‘It’s ice cream for crying out loud’: Massachusetts shop owner loses it on customers for yelling at teen staff — and gets outpouring of support

Not one for soft-serve posts, he followed up in the comments with “And NOBODY gives a s— if you don’t come back. We’d prefer it that way.”

The post has garnered more than 294,000 likes and 24,000 comments along with massive media attention, drawing interviews with local outlets like Boston 25 News and CBS 12 News.

A growing number of customers stand by him, with many posting plans on Facebook to visit from out of state.

Local Blackstone resident Sarah McKiel brought her daughters to the ice cream shop after seeing the post.

“I’m for supporting businesses that support their staff members …. and we will continue to come here ’cause who knows, maybe my girls will want to work here one day,” she told Boston 25.

What prompted the backlash

Forgit and his brother Kevin Miller employ six teens at their shop, according to Inc. He told CBS News the straw that broke the camel’s back was when a customer snapped at one of the teens: “This place sucks,” and to “Do your job right.”

“It’s supposed to be laid-back. It’s ice cream. It’s supposed to be a happy place and a happy time. Settle down. Take a breath. Touch grass,” Forgit told Boston 25 News.

Forgit told Inc. that he believes customers treat his teen staff less respectfully than they do adult staff at Goodstuff Smokehouse, the barbecue restaurant he and his brother own next door.

“If you get disrespectful to an adult, they’re likely going to tell you off,” he said. “If you do that to a kid — it just seems like a power move.”

He added that it tends to be older customers who are harsh with the teens, but as he and his brother told The Boston Globe, the “vast majority” of older customers are nice and the post wasn’t a broad attack on boomers.