NJ Mom Says Café Took Her Credit Card Info After Toddler Toppled $1,600 Table
NJ Mom Says Café Took Her Credit Card Info After Toddler Toppled $1,600 Table
An afternoon treat at a popular Ocean County café turned into an uncomfortable and emotional moment for a New Jersey mother after her 3-year-old daughter accidentally knocked over a marble table worth nearly $1,600.
Kathy Denman, visiting the Hazelnut Café in Lavallette over the weekend, says the incident left her “humiliated” and in tears after she claims she was asked to hand over her personal details — including her driver’s license and credit card information — before being allowed to leave.
A Routine Coffee Stop Turns Stressful
Denman said she and her daughter, Allie, were waiting to pay for coffee and ice cream when the tragedy occurred. In a café full of customers, Allie lightly touched the table with her foot, sending it toppling to the ground, Denman said.
The marble-topped cabinet fell and broke apart as two customers tried to lift it, according to surveillance footage. No one was hurt, but Denman said her daughter was terrified and unsettled by the attention.
“Allie was frozen, scared, and nervous,” Denman later shared in an emotional video posted online. “Everybody’s reaction definitely didn’t help.”
Café’s “You Break It, You Pay It” Policy
Following the incident, Denman says she spoke with one of the café owners by phone, who repeated the business’s policy: “You break it, you pay for it.”
She claims she remained in the café for about 20 minutes before leaving, but not before being asked for her driver’s license and credit card information — something she says made her feel pressured and embarrassed.
Twin sisters Kimberly and Jenna Campfield own four New Jersey stores under the Hazel Boutique brand, including the Hazelnut Café. The owners claimed they were happy no one was wounded and reached out to Denman directly to provide help and contact information.
Owners Deny Holding Customer Against Her Will
The Campfields strongly denied preventing Denman from leaving the café, saying they would “never hold anyone against their will.” They also emphasized that the mother was not charged for the damage, even though she asked how she could make it right.
They explained that her personal information was requested solely for insurance purposes and not as a demand for payment.
Viral Attention and Social Media Reactions
The story gained massive traction online after Denman’s TikTok video documenting the event was viewed over 10 million times. Online detectives recognized the table as a $1,598 Anthropologie console.
Denman indicated in her video that the table weighed 600 pounds, but the shop later changed its listing to 109 pounds.
Some social media users sympathized with Denman, calling the scenario an overreaction, while others noted that incidents involving valuable public installations might lead to complicated liability battles.
Resolution and Progress
Denman said the proprietors apologized for how her family was handled after several phone calls. She said her family accepted the apologies and wanted to “move forward peacefully,” not making more comments.
For now, the café owners have removed all tables to prevent another accident.
Sources:
NJ Advance Media, Public Social Media Posts, Café Statement
