A video posted on social media Monday shows a Black woman and her son being denied service at Ouzo Bay in Harbor East because of how the...
A video posted on social media Monday shows a Black woman and her son being denied service at Ouzo Bay in Harbor East because of how the boy was dressed. However, the video also shows a white boy, dressed similarly in athletic apparel, who was allowed to be served.
Hours after the video was posted, Atlas Restaurant Group, who owns Ouzo Bay, condemned the incident saying they were “sickened” to see the video. The restaurant also said the manager shown in the video denying the mother and son service has been placed on “indefinite leave.”
Today, we learned of an incredibly disturbing incident that occurred at one of our restaurants in Baltimore, Ouzo Bay. We sincerely apologize to Marcia Grant, her son & everyone impacted by this painful incident. This situation does not represent who or what Atlas stands for.
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“This should have never happened,” the company said in a statement posted on Twitter. “We sincerely apologize to Marcia Grant, her son and everyone impacted by this painful incident. This difficult situation does not represent who or what Atlas Restaurant Group stands for.”
The video shows Grant’s son wearing athletic shorts, tennis shoes and an Air Jordan T-shirt. But when the boy and his mom asked to be seated they’re denied because a manager said he violated the restaurant’s dress code. When Grant pushes back and points out a white boy who is wearing clothing that appears similar, the manager says the second child isn’t wearing athletic shorts like Grant’s son.
Grant could not be reached for comment.
Atlas said they are immediately changing their policy so that children ages 12 and under who are accompanied by an adult are not subject to the dress code.
“While dress codes across Atlas properties are the result of ongoing input from customers, in no way are they intended to be discriminatory,” Atlas said. “From a management perspective, there is a level of sensitivity, discretion and customer service we expect, and this incident will serve a teachable moment to ensure it is not repeated.”
This is not the first time Atlas has come under fire for its dress code. Last September, Choptank in Fells Point banned “baggy clothing, sunglasses after dark and bandannas.” The restaurant then modified the dress code but defended themselves, calling the criticism “unfortunate.”
This incident comes amid a local and national movement for equality and justice for Black people in the wake of George Floyd’s death, also caught on video.
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