ANNISTON, Ala. — Called Coffee, a specialty coffee shop on Quintard Avenue, confirmed Monday it would not be offering a pumpkin spice option this fall, citing what owner Jerod Snider described as "an obligation to the bean" and a flavor profile he characterized as "incompatible with what we do here."

The announcement was posted to the shop's social media accounts at 8:47 a.m. By noon, a crowd had gathered on the sidewalk outside. By 3 p.m., three storefronts in the immediate vicinity had sustained damage. The Quintard Vape Vault reported a cracked window. A second business, which declined to be named, described the afternoon as "a lot."

Snider, reached by phone Tuesday, confirmed the policy was still in effect.

"Pumpkin spice is not a coffee flavor," he said. "It is a seasonal grief response delivered via dairy foam. I have nothing further to add."

Mayor Lyle Henley called for calm in a statement released Tuesday afternoon, noting that Anniston had "a long tradition of peaceful commercial disagreement" and that the city remained "open for business in all its forms, including traditional espresso preparations." The statement did not address the cracked window.

Wendell Moss, director of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council, said he was monitoring the situation. "We have a diverse and resilient retail landscape on Quintard," Moss said. "This does not change the fundamentals."

Calhoun County Sheriff Earl Tubb confirmed that no arrests had been made, adding that deputies had responded to the scene and found the situation "largely resolved by the time we arrived." He described the crowd as "passionate but not organized."

The shop is offering a brown sugar cinnamon option through October. The owner said it is "a completely different thing."

The Green Tomato will continue to monitor developments on Quintard Avenue.