Enfield Food Merchant Tells Complainers: 'Stay Away'

ENFIELD, CT — The new coronavirus pandemic has altered the lives of every American and caused unprecedented changes in the food and market industry. One small business owner in Enfield is fed up with complaints about his attempts to keep customers and staff safe and issued a public plea for those unhappy people to stay away.

As coronavirus cases continue to rise and restaurants are mandated to limit business to pickup and delivery, Joe Lanzieri of Cold Harbor Seafood & Market on Taylor Road instituted a policy requiring customers to sanitize their hands before entering the popular store. Two signs clearly stating the request are posted on the door; however, Lanzieri says some customers have been decidedly less than friendly about it by taking out their frustrations on employees.

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"I think people forget that those in the food/market/retail industry, the people cashing everyone out, stocking shelves, delivering products are so exposed putting their lives literally on the line right now," Lanzieri said in an email to Patch. "It's scary out there. This is no time for anyone to be offended by safety precautions so we can all feel OK serving the public."

On the store's Facebook page Sunday morning, Lanzieri wrote a letter telling "negative people" to stay away from Cold Harbor. The text of the letter reads:

I just want to thank all of you guys for coming to the market during this difficult time. I know the service is a little slower then normal, and I'm sorry about that, but we are trying new things daily to try and improve our speed and efficiency. We are working with a skeleton crew to keep us distanced from each other. Hopefully our products/service are worth the wait.

But, I'm writing today about something that is really emotionally hurting us. We are just people trying to do what we can to keep you and us safe during the coronavirus outbreak. Lately, many people have stormed off refusing to use hand sanitizer. Also, people are feeling offended for us asking them if they are working in environments that coronavirus is present or has been present and argue with us for the measures we are taking to keep everyone healthy, including ourselves.

I'm asking that the next time you come to my market, take a look around and realize that all the staff at Cold Harbor is actually risking getting infected to serve you.

"We are risking getting infected to serve you"...!

I never thought that I would been saying that, but there is a virus out there that there is little known about. We don't know how long it will last, we don't know how many more will be infected, and how many more loved ones will die from this monster.

But know this. We are going to keep inconveniencing you. We are not going to let negative people risk YOUR LIFE or MINE and certainly NONE OF MY STAFF.

So today, we are sadly going to say goodbye to some of our customers that have supported us thru the good times, but are giving us nothing but grief during this unprecedented virus attack on our friends and family.

We are asking the negative people to please stay away from our store. We just don't want to hear it anymore. Go to the markets that provide you no protection and please don't come here. The entire staff has been harassed enough and I will not allow it to happen anymore ... period!

In closing ... to the great friends that we have grown so close to over the last decade, we'll see you next week for our Great Fish, Great Meals, and Great Conversations. You are truly family to us all, and we are always going to do our best for you.

My Best to All of You.

Joe Lanzieri
Cold Harbor Seafood