Video shows several people punching and kicking a 19-year-old employee at the Marshfield Plaza restaurant before fleeing.
CHICAGO — A 19-year-old greeter at a Chili’s in Chicago was beaten by multiple people after a dispute over a 30-minute wait, an attack captured on video last week inside the chain’s Marshfield Plaza location on the 1700 block of West 119th Street, authorities and the employee said.
Police said they are investigating after the group returned to the lobby and set upon the greeter moments after walking out. The employee, identified as Brianna Drew, told reporters she had quoted the wait time and offered a standard parting line before the party left, then came back. The case arrives as the city sees periodic flashpoints of customer-on-worker violence in retail and restaurants. Chili’s has not issued a public statement. Detectives were reviewing surveillance footage Tuesday and working to identify suspects as the holiday week began.
According to Drew, the confrontation started when a party of six—listed on the wait list as “Jay”—objected to being told it would be “another 30 minutes.” “They started yelling ‘30 minutes,’ being aggressive,” Drew said. She said she ended the exchange with the same phrase she uses with every customer: “Enjoy the rest of your day.” The group walked outside, then several members came back through the doors. Video recorded inside the restaurant shows attackers striking Drew in the face and head, pulling her hair and knocking her to the floor before running out. Staff called 911 and tried to comfort her as other diners looked on.
Police said officers arrived after the group had fled. Drew suffered bruises and patches of hair ripped from her scalp but did not require hospitalization, she said. The attack occurred at the Chili’s at Marshfield Plaza, a shopping center on the city’s Far South Side. Drew, a single mother, said a woman hit her first and a man followed. “They were hitting me everywhere,” she said, adding that she did not threaten anyone and wants the “Jay party of six” arrested. Investigators were collecting statements from employees, reviewing store video and seeking additional clips recorded by witnesses inside the dining room. No arrests had been announced as of Tuesday night. The restaurant’s management declined to comment on the record, referring questions to corporate communications, which did not respond.
Incidents involving service workers have drawn attention in Chicago in recent years, with unions and business groups alike urging stricter enforcement for assaults on workers. While police did not release broader statistics tied specifically to restaurant lobbies, downtown and neighborhood dining rooms have occasionally been scenes of conflicts tied to crowding and long waits during busy periods. Marshfield Plaza, which includes multiple sit-down restaurants and big-box stores, typically sees heavier evening traffic around the holidays. The Chili’s lobby area, with a small host stand and entry vestibule, is often crowded during dinner hours, according to workers at nearby stores who described frequent lines.
Chicago police said detectives from the area are leading the case and will consult with the Cook County state’s attorney if suspects are identified. Potential counts could include battery and mob action, depending on the evidence gathered. Investigators were expected to canvass for additional video at adjacent storefronts and to subpoena account information tied to the wait-list name, according to a person familiar with typical procedures. Police said they were also asking anyone who recorded the incident to share footage with detectives. No court dates are set because no one has been charged. Chili’s corporate team had not publicly addressed whether any new security steps would be added at the location.
On Tuesday, customers filtered in and out of the restaurant as usual. A few paused to straighten the greeter’s stand where scattered menus had fallen during the scuffle. “She’s always nice,” said a regular who gave only his first name, Marcus. Another shopper walking past the plaza entrance shook her head and said, “Over a wait? That’s crazy.” Drew said she plans to return to work. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “I was following policy.” Staff members described her as soft-spoken and said they hope the people responsible are found.
Police said the case remains open. Detectives planned to update supervisors after reviewing footage collected this week. No arrests had been announced by late Tuesday, and officials did not provide a timeline for the next public update.
Author note: Last updated November 26, 2025.