The Blue Iris

This is one of the best places!!! They did my mom’s funeral flowers… I didn’t want typical funeral flowers… Julie and her staff made the most beautiful flowers ever! I love to stop in when I’m home from Tennessee bc they always have unique things! We ate lunch there today and it was delicious!!!

In all my visits to New Hampton, I’ve found it to be one of the warmest and overtly friendliest small towns I know, which is why our experience at Blue Iris was so profoundly surprising and disappointing.
My wife and I stopped into this very quaint store on a whim, and were immediately struck by the refreshingly unique combination of bistro, florist and jewelry shop.
When we entered we just began browsing, as other customers were being helped. I eventually made my way over to a jewelry case, and a blonde woman abruptly approached. I looked up and smiled, but she made no eye contact, nor did she greet me in any way. Rather, she just busied herself behind the counter, which made me feel as though her proximity was more out of concern at my presence than out of a desire to help.
Seeing some beads that I thought my mother might like, I attempted to take a picture to send her. I was actually considering a purchase. Now the woman spoke. In a most unwelcoming tone, she chastised, «We don’t allow pictures in our store.» My wife approached asking what I was taking a picture of, and as I explained, she interrupted, «Yes, we don’t do that here.»
Wow. I cannot remember the last time I was treated so rudely anywhere. But it doesn’t stop there.
I quickly turned and made my way out, telling my local friends who were shocked and appalled at how their community was being represented. While my wife, my PREGNANT wife, asked if she could use the public restroom. Another associate informed her that those were only for customers who were eating in their café. Again, wow.
Whether this behavior was the result of someone’s extraordinarily bad day or some inexplicably ineffectual sales philosophy, I cannot say. But I can say that we will never inconvenience their boutique with our patronage again. And I will be telling any other New Hamptoners I encounter on this and future trips of our unpleasant experience.
It is just unfortunate that such a negative place is treating visitors to this otherwise lovely town in such an impolite manner. Perhaps the local Chamber should look into their most odd and uninviting business practices.