region from my home in Italy, where friendly service and vastly superior pastry and coffee can be obtained at any number of pasticcerie from friendly folks at a mere fraction of the price. I wish I had left. Instead, I simply committed myself to the notion that I will never again return. The incident was concluded when the young woman a few minutes later called out to me, dirty chai, and motioned with her chin to the far side of the counter where I was to insert myself between the customers in line to pick up my order. This, in lieu of her handing it to me the way the staff were handing other customers their orders. I got the message loud and clear from her tone and body language: they wanted to minimize contact with me. In summary, it is clear that people of color are not welcome at Cannelle. At least that is the very strong impression they made on me. There was no other reason for them to treat me the way I did. I was friendly and conciliatory to the customers who were bustling about the shop. I was content to patiently read an e-book on my phone while I waited. But to the staff I was Ralph Ellison 's Invisible Man.

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this is a secret, neighborhood bakery/cafe, probably one of the best in s.e. michigan. the pasteries and savory creations are some of the best that you will ever find, anywhere. it’s really nice to meet and sit outside in the morning….

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They won't warm up your croissant because they started cleaning the oven at 3:06 pm. when the store closes at 4:00 pm.

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Pistachio latte is AMAZING! Best I have ever had. Decaf is amazing too. Big fan! Great little spot.

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A popular local French cuisine café. Very very good, I highly recommend it

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