Emporium Arcade Bar — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

I'm writing this 12/30 Monday evening at around midnight when this happened.

I typically hang out by my neighborhood or River North, West Loop and Gold Coast. But I happened to be in Logan Square this evening and was walking by this bar and decided to check it out. I've been to the one in Wicker Park years back because I used to work at the bar across the street but never this location. I initially was just going to look around and leave (so I could come back at an earlier time and a later date) because it was late, but the atmosphere was nice so I decided to stay and grab a drink.

They had these two slushie drink options that based off description varied dramatically in what they would taste like. I waited patiently at the bar to order, when the white male bartender with a beard comes to me. I told him I wanted to buy one of the two slushies and was simply asked him if it was possible to try a small sample of them before I order. Something that would have taken a full seconds even despite their longer bar. I asked without any pretense or attitude, it wa very polite and calm. I myself have been a bartender for 15 years and in my opinion it was not an unreasonable ask with current restaurant volume and staffing at the time. It was not that busy.

The man just looked at me and said "no" with a curt attitude and made a rude face. He barely even stopped moving around to address me. I don't think i'm articulating his random nastiness well enough, but I was taken aback. I didn't say anything about his attitude but I'm sure my face looked taken aback. I told him "okay, i'll take the blue one". He just looked at me with another rude face, went back to fidgeting with side work for a few more seconds and then went on to take other customers subsequently ignoring me when he clearly heard what I said. He didn't announce he wasn't going to serve me , nor gave me a reason why. So because you work here and you're a mean person that gives you the right while on the clock to be rude to customers who have done nothing wrong and then they can't even make a surprised face back? That results in "revenge" from you?

Clearly he was refusing to serve me for absolutely no reason at all. The way he handled it moved me to tears, I was already having a down day and then this man embarrassed me, and was so nasty for no reason. It was just so random. I then asked security if it was possible to speak with a manager. He told me they were working, I said I didn't mind waiting if that's okay. It was like pulling teeth. He then said they're behind the bar. I asked him to describe to me what they looked like or what their name was, and he couldn't give me a solid answer. He finally admitted it was the woman behind the bar.

I spoke the woman and told her what happened, and my one star is for her because she seemed apologetic and ultimately gave me the blue slushie for free which she did not have to do. But as someone who works in the hospitality industry in high volume bars and nightclubs bartending as well, that bartenders attitude was completely unacceptable and completely unnecessary, I wasn't being difficult or rude and if I could not get a sample I understand, it's not big deal. It's the nasty and condescending manner in which the bartender handled a simple hospitality request. If a moderate volume bar and hospitality is too much for him then maybe he should find another industry where he can be rude, lazy, slow and surly somewhere else but keeping him on staff at this business will only cost business to innocent paying customers. I can't help but wonder if he was so dismissive because I am a black woman who was there herself? But unfortunately the callous lack of respect and condescending attitude leads me to believe so. Be mindful when coming to the bar that certain bartenders only want to do the bare minimum. Needless to say, I will never return...

I visited Emporium on October 25th. There were two male bartenders and one female bartender working that night. The two men were great -- no issues at all. However, my experience with the female bartender was disappointing. I'm not sure of her background (possibly white or Hispanic), she was wearing two pigtails braids. She acted unfamiliar with the menu. When I pointed out an item, she responded condescendingly, saying she couldn't see because it was too dark but if you ever been to Emporium, you know it's loud and you have to yell to even say your order so why not just read it so we're not yelling at each other and saying huh 1000 times. (Which she was doing the whole time) She proceeded to not look at the menu at all.

First, if visibility is an issue, it's surprising that someone working behind the bar wouldn't be familiar with a few key menu items. (Please note the male bartenders had no problem looking at the menu) Second, there were lights around the bar, clearly intended for both customers and staff to read menus and prepare drinks. It didn't make sense that she claimed she couldn't see.

When we ordered, she seemed rushed, brought us the wrong drink, and then acted as if we had made the mistake. Her attitude came off as impatient and dismissive. At that point, I stopped engaging because she was being rude and unprofessional. She even asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?" and accused me of trying to start a confrontation, which felt unnecessary and inappropriate.

Overall, her behavior made the experience uncomfortable and took away from what should have been an...

I went here for a friend's 30th birthday party. They didn't reserve a spot but we found so tables not in use towards the back and there were "reserved" signs nowhere to be seen. About ten minutes later, what turns out to be the manager (of all people) comes up and starts moving the tables aggressively against the wall, despite several people in our party sitting at them. She got in our face and told us that the tables were not to be used and as I was using one of them to sign the FREAKING BIRTHDAY CARD she moves the table out from under me and tells me to use my knee instead. I proceeded to ask her why she was in such a bad mood as she continued to forceably move the tables away. Another party guest notices and tries approaching her, but before he could say anything, she physically moves him out of his way and spills his drink all over her. She stormed away after that but came back a few minutes later to clean up the drink she spilled. A friend and I were talking about how I was frustrated with what happened and she decided to interrupt our conversation by yelling at us, "YOU WERE IN THE WRONG. GET OVER IT." It'd be one thing if she was just a server there because she could then just rot in her own hate. But this woman is a manager and therefore sets the tone for a team of individuals that this is...