A coffee shop in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood faces renewed scrutiny following allegations of mistreatment towards unhoused individuals. Brian Metcalf, a local resident, reported an incident at the **Robust Coffee House** on August 25, 2023, where an employee allegedly berated a man outside the establishment. Metcalf, who visits the café regularly, witnessed another customer attempting to purchase food for the man when a staff member intervened, telling the patron he “wouldn’t have to ask nobody for nothing if [he] had a job.”
The incident drew attention from **Ald. Jeanette Taylor**, who has since filed reports with multiple city agencies, including the **Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection** and the **human relations commission**. Taylor emphasized that this is not the first time complaints have been lodged against Robust. She stated, “We have to hold people accountable for how they treat people, regardless of whether you’re houseless, your color, how much you make.”
Metcalf expressed his outrage over the incident, stating, “If this is what you practice in this store, if this is what you’re doing to people, I will never come back here.” His comments highlight a growing concern among residents regarding the café’s treatment of vulnerable community members.
The café has a history of controversy. In June 2019, it faced backlash after Black children were asked to leave while waiting for their parents. **Jake Sapstein**, the café’s owner, defended the decision at the time, suggesting that the policy was to prevent one person’s actions from affecting the entire group. Critics accused the café of racial profiling, an allegation Sapstein described as an attempt to sensationalize the situation.
In light of the recent claims, Taylor noted that she has not visited Robust since her first campaign for the 20th Ward in 2019, which predates the incident involving the children. Community members have repeatedly voiced their concerns about the café’s treatment of young, unhoused, and elderly individuals, with reports suggesting that former students at the nearby **UChicago Charter Woodlawn Campus** were advised against patronizing the establishment due to similar issues.
Robust Coffee House is co-owned by Sapstein and **Derek Cortelyou**, neither of whom responded to inquiries regarding the latest allegations. A Facebook account purportedly belonging to Cortelyou accused Metcalf of lying about the incident, claiming that the man in question is not unhoused but resides nearby. The account defended the café’s policies, arguing that many businesses enforce similar measures without facing public backlash.
In response to the situation, the **Department of Buildings** stated that they are aware of the community interactions involving Robust Coffee House and noted that minor building code violations were cited during a recent inspection. However, the department clarified that they do not investigate employee-customer interactions.
The **Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection** declined to comment on the specifics of Taylor’s complaint, directing inquiries to the Freedom of Information Act process for further details.
As the situation develops, community members continue to voice their concerns, advocating for a more respectful and inclusive atmosphere in local businesses.
The unfolding events at Robust Coffee House underscore the ongoing dialogue around treatment of marginalized individuals in public spaces, highlighting the need for accountability and compassion in community interactions.
