Dahvie J.
Yelp
UPDATE (12/15/22): The Edge management team has quickly addressed this issue to my satisfaction. I'd like to thank them for helping to restore my faith in our community's commitment towards equity and inclusion. They now have Darin (shaved head, taller) on the door, who is a more mature gentleman that seems to consistently treat people with respect.
I experience racial prejudice and biased treatment from the door person every time I go. Without failure, he overtly demonstrates disdain for us. One example is him aggressively taking and returning my ID, and when I asked "is everything ok", to which he replies "if you have a problem you can just get out." Another example, far more disturbing than any of the previous ones, was last night when he physically assaulted my date who is from Russia, hadn't been to the bar before, and wasn't aware he needed to show ID. The door person physically hit him in the chest, with force, demanding ID. As I approached the door to also go inside, after only having just stepped outside, feet from the door, to greet my guest, the door person demands my ID. When I tried to explain, he replied with more crass and aggressive phrases like "show ID or you're not coming in." Hearing this, I complied, also asking him if there is "something that I have done to deserve the consistently rude and aggressive treatment", because as coincidence would have it, there was a white guy who had also walked outside only moments before me, who the door person allowed to re-enter without objection, or request for any ID whatsoever. When I raised the question on "why I was being treated differently", his reply was that "if I was going to be 'confrontational' with him, he would throw me out!" However, much to my appreciation, the guy who was allowed back in, overhearing the conversation, doubled back to join, also stating that my observation was correct. Upon hearing this, I disengaged, was allowed to go in, but I immediately went up to the bartender to request the management. Again, the white guy who so valiantly came to my aid at the door also joined in to recount his same observations and frustration with the door person. In fact, he went on to say that he has observed the door person exhibit "confrontational" and "antagonizing" behavior on "numerous occasions." The bartender then validated our concerns , and also offered up that the bar has had "a lot of issues with the demeanor of that particular 'doorman'". Feeling better, I returned to my friends, and apologized profusely to my date. Later, my friends and I decided to leave the bar. However, unaware at the time, I had forgotten to collect my credit card and close the tab, as well as grab my hat. Consequently, after about 30 minutes, I realized this and returned back to the bar. With the intent to avoid any and all conflict by simply going to the door and showing my ID. At this time, the door person tells me that it will be $5 for me to enter. I explained to him that I was only returning to sign out my tab; however, as what should have been observable reassurance of this, my date was clearly and evidently remaining outside to wait for me. Nevertheless, I was allowed to enter. I walked a short distance to retrieve my hat from my friend. However, when I turned to get in line to close my tab, the door person was standing right behind me yelling, that "I needed to get out or pay $5 dollars." Absolutely humiliating and degrading. I attempted to repeat the prior explanation of why I was there, but he says "if you don't get out now, I'm calling the police." I told him the police was already there, as my friend who had my hat, is an officer (also African American). The door person then pulled out his phone, giving the impression that he was calling the police. In response, my friend, date and I waited outside for the police to arrive. After about 20 minutes they hadn't, so my friend, the officer, approached the door person to ask if he had truly called, to which he replied non-verbally with a shake of his head, no. Honestly, I thought the days of black men being falsely reported and threatened with police were moving to our past. Sadly, this individual is allowed to perpetuate this injustice.