A coffee shop in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood is facing fresh scrutiny over allegations of mistreating homeless patrons. Robust Coffee House has drawn criticism after a local resident reported that an employee verbally berated a homeless man outside the café. The incident, which occurred in late August, has prompted local authorities to investigate further.
Brian Metcalf, a resident of Auburn Gresham and an employee at a nearby school, witnessed the confrontation while visiting the café. He stated that another customer was attempting to buy food for a man who was holding the door open for patrons. According to Metcalf, an employee at Robust intervened, instructing the customer to leave and making derogatory remarks regarding the man’s employment status. “The man never asked nobody to buy something to eat. He never got in line performing solicitation,” Metcalf recounted. He expressed his dismay, saying, “If this is what you practice in this store, I will never come back here.”
In response to the allegations, Ald. Jeanette Taylor of the 20th Ward confirmed that she has filed reports with the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the human relations commission, and the buildings department. Taylor noted that this is not the first time she has received complaints about Robust Coffee House. She said, “We have to hold people accountable for how they treat others, regardless of their housing status or background.”
The coffee shop has a history of controversy. In June 2019, it faced backlash after an incident involving a group of Black children who were asked to leave the establishment. The owner, Jake Sapstein, defended the café’s policies at that time, stating that “one person can ruin it for the group.” His comments came after a mother was called by police when her child was accused of stealing. Critics argued that the actions taken against the children were racially motivated.
Residents have continued to voice their concerns regarding the treatment of vulnerable groups at Robust. Taylor mentioned that community members have reported ongoing “mistreatment” and “downright disrespect” towards unhoused individuals and young people. Reports also indicate that management at Robust requested local schools, including the UChicago Charter Woodlawn Campus, to discourage students from visiting the café due to complaints about staff behavior.
Metcalf’s allegations were echoed by a former teacher at UChicago Charter, who indicated that faculty had previously instructed students not to patronize Robust for similar reasons. A graduate of the charter school also commented that mistreatment of students at the café was not a new issue, recalling instances from nearly a decade ago.
Following the recent incident, the café’s ownership, which includes Derek Cortelyou, has not publicly commented, despite multiple requests for a statement. An employee at the café noted that the owners were unavailable when approached for comments. A Facebook account attributed to Cortelyou accused Metcalf of fabricating details about the incident, labeling the post as “rage bait.” The account further claimed that the man involved was not homeless but lived nearby.
The Department of Buildings has acknowledged awareness of the situation at Robust Coffee House, confirming that inspections have resulted in citations for minor building code violations. Spokesperson Nefsa-Hyatt Brown stated, “As an enforcement agency of the City, our role is to ensure compliance with the Chicago Building Code.” However, the department does not intervene in customer-service interactions.
As the investigation unfolds, community members and local officials are watching closely to see how the situation at Robust Coffee House develops. Taylor emphasized the importance of treating all individuals with respect, regardless of their circumstances. “We cannot allow people to be mistreated,” she asserted.
