Facebook Post Prompts Boycott of Town and Country Business

A Facebook page alleging an incident at in Town and Country's Lamp and Lantern Village has sparked a firestorm of comments on Facebook and even here on the Town and Country-Manchester Patch site. 

According to the Facebook page and an email that is circulating, Town and Country resident Shelly Arnold Reynolds said she and her son, Carter, were asked to leave the F.O.B. store by owner Kay Wallace and Reynolds claims discrimination. (At the end of this article is the post Reynolds made on her personal Facebook page and that she sent out in an email to family and friends after the alleged incident.)

A Facebook page titled Boycott F.O.B. Saint Louis - Details Women's Boutique was created asking people to boycott F.O.B. citing the alleged incident and the page is generating a lot of buzz. The page is full of comments, as is the comment column of this website. Many of the comments relay feelings of disbelief and disgust, but there has yet to be confirmation of the incident from Wallace. 

"I sent out that Facebook post Friday afternoon and some emails to different mom's groups. From there, someone created the Facebook page, Boycott F.O.B., then it just blew up. Everybody started reposting and sending the email. I've seen the Boycott F.O.B. page, but I don't know who created the page. I just told my story to family and friends," Reynolds tells Patch Sunday.

In Reynold's account of the incident, she said she and her son were initially asked to leave by Wallace for fear her 4-year-old son with cerebral palsy would damage merchandise.

"I think that she was worried about her merchandise first and foremost. She does have a sign in the door that says 'No strollers.' She was very worried about her merchandise and being liable for any problems," Reynolds told Patch. However, Reynolds said she felt she and her son were being discriminated against because of his disability. 

"I asked her directly, 'Are you discriminating against my son?'" Reynolds said after the alleged incident she describes in detail in the email below. "Of course I'm angry and said 'I can't believe you're doing this.' She said I was just an angry person who should shop elsewhere, so we left."

Wallace tells Patch, that Reynolds and her son did leave the store, but she insistes it was not a discrimination incident.

"This is a small store and I went and greeted her. I thought he was in a stroller at first and then when he walked away, I saw it was a walker. The issue is that he was unsupervised. I said to her, like we say to all people with children, 'We ask moms to hold their little ones' hands, because of the breakables," Wallace told Patch. "She said he'd be fine, but then he got tied up in a rug while she was looking at candles and I said, 'Ma'am, you need to come over here.' He was under a big table and I could just see this plate getting him on the head and then I'm responsible. It's not a store for children. It's a home goods store, so I have to be concerned with children being harmed."

Wallace said that's when Reynolds became upset and accused her of discriminating against her son.

"I told her I that I was not discriminating against her and her child. I told her that I didn't realize he was handicapped. I am just concerned with all children who come in here," Wallace tells Patch. "She just immediately said I was discriminating. I said, 'I am so sorry' and she said I was being condescending. She said I am insincere and I was worried about things being broken. I am worried about someone getting hurt and we are worried about all kids. I've been in business for 10 years. Many of our customers come in with their moms' in their wheelchairs and it's never been a problem. I kept saying that I am so sorry and she kept saying no you're not. It took all of 10 minutes."

But Reynolds insists her son did not trip on a rug and only "happened onto an area rug" after they were asked to leave the store. Reynolds also tells Patch that the only time her son was away from her in the store was when Wallace was speaking to her about leaving. Reynolds said she was never asked to hold her son's hand, nor was he under a table. Her account of the incident is sparking angry comments across the internet. Readers have also sent emails to the Town and Country - Manchester Patch Facebook page expressing concern over the incident and have posted comments in the page.

"Then I found out all this was going on and people are writing all thse awful things," Wallace said. Although, she said she has not seen the comments online.

Reynolds tells Patch that she has read the comments on the Boycott F.O.B. page and while she is grateful for the support, she is concerned with the animosity toward Wallace in the comments and the vicious name calling on the Facebook page. Reynolds said she does not want to create anger, but she wants to raise awareness for those with disabilities.

"I have always made sure he gets every opportunity that his peers get and we are not settling for anything less. Then something like this happens and it makes you question, 'Is this a fairy tale I'm living here? Once we step out of our box are we not accepted here?'" Reynolds asked.

She tells Patch the outpouring of support from people she's never met has proven that is not the case.

"It's heartwarming, overwhelming," Reynolds said. "You realize the world is inherently good. People are good. It's amazing, it's amazing. Strangers going the extra mile and reposting."

Now Reynolds just wants anyone who reads the , her email or other reports to understand the importance of treating anyone with a disability with respect and just like they would treat anyone else.

"I do not want this to happen to another child or another person. I took this as an opportunity to say we are not going to put up with this behavior and you can't get away with this. I think it's easy sometimes for people to ignore this behavior. People think everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing," Reynolds tells Patch. "It was mean. I think people get away this these attitudes and like this every day. It's wrong. Take away his (Carter's) disability and no one should be treated like that. No one should be asked to leave a store."

As far as the concern Reynolds said Wallace expressed about her merchandise, Reynolds said it may be time to make changes in the store.

"She told me several times her aisles were not wide enough. Then her aisles need to be wider. It's the law. It's a federal law. You have to be handicapped accessible," Reynolds said.

Wallace said she assumes her store is handicap accessible, "I think it is. It's in a shopping complex." However, she admits it's tight quarters in the shop. 

"We, the employees have gotten tied up in our skirted tables, so it's easy to do. We've had accidents while vacuuming.  It's a small store with not a lot of room and lots of breakabel items, inlcluding large mirrors that can hurt someone."

She insists the entire incident was sparked due to a safety concern and points our that she has been involved with the Special Education Foundation for years.

"I've been lucky to stay in business. Anybody has a choice to go to any store. The fact that they choose mine, I thank them. I'm sure not going to be descrimininating. It just never crossed my mind," Wallace said. "I was so dumbfounded when she left. She was so upset. I don't understand how someone got that upset, but until you walk in someone elses shoes, you just don't know. 

READ REYNOLD'S ORIGINAL EMAIL:

"I guess I always knew this day would come but I was holding out hope that people were inherently good and compassionate. Today my 4 year old son and I were asked to leave a store because he walks with a walker. He has cerebral palsy and needs the walker to be independent.

Kay Wallace, owner of F O B Designs in Lamp and Lantern Village, does not believe that he should be allowed to shop in her store. Within a minute of our arrival she approached us and told me that her aisles were narrow and he could possibly run into something. I told her that he would be fine and careful. She gave me an incensed look as if to say, "clearly you don't understand what I am trying to say." After a few more comments about why he should not be there, she looked me directly in the eyes and said that he would be better served elsewhere.

My heart sank. My temper rose! I looked at Carter's happy little face and asked if she was discriminating against him because he was disabled. She said he would be better served elsewhere and that she was worried about his safety...her insurance would not cover the costs of any accidents! i told her that as his mom, I was certain that he was perfectly safe. She again told me in a very condescending way that she believed her store was not suitable for him and when I again asked if she was discriminating against him she said that I was just angry and could not be made happy and maybe I should shop elsewhere, too!!

I could not believe that in this day and age of acceptance, inclusion and education that she could be so insensitive and prejudice. People with disabilities have the right to participate fully and equally in all aspects of society, including shopping for furniture! It is essential that we change these barbaric attitudes and perceptions about people living with disabilities. Does she know how much courage, heart and determination it takes for Carter to walk into her store with his head held high and a smile on his face? Does she know how much effort it took him JUST to walk down the street and over the threshold into her store?

On several occasions during our conversation she stated that I was just angry. Of course I was angry...she just told me that my 4 year old son was not welcome in her store! I am also angry that she insinuated that I was angry because my son has a disability. Carter is the most amazing kid I have ever known and I am lucky to be his mom.

Kay Wallace of F O B Design of St. Louis should be ashamed of herself. If you agree that Kay Wallace demonstrated behavior that was unethical and unacceptable please repost and do not shop at her store or the stores of other people sharing her attitude toward people with disabilities!! Thanks for all of your support..." Shelly Arnold Reynolds