Baltimore Restaurant Apologizes After Denying Service to Black Woman and 9-Year-Old Son

A Baltimore woman and her son were denied entry into a restaurant that cited that her son wasn’t allowed to dine there because he was wearing athletic gear. When the mother pointed out that a white child had dined there wearing athletic wear, they were still denied entry, according to CBS Baltimore.

The woman, Marcia Grant, posted a clip to her social media account showing the obvious bias toward them.

View this post on Instagram

Ouzo Bay would not let Dallas eat at there restaurant sighting that athletic wear was not allowed! I pointed out to them that there was a white child that also had on athletic wear just getting up from dinning there, they still would not let my son eat there! I have faced racism time and time again, but it’s hard AF, when you have to see your child (9yo) upset because he knows he’s being treated different that a white child!!! #Share #Baltimore 🤬💔

A post shared by @ supermoms_and_co on Jun 22, 2020 at 3:47pm PDT

The restaurant, Ouzo Bay, located in Baltimore, is owned by the Atlas Restaurant Group. A statement was posted to it’s Twitter account regarding the discriminatory practice.

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. pic.twitter.com/jsofGRLVw1

— Atlas Restaurant Group (@AtlasBaltimore) June 23, 2020

“This difficult situation does not represent who or what Atlas Restaurant Group stands for,” the statement reads. “While dress codes across Atlas properties are the result of ongoing input from customers, in no way are they intended to be discriminatory. That said, this past weekend’s incident at Ouzo Bay clearly serves as a moment we will learn from and create change.”

The Atlas Restaurant Group also stated that the manager seen in the video has been placed on “indefinite leave,” the statement said. They also stated that they have changed their policy as to not impose a dress code to any child under the age of 12 years old.