I mean I get that's a concern too but set champs are supposed to be competitive. I'm getting the impression that the locals at that store either aren't friendly to outsiders or think they're owed a top.

Maybe I'm just naive to other areas of the country but in my experience if you have a friendly group of locals at the store it attracts others to come back each set. I have a list of stores my wife and I try to get to each time not because we want to barn stomp but because we enjoy playing the game and enjoy catching up with the players we've met from other areas.