Austin T.
Yelp
As a single diner, I wanted to share my experience at Cozy Corner. I stumbled on this gem eight months ago when I moved to Logan Square. I had finished taking the boxes from the moving truck into the condo and was hangry. As I didn't know the area, I drove around and stumbled upon this restaurant. It reminded me of Lincoln Square in Indianapolis. I got a table for one and was extremely happy with the menu. I ordered an omelet with potatoes and iced tea. The food came quickly and was good. I decided then and there that this would be at the top of my list for breakfast spots, so much so that I would visit it once to twice a month.
Fast forward to today. I had just finished a doctor's appointment and didn't feel like cooking, so I stopped in a Cozy Corner around 9 am. I parked my car and walked in. There were four people ahead of me, and as the hostess got to me, I said I needed a table for one. The hostess pointed out the bar, to which I said no, I'd like a table. The hostess said they no longer sit singles at tables or booths. It was 9 am, and the parking lot was not even full. I looked at her, bewildered. I even searched for a sign and saw nothing anywhere indicating this was a new policy.
Once in my car and sitting in the parking lot, I called the Cozy Corner. Management will attempt to refute this review so that I will be forthcoming. I was hot about what had just happened. When the person picked up the phone, I said I was just told that singles could not sit at tables or booths, there was no signage regarding this, and this was a lousy rule on their part. I was talking loud, not yelling, but loud. I'm a native Chicagoan, for god's sake. The hostess indicated she was the one who told me this and then proceeded to accuse me of yelling, that she was doing her job, and then hung up the phone. This is the go-to response from a customer service perspective when employees want to avoid dealing with bad rules. I get it; however, I was not yelling. Believe me, if I were, I'd tell you all.
After she hung up on me, I called right back, and Michael - I think that was his name - answered the call. Because the hostess accused me of yelling, I spoke in a low tone. I said to Michael, are you the manager? He then hesitated and said yes. I relayed to him that this rule of forcing singles to sit at the bar is not good business, my money was as good as anyone else's, and then I hung up.
Here's why you and I should have an issue with this. What if someone has social anxiety and tries to get out after being cooped up for two years? Folks want to avoid sitting at a bar next to people but want to be around people. What if someone is on the spectrum and doesn't like the close quarters? Management still needs to think this through.
As such, this is a teachable moment for all involved. Management needs to create a big sign so all single customers see they cannot be seated at a table or a booth, so they are not embarrassed as I was.
To facilitate this, I will be protesting peacefully for the next three months at this location. I'll have a simple sign that reads Single diners are not welcome here. If you want to join me, I'll be on the sidewalk on Saturdays and Sundays starting in March.
Best.
