# Massachusetts Shop Owner Defends Teen Staff From Rude Patrons

- Topic: usa
- Source: [Upworthy](https://www.upworthy.com/people-applaud-massachusetts-ice-cream-store-owners-salty-response-to-rude-customers/)
- Published: 2026-10-10
- Original: https://www.upworthy.com/people-applaud-massachusetts-ice-cream-store-owners-salty-response-to-rude-customers/
- Language: en
- Image: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/1f620.png

## At a glance

- Owners of a Massachusetts ice cream parlour publicly condemned abusive customer behaviour directed at their teenage staff members.
- The viral intervention followed an incident where a patron screamed at a young employee over a 25-cent pricing mistake.
- Co-owner Dave Forgit stated that customer mistreatment of young workers appears to be an unfair power dynamic rarely seen with adults.
- The shop launched a community fundraising campaign to provide extra financial support for the six adolescent employees.

## Sources

- [Upworthy](https://www.upworthy.com/people-applaud-massachusetts-ice-cream-store-owners-salty-response-to-rude-customers/)

## The story

The owners of Coldstuff Ice Cream in Blackstone, Massachusetts, have gained widespread online support after publicly defending their teenage staff against verbally aggressive customers. Dave Forgit and Kevin Miller intervened after witnessing an older patron shout at an adolescent cashier who made a minor 25-cent billing error. Miller expressed shock at the routine hostility aimed at young retail workers just beginning their working lives.

Forgit addressed the incident directly in an expletive-laden social media message, urging patrons to stop yelling at minors who are still learning on the job. He stressed that small mistakes can easily be resolved with patience and respect, adding that the store did not want repeat business from hostile customers. Coldstuff launched in August and employs six teenagers, aged 16 and 17, under an adult supervisor.

Forgit noted that while customers rarely shout at adult workers at his adjacent smokehouse, they frequently use intimidation tactics against teenagers. In addition to the viral post, which drew hundreds of thousands of reactions, the owners launched an online fundraiser to reward their young crew.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. [Read the original source](https://www.upworthy.com/people-applaud-massachusetts-ice-cream-store-owners-salty-response-to-rude-customers/)