A Love Lost: The Caribou Coffee Story.

Imagine a mom and an infant. (That'd be me and E, if you're having trouble imagining...)

Out to coffee. With a friend from college.

At Caribou Coffee.

Which one you ask?

1808 Plymouth Road. Minnetonka, MN.
Directly across from Ridgedale Mall.

Said mom needs to change infant's diaper.

Goes to the restroom to find there is NO changing table.

Leaves the womens restroom and checks the mens.

Nope. Nada.

Said infant is fussing because she only has the most messy, dirty diaper of her life going on. Like onesie change and all. You moms know what I'm talking about.

Mom is irritated.

Mom emails said Caribou Coffee.

Caribou Coffee passes the blame off to Brueggers Bagels. (Which is connected to Caribou.)

Mom is more irritated.

Here's our correspondence thus far:

Me: ...I met a friend for coffee at this Caribou on Saturday and was so disappointed to find out that neither of the restrooms had a changing table to change my 10 week old infant. Caribou's have typically been so family and child friendly. What a disappointment! Is there a reason for no changing table facilities here or is Caribou working on updating this facility?...

Them: ...Thank you very much for your email. I did ask the district manager of this location about the restrooms. The restrooms are actually Bruegger's restrooms, we do not have restrooms at this location. Was it perhaps a different Caribou?...

Me:
Thanks for getting back to me. This particular Caribou is connected to Brueggers and there is one set of bathrooms between the two of them. I guess that almost makes it worse that Caribou passes the blame off to Brueggers and doesn't even have facilities available besides Brueggers??...Did you get a chance to look into this further?

Them: ...Due to the type of lease we have in that location the restroom facilities are operated and leased by Brueggers. We do not have separate facilities in this location.
Please let me know if you have additional questions...

And then, again: ...I apologize if you find my response lacking. Unfortunately I do not have a way to rectify the lack of a changing table in the restroom for the reasons I stated previously. Please let me know how else I can assist you...

****
I wrote back and informed Customer Relations I'd be sharing my experience and issue with a broader audience. That'd be YOU.

Here's what I think and then I want to know what YOU think. Really.

#1. Where does Caribou Coffee expect their customers to use the restroom at this particular location?

#2a. Is it important to Caribou Coffee that parents with small children are able to come and visit their store?

#2b. If so, where do they suggest small children in diapers are changed?

#3. Regardless of whose restroom facility it is (Brueggers, Caribou's, the landlord of the building...) Caribou Coffee generally expects customers to use these facilities. A diaper changing station can be purchased starting at $180. One hundred and eighty dollars. When people are coming in and spending $3-5 on a beverage, is it really too much to ask Caribou to make the investment for this?

#4. I was disgusted that I had to lay my changing pad on a tile floor to change my infant. But now what disgusts me is the lack of concern, the lack of apology and the lack of genuine interest in my complaint. What gives?

And as for Brueggers, they have been contacted and I've received no response as of this posting. Which is another disappointment in and of itself.

So now it's your turn, what do YOU think?