Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Skating Party

Six years old - the first memorable milestone of any little girl.  Boys, they could care less, but to little girls it is the leaving of babyhood - finally.  A party at the perfect venue - the skating rink!  Friends and family gathered to celebrate.  Everyone having a great time with much laughter, visiting, skating and just plain fun.  Two hours into the party, the group is told they have to leave.  A miscommunication or greediness on the part of the owner?  A party from 3:00 to 7:00 was booked and now at 5:00 everyone was being hurried out.  No one was advised of the change until we were told to leave.  Did they double book?  Did they book a private party after the other parties were booked?  If so, a phone call would have saved a lot of grief!

A hurt little girl, an angry Mom and confused guests - a birthday party ruined and an important birthday at that! 

This was my first trip to the Griffin Skate Inn and will probably be my last.  A lot of anger and upset could have easily been avoided if we had been advised on arrival that the party would be cut short.  Waiting until "clear out" time to let all the parties know of the time change was rude and uncalled for.  Yes, there were at least four parties being held that afternoon.  I can understand needing the $200 gained by adding a private party in the middle of the afternoon, but only if the time was not previously allotted.  This move was bad business practice and also bad for business.

Spencer's Skating Rink, now closed, was the place for our parties and many nights out for skating.  Hopefully someone will re-open the old rink to give some healthy competition to the Griffin Skate Inn.  I sure hope so as I cannot see any of our party returning to do business with the Griffin Skate Inn.

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