June 2023 by Francesca R.
I used to really like this little hole-in-the-wall convenience store--I don't drink, so I've never been to the liquor store side, but the convenience store side has a bunch of little trinkets and stuff including several items that most smoke shops in bastrop don't have. I've only ever seen one woman working, and she has always been nice & kind. UNTIL TODAY. I know they close at 8. I have had a long day working at home, and it takes me 20 min to drive into town, and today I'm doing it purely to come here because I like them, and they conveniently carry stuff I need. But wouldn't you know, I pull up at 7:48 and they are walking out. I think that's odd, they're closing almost 15 min early which is pretty crappy business practice, but regardless oh great I've caught them just in time. How foolish of me to think so...I wave to the woman, who surely recognizes me as a regular customer at this point, and say oh I'm just in time I only need one thing! and she looks at the older man who presumably runs the liquor shop and he starts shaking his head saying "no no no no, 8 o'clock we out of here!" Mind you, THE TIME IS NOW 7:50, and I pulled up several minutes ago. But they do not have one care, and lock their damn doors in my face. The trouble actually started yesterday (Sunday; the above happened on a Monday)--their hours on every online map & resource say the convenience store side is open on Sundays from 3-8pm. So I drive that damn 20 min to show up at 3:30-no one. Their barely legible hand scrawled hours on the door say closed on Sundays, of course. The liquor part yes, but why the store part? Alright whatever, great, perfect y'all, please make sure your freaking hours are updated on the internet, it's not that difficult! So that was another however many gallons of gas wasted two days in a row.Mostly I was just really let down & disappointed because I thought I'd found a perfect little place to make my new shop, but after this evening, having the door locked in my face 10+ min before closing time, it left me feeling really unvalued as a customer--like they don't give a crap, they just want to leave ASAP. Which also says something about the sort of establishment this probably is and what it's like to work at. Needless to say, I won't be returning:( and am back on the hunt again for a smoke shop with a decent selection & price range that doesn't require me to drive 45 min into Austin. Ugh.
