Gentile's Fine Foods: The Grumpiest Store in Manhattan?

WHEN I owned a store, I sublet space from an antiques dealer who was one of the best salespeople I've met. The secret, she said, is to repeat to people what they've already said. They say, "Oh, that's a beautiful chair." You say, "Yes, it's a beautiful chair, isn't it." Or they say, "I don't know if I'm ready to buy yet," and you say, "Yes, it's a big decision to make."

Today I went in to Gentile's Fine Foods (1041 Madison Avenue, between 79th and 80th Streets on the Upper East Side) to buy a Coke. While I was digging out exact change for the $2.16 they wanted, I said, calmly I thought, "You charge more than most places."

The cashier said, "You should go across the street and see what they charge." (Note: there is no store across the street that sells Cokes.)

"I buy them all over Manhattan, I know what they cost."

At this point, the man standing next to me said, "Then don't come back.'

"Are you the owner?" I asked.

"Yes, and we don't want your business."

I had paid for the Coke, so I left, obviously not feeling like it was a place I wanted to come back to.

On the way home, I stopped at Dean & Deluca, which has a store a few blocks up on Madison. Of course they are one of the most expensive food stores in Manhattan. They charge $1.63, while my corner store at 85th and Lexington charges $1.50. In other words, Gentile's charges 33% to 44% more, but considered it insulting that a customer had said they were charging more than most places.

My old landlord never would have said that, even though she charged more than everyone else.