On July 1, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Levine issued an order that mandates masks be worn and on July 8, Folklore, a coffee shop in Elizabethtown, Pa., posted on social media platforms about its policy regarding masks, specifically that it would not require customers to wear them. From there onward, a controversy spiraled out of their control.

Folklore clarified in its post that employees would wear masks “while helping customers” and then said that they do not seek to “police customers.” Folklore suggested that “basic, common sense principles” such as social distancing, washing hands and covering one’s mouth when coughing and sneezing would mitigate the spread of COVID-19. 

While working there, former employee Taylor Eldredge didn’t wear a mask as there wasn’t a pandemic or a mandate. However, when asked if she knew if employees were wearing masks in accordance with the mandate, Eldredge said, “I know people who witnessed employees not wearing masks when making food.”

The post garnered hundreds of comments criticizing the coffee shop’s refusal to mandate customers wear masks. As criticism rose, so did other issues, primarily regarding the payment of employees and owner Ryan Bracken’s record of sexually assaulting a former employee. The social media platforms of Folklore were deleted shortly thereafter and the accounts haven’t been active since July 8.

A post by Eldredge detailing how on March 20, Bracken sent a notice with specific instructions to not deposit back checks, explaining that employees would not be paid in the following weeks and requested staff to “volunteer” at Folklore during the lockdown circulated on social media.

Upon receiving the notice via the workplace app, Eldredge left immediately on her own accord in the midst of her shift. She then reported the incident to the Department of Labor on March 25 and the department reached out to her on March 27. Eldredge was told to contact Pennsylvania State Police as minors were not being paid, though Eldredge did not as it was a “weird, stressful situation.” The department handled the case and Eldredge was paid the amount owed to her in mid to late April after the department ordered Bracken to pay.

Former employee and sophomore at Elizabethtown College Ingrid Puera was not owed money; however, she did note that checks would bounce, but she was always paid, either via check or cash. In regard to the treatment of employees, she said “There were times when [Bracken] could have done more, he could have stepped up.”

Following news of Folklore’s mask policy, Bracken’s sexual assault charges began to circulate. In 2014, Bracken was charged with sexually assaulting a woman at a holiday party for Folklore employees. 

Some employees, like Peura, were informed by Bracken who explained the incident and his probation; however, in Eldredge’s case, she was unaware and made the connection herself. Eldredge explained that coworkers would inform new employees.

Bracken’s previous charges raised concerns about whether he behaved inappropriately to employees. 

Eldredge said, “Basically I had access to the social media accounts and Ryan used the Folklore Instagram account to flirt with a former employee,” though she was informed by Bracken that social media usage was against his probation. Overall, Eldredge noted that Bracken had a history as he had an affair with a former employee, exchanged flirtatious texts with a former employee and “propositioned someone for sex.”

Peura said that some female employees were asked for dating advice or if they had any “young female friends looking for a job.” She said that Bracken was flirtatious to customers and reported that a customer made herself and other employees aware that Bracken was making her uncomfortable after flirtatious advances were made. 

In regard to working there, Peura said, “I am not going to work for [Bracken] anymore.”

Bracken refused to comment.