An Illinois restaurant proprietor was caught on video intently following a buyer down the road and chastising them, livid that they didn’t depart a tip on their $20 meal.
The heated showdown exploded exterior ramen store Desk to Stix in downtown Evanston on Saturday, April 19, when proprietor Kenny Chou turned the quiet block right into a battleground, storming after the diner in a now-viral video.
Chou sprinted after the unidentified buyer who left a $20 invoice to cowl his $19.89 meal with no further tip, calling him a “piece of s–t.”
The client questioned why Chou continued to observe him down the road. Chou responded with “18%,” the tip quantity he anticipated to be given.
“I paid for my meals. I handed you $20. You can not cost greater than what you paid, so what are you speaking about?” the shopper mentioned within the wild clip.
“What would you like? I paid for my meals!” the person repeats as Chou trails him.
Because the video continues and Chou doesn’t cease following the shopper, the aggravated buyer calls for that Chou “get the f–okay again,” asking that he name the police if he desires to escalate the state of affairs.
The proprietor berated the shopper and threatened to get the police concerned till the shopper snapped again: “I paid for my meals. I paid you $20. I’m not legally required to provide you a f–king tip.”
A belligerent Chou shrieked, “I’ll smack the s–t out of you, you punka– s–thead.”
“Shut your goddam f–king mouth. How are my employees presupposed to earn cash? I’ll slap the s–t out of you!” he continued to yell.
Desk to Stix, which had overwhelmingly constructive opinions praising its ramen noodle bowls and comfy vibes, has since been flooded with dangerous opinions and was topic to a protest claiming that the video — which has racked up over 1.3 million views on X, in addition to Instagram — displayed anti-black harassment.
On Saturday, Chou apologized for his habits, acknowledging that he was pushed to rage by frustration over the struggling enterprise.
“It was a deeply regrettable second the place I, Kenny Chou, misplaced my composure,” Chou mentioned throughout a protest exterior of his restaurant. “I stepped far past the bounds of respect and decency.”
For the reason that video went viral, Yelp froze the restaurant’s web page over the flooding of adverse feedback, and Chou took down the ramen joint’s telephone line and social media accounts.
He has additionally tried to make amends, sending the shopper’s brother his favourite meal freed from cost, in addition to a handwritten apology.
“I apologize to him and to his household, and I used to be simply asking if he may cross this message alongside to his little brother,” Chou advised CBS Information Chicago.
Nonetheless, the Evanston Police Division confirmed that an investigation into harassment is ongoing. Neighbors and college students at close by Northwestern College proceed to boycott the noodle store.
When requested after the clip went viral why he didn’t tip, the shopper didn’t mince phrases: “Oh, I simply didn’t need to.”
