This my be considered the 1# rehearsal space in NYC. That's about it. Ripley – Grier is a racist business to the core.The staff here can use a lesson in customer service. The management, who are not only rude and unprofessional, also racist and bigot towards Black Males. So I am not surprised that this is where it starts. I've been booking space here for more then 5 years, have spent thousands of dollars at this establishment. Today I was treated and told none of that matter, by both the owner “Butch” and the General Manager “Stas”. Who's name I had to look up on the companies web site, as it was never even given to me. Like I said I've been coming here with my producing partner for years. My routine has always been the same, call or show up and book the same day. Never had anyone challenge that. Sometimes I even have come and waited for my party to arrive and then book. Still never having a problem with anyone at the front desk, doing that. The biggest problem up to today, had been the wrong listing of my production on the directory. Outside of that no worries. What makes today so odd from all the other days? Was the racist and hostile treatment I received today, from the management at Ripley Grier on wed day May 28th, 2014 at 1:30pm. The responsible parties the owner “Butch” and general manger “Stas”.
Here's the story! I arrived at Ripley Grier to wait for my producing partner, Niles and our actors for our rehearsal today. Niles arrived and one of our actors arrived. As we where sitting waiting, I am approached by staff who doesn't identify himself. He asked us do we have a booking? I reply no, I am waiting on some more people to arrive. We'll be booking our time. He then says, “You can't wait here, you can't do that”, “you have to be booked first.” Fine I tell him I'll go and book, which I do. As I am booking I tell him, “You do know that I come here all the time, this is the first time I am hearing of this”. I explain to him that yesterday, I was booked here with out a problem. His employee Jorge has seen me all the time, I explain. Jorge obviously acts like he hasn't seen me before. This staff member, doesn't explain or apologizes and walks off. I asked Jorge what's the deal? Jorge says, “They have camera's everywhere”. Iam like what does that mean? Well, I pay for my booking and as I am doing that. I noticed his staff person, who I later learn is the General Manager Stas, is standing there watching me to verify that I pay. Once he sees me sign a receipt, then he walks off. I go back and share with my partner, what just happen. He's shocked, as is our talent who was with us. She left cause the vibe just threw her off. This pissed me off, so I had to cancel my whole day. I then go back to the front desk and ask to speak with this staff person. So Jorge calls him, but he doesn't answer the phone. I then asked Jorge, “why isn't he answering the phone”. Jorge says, “he might be busy”, so he gets up and goes to fetch him. This staff person, returns and I ask him, “what's the problem?” No answer! I show him my loyalty card, to prove that I come her all the time and book rooms, pay, disillude where ever he's coming from. He tells me, “you have to book before you come here”. I ask him, “do you tell that to everyone sitting around here”. No answer!
I demand they pull up my booking receipts, so he can understand how he's treating a customer. His staff shows him and then he says “SO”! I tell him, “oh that's how it is”, “then just give me my money back for my recent booking”. They do! They he tells me to, “get out or he's calling the police”. I tell him, “I still want to speak to your boss”. He tells me, “don't yell, point or question him, cause he's the General Manager”. He ignores me and says, “get out”! Telling the staff to call 911. Then he walks off. I ask the staff, for the name of the owner and everyone has got amnesia suddenly.
They won't even print out copies of my receipts from booking there. Finally they realize they can print them out. Then I ask for the name of the owner again, no ones answers. Another staff person, comes out and says, “do I want to speak to the owner”. “Yes”, I say. Next I am presented to a man named, “Butch”. I introduce myself and we shake hands. I explain to him about what has happen, that I don't understand what the problem is with his employee. I show him my receipts and loyalty card as a customer, he pretends like his concerned with hearing my issue. I say to him, “what's the problem with his employee, concerning me today”. “Does his employee have issues with my race?” He then gets megalomaniac and says “race” and then storms off. Telling the staff to put me out and not to book to me ever again. I tried to be diplomatic, about being harnessed and discrimination against. It's apparent that isn't even worth the time. So finally I leave.
Ripley Grier Studios Reviews
This my be considered the 1# rehearsal space in NYC. That's about it. Ripley – Grier is a racist business to the core.The staff here can use a lesson in customer service. The management, who are not only rude and unprofessional, also racist and bigot towards Black Males. So I am not surprised that this is where it starts. I've been booking space here for more then 5 years, have spent thousands of dollars at this establishment. Today I was treated and told none of that matter, by both the owner “Butch” and the General Manager “Stas”. Who's name I had to look up on the companies web site, as it was never even given to me. Like I said I've been coming here with my producing partner for years. My routine has always been the same, call or show up and book the same day. Never had anyone challenge that. Sometimes I even have come and waited for my party to arrive and then book. Still never having a problem with anyone at the front desk, doing that. The biggest problem up to today, had been the wrong listing of my production on the directory. Outside of that no worries. What makes today so odd from all the other days? Was the racist and hostile treatment I received today, from the management at Ripley Grier on wed day May 28th, 2014 at 1:30pm. The responsible parties the owner “Butch” and general manger “Stas”.
Here's the story! I arrived at Ripley Grier to wait for my producing partner, Niles and our actors for our rehearsal today. Niles arrived and one of our actors arrived. As we where sitting waiting, I am approached by staff who doesn't identify himself. He asked us do we have a booking? I reply no, I am waiting on some more people to arrive. We'll be booking our time. He then says, “You can't wait here, you can't do that”, “you have to be booked first.” Fine I tell him I'll go and book, which I do. As I am booking I tell him, “You do know that I come here all the time, this is the first time I am hearing of this”. I explain to him that yesterday, I was booked here with out a problem. His employee Jorge has seen me all the time, I explain. Jorge obviously acts like he hasn't seen me before. This staff member, doesn't explain or apologizes and walks off. I asked Jorge what's the deal? Jorge says, “They have camera's everywhere”. Iam like what does that mean? Well, I pay for my booking and as I am doing that. I noticed his staff person, who I later learn is the General Manager Stas, is standing there watching me to verify that I pay. Once he sees me sign a receipt, then he walks off. I go back and share with my partner, what just happen. He's shocked, as is our talent who was with us. She left cause the vibe just threw her off. This pissed me off, so I had to cancel my whole day. I then go back to the front desk and ask to speak with this staff person. So Jorge calls him, but he doesn't answer the phone. I then asked Jorge, “why isn't he answering the phone”. Jorge says, “he might be busy”, so he gets up and goes to fetch him. This staff person, returns and I ask him, “what's the problem?” No answer! I show him my loyalty card, to prove that I come her all the time and book rooms, pay, disillude where ever he's coming from. He tells me, “you have to book before you come here”. I ask him, “do you tell that to everyone sitting around here”. No answer!
I demand they pull up my booking receipts, so he can understand how he's treating a customer. His staff shows him and then he says “SO”! I tell him, “oh that's how it is”, “then just give me my money back for my recent booking”. They do! They he tells me to, “get out or he's calling the police”. I tell him, “I still want to speak to your boss”. He tells me, “don't yell, point or question him, cause he's the General Manager”. He ignores me and says, “get out”! Telling the staff to call 911. Then he walks off. I ask the staff, for the name of the owner and everyone has got amnesia suddenly.
They won't even print out copies of my receipts from booking there. Finally they realize they can print them out. Then I ask for the name of the owner again, no ones answers. Another staff person, comes out and says, “do I want to speak to the owner”. “Yes”, I say. Next I am presented to a man named, “Butch”. I introduce myself and we shake hands. I explain to him about what has happen, that I don't understand what the problem is with his employee. I show him my receipts and loyalty card as a customer, he pretends like his concerned with hearing my issue. I say to him, “what's the problem with his employee, concerning me today”. “Does his employee have issues with my race?” He then gets megalomaniac and says “race” and then storms off. Telling the staff to put me out and not to book to me ever again. I tried to be diplomatic, about being harnessed and discrimination against. It's apparent that isn't even worth the time. So finally I leave.