Upper Beach neighbourhood is showing love and support to a local flower shop owner who recently experienced a senseless act of coronavirus-related discrimination.

In a phone interview, Andy Sue, the sole proprietor of Flower Centre at 1012 Kingston Rd., just west of Victoria Park Avenue, said he recently experienced “the single most offensive thing” that has even happened to him when a woman he does not know came into his shop and went on a xenophobic tirade.

Sue, whose family has owned the shop since 1972, said it was a quiet day when a woman walked into his store and asked him where he’s from in China. At first, Sue said he didn’t think much of it because it’s Lunar New Year.

What happened next, he said, left him “shaken.”

Sue, who was born and raised in Canada and lives in Scarborough’s Birchcliff neighbourhood, said the woman then asked if he or any of his relatives have recently travelled to Wuhan.

“I paused for a minute before answering and I said no to all,” said Sue, adding he’s “not the face of a disease.”

“She then expressed her views on the situation with coronavirus and her feelings about Asian people. She said what she had to say and then she just walked out.”

Sue recently shared his “disturbing” story with Global News. Many people in the community saw the report and read about his situation on social media.

Dozens of people have since reached out to Sue and his wife, Wing.

“The outpouring of love and support has truly been a humbling thing. To know people care means a lot,” he said.

Fellow business owner David Brown also heard about Sue’s experience and felt compelled to do something. He decided to a give a free burger to anyone who stops by Fearless Meat at 884 Kingston Rd. on Sunday between noon and 7 p.m. in exchange for a receipt with purchases made between Friday and Sunday from the Flower Centre.

“I came up with this idea on the spur of the moment and I posted it on Facebook,” Brown said during a phone interview.

“I didn’t even tell Andy about it. I just thought it was the right thing to do.”

In less than 24 hours, his posts on Facebook reached thousands of people.

“It’s incredible. I never believe it would happen like this,” said Brown, who stopped by Sue’s shop earlier on Friday to tell him about his plan and urge him to prepare for a busy weekend.

“The response has been unbelievable. I’ve lined up extra staff and ordered extra burgers. Hopefully Andy’s going to sell out of flowers,” said Brown, adding “it’s unfair the Chinese community has to go through this.”

As for Sue, he said all of the kindness from the community has been “overwhelming” and has really helped to turn a bad experience into a positive one.

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“It’s pretty awesome. Honestly, I don’t know what to make of it,” he said.

“All I hope to gain out of all of this is to bring everything to light, to educate people,” Sue said. “Don’t believe what you read. Find out the actual facts.”