Robust Coffee House in Woodlawn is facing renewed scrutiny after allegations of mistreatment towards unhoused individuals and local residents surfaced from a recent incident. The coffee shop, located at 6300 S. Woodlawn Ave., was reported to city agencies by Ald. Jeanette Taylor after a patron claimed that an employee berated a homeless man who was attempting to assist customers.
According to Brian Metcalf, a resident of Auburn Gresham who frequently visits the café, the incident occurred in late August 2023. He recounted that while another customer was trying to buy food for a man outside the shop, a Robust employee intervened aggressively. The staff member instructed the customer to leave and allegedly told him, “you wouldn’t have to ask nobody for nothing if [you] had a job,” which prompted the customer to leave in embarrassment.
“The man never asked nobody to buy something to eat. He never got in the line performing solicitation,” Metcalf stated, expressing his anger at the treatment he witnessed. “If this is what you practice in this store, if this is what you’re doing [to people], I will never come back here.”
Community Response and Previous Complaints
Ald. Taylor reported the incident to the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the human relations commission, and the buildings department, citing ongoing complaints about the coffee shop’s treatment of vulnerable individuals. “This is not the first time I’ve received complaints about Robust,” she noted, underscoring a pattern of troubling behavior from the establishment.
The café has previously faced backlash; in June 2019, it drew criticism after Black children were asked to leave and police were called on one of their mothers. A 13-year-old who had purchased food and drink while waiting for his mother was among those expelled from the café following an accusation of theft by another child. In response to the criticism, Robust owner Jake Sapstein defended the policy that “one person can ruin it for the group,” asserting that the employees were acting on observed misconduct.
Residents have expressed concerns about how Robust staff treat young people, the unhoused, and elderly individuals. Taylor mentioned that management at the café requested that local school administrators discourage their students from visiting the shop due to reported disrespectful behavior towards them.
Management’s Response and City Investigations
Robust Coffee House is co-owned by Jake Sapstein and Derek Cortelyou, who have not yet publicly commented on the latest allegations. When approached for a statement, an employee indicated that the owners were unavailable and provided an alternative email address for inquiries.
On social media, a Facebook account attributed to Cortelyou accused Metcalf of “flat out lying” about the incident, asserting that the man involved is not unhoused but resides in an apartment nearby. The comment further questioned why the café is criticized for enforcing policies similar to those in other establishments.
In response to the situation, the Department of Buildings confirmed it is aware of the complaints regarding community interactions at Robust. A recent inspection resulted in the café being cited for minor building code violations, though it does not investigate employee-customer interactions.
As the community continues to voice its concerns, Taylor emphasized the importance of accountability in how individuals are treated, regardless of their housing status or background. “We cannot allow people to be mistreated,” she stated, reflecting the sentiments of many residents who seek change in the café’s practices.