I've been to joes pond store 4-5 times for food / gas this year and have tried to have a conversation with the new owner but to no avail. After this last weekend i'd run out of gas and starve before going back again. Sorry to bash but we asked to have the pumps turned on for five sleds and that was a big deal. ok understandable after a few drive offs but i told him we were coming in for lunch and figured by the previous conversations i'd attempted to have maybe hed remember me. After making faces as we ordered we ate and got up to pay as threee other snowmobilers were at the register paying. The new owner from (washington dc?) comes over and says "thanks for the tips we appreciate it " we had not tippped yet nor had we received a check or paid our tab at the register yet. i asked if he had a problem and he said "yes all you people come up here from ct and mass with expensive snowmachines, trucks, and all sorts of money for gas but you cant tip and wal k away with stuff without paying from my store" That was it for me and this guy i got hot and maybe a little out of line and told him and everyone in the store how i felt . weve been in this area every weekend for ten years and have never been treated more rudely anywhere north or south or in a different country. The other group heard us speaking and was just paying at the time this was going on so they left and we talked outside all agreeing how bad this guy was. i asked how he knows it s ct and mass people screwing him and he says he knows all the locals. well the other people who had forgotten a tip were from vermont about 20 miles away and had made an honest mistake.
so i apoligized to his worker and explained why he doesnt get good tips i think he agreed. so i tipped my usual 20 % and will never go back . i guess hes a skier from previous conversation and doesnt give a squat about sledders. anyone else have any input?

I noticed a certain lack of character from that store this year as well, I only stopped in there once, (his gas was 15 cents higher than marties, and HE is high as well) but because the Peacham trails are so screwed up, most of them are closed, I no longer ride over there. Heres another perfect example of a flatlander moving up and changing the way things work. They will be the demise of the north country!!

been there a couple times for breakfast this year as well, and the place has taken a turn downward since the last few years

We were there early this season and actually had agood time, the food was good and the gentlman your referring too was really nice to us . He explained the "Ice out contest " etc. And the food was good. We didnt get gas. Everybody has bad days and dealing with the public has to suck.My only complaint was he wouldnt serve us beer with lunch, we went to Waldens market for that. Another place you should try if you dont like Joes. jmho.