Quality Bakery & Coffee Shop

The guy that runs this place is a whack job, but the bread and pastries are very good.

He is just an odd duck. You ask him politely if you could have a cup of coffee and a danish, and he will just stand there staring at you until you say please.

DON'T EVEN think of using a cell phone here. Trust me. (and I have to agree with him)

They run this business, thier way, and have done so for years. I don't know how they get away with it, but they do.

I went in to have a cup of coffee, a couple of doughnuts and read my newspaper, which I've done many times before. There was one gentleman in line ahead of me. From out of nowhere about four kids came into the bakery and pushed their way to the front. When the gentleman in front of me left, I figured I was next...but no. The man at the counter chose to ignore me and wait on the kids instead. I just turned around and walked out. I won't be back.

After reading the unfavorable comments, I see the need for something positive. First, yes, the customer service could use a bit of polishing and finesse. However, I have been a customer many times there and have been reciprocated in pleasantness whether it's to order a birthday cake, purchase a treat for my kids or to buy bread or pasties. I just called to order donuts, on short notice, and the owner was extremely helpful and understanding of busy lives. She thanked me and was easy to work with even offering suggestions to help me make a good decision. I have to perhaps remind people that the service industry is not easy for those in that line of work- especially in today's busy climate of people constantly running around from place to place, making calls on their cell phones in the middle of transactions, making both the person on the phone wait as well as the added distraction for the service provider. I give applause to the man refusing to serve the cell phone user until she was off the phone. Those who work in the service industry serve others, but are not servants. Take a moment to be pleasant and excuse yourself from your cell phone for the 3 minutes it takes to place an order. Quality Bakery understands the need to preserve people's time- don't take theirs up by being rude and having another conversation. Let's get back to kinder ways and remember how great it is to have a LOCAL bakery that makes delicious treats for us to all savor. And cell phone person- admit it-- you could have very easily walked out if you didn't like how you were treated, but you didn't. You paid and I bet enjoyed every bit of that sweet treat! So let's give these bakers a break- know what you want, order it and give a thank you. Sometimes you have to be the first to offer a smile and a thank you. Make their day better by offering up kindness not an expectancy to be served.

Who do these people think they are???? went in there for a coffee, man took my order, prepared my drink, then informed me that he refused to "serve" me unless I hung up my cell phone. if that was an issue for him, why didnt he informed me of this before he took my order and made my drink, so i could have just walked out? unless in his opinion serving a customer consists only of taking their money. I did hang up and proceeded to give him my credit card, at which point he told me that they "dont take plastic" in a disgusted voice. that jerk caught me on a good day. I should have thrown that drink in his face. hope these jerks end up in bankruptcy court!

- Young woman at counter did not know if they were available to make cakes that weekend. Just said "I don't know," without offering to check.

- Asked man (an owner/manager?), who said they were available. When I asked him if they made specialty cakes, he said yes. But when I described what I wanted (a simple square cake decorated to look like a building), I was told it would be "too hard" and "too expensive." So I, someone who never bakes, managed to bake and decorate the cake myself, the way I wanted it. Guess this bakery simply didn't want my business!

As a commuter to Northfield I visited Quality Bakery & Coffee Shop to pick up a cup of coffee on a couple of occasions. Each time the service was bewildering. Even though I spoke and thanked them, there was no response, nor no eye contact. I felt that I was an annoyance. Needless to say, I have taken my business elsewhere. There are so many other wonderful places in Northfield to pick up a good cup of coffee where they appreciate your business--it's worth going across the street.

I am in Denver, but I have been to the bakery many times and know about their unfriendly service and didn't buy coffee there since it isn't very good. I called today wanting to know the owners names since I know they have changed since our restaurant used to buy from them. The woman that answered said she was the owner but was so snotty and didn't want to tell me her name. I think it is Sue, but I don't know. Does anyone? When I visit her I think I will confront her or maybe I won't waste my time. Someone could use lessons in customer service. jahne

My friends were visiting a few years ago. They decided to take a stroll in downtown Northfield. They happened by the Goodbye Blue Monday first, grabbed a cup of coffee and continued on their way. They came upon the bakery, decided to grab a pastry and have a seat. They were told they couldn't sit in the restaurant, as they had a Goodbye Blue Monday cup in hand, even though they had purchased pastries from the bakery. Until this incident I used to purchase birthday cakes and various other things from them - but had also had unfriendly service. Now I travel the 10 miles to Dusek's bakery in Faribault.

PROS:
CONS: Lacking friendly service