My friend and I went to the Corner Hustle Bar Friday 10/27 after going to a local restaurant. This was the weekend before Halloween. I had never been to this bar but my friend had done some work events here. She got a glass of her usual Pinot Grigio as wine is all she drinks. We had a nice time chatting and she then wanted a second glass of wine. I too, had a second cocktail. The bartender brought Chardonnay to her and then realized it was not the wine she originally had. She asked my friend if she wanted to drink it or if she would like the Pinot Grigio. My friend kindly said, "I prefer the Pinot". Although the bartender didn't appear upset, she abruptly threw the wine into the sink, possibly irritated. She then went out of sight to the kitchen where she was pouring Costco boxed wine. I thought this was odd that they would have Costco boxed wine and that it was stored and poured in the kitchen, being that this was a bar. I have lived in many states and this is something that I have never seen done, but all states have different rules about liquor and wine.
Shortly into the second glass of wine, my friend's behavior began changing. She was about 1/3 into the glass, and she suddenly seemed to become heavily sedated, as if she had been drugged. Her speech was very slurred and it seemed her motor skills were very impaired. I had never seen her like this. She can easily handle a bottle of wine, as can I, without incident. We didn't engage much with anyone except a man who came in to get his missing phone. He was mostly talking to the bartender but we briefly chatted with him. People came in and out of the bar with costumes and spoke to the bartender and ordered drinks, to the left of my friend's seat. Nothing appeared to be out of order except my friend appeared very impaired. She went downhill quickly only partially through that second glass of wine. My friend was very incoherent at this point and she became paranoid which is totally out of character for her. She thought the bartender and man next to her were laughing at her. She actually started crying saying, "They're laughing at me. They're laughing at me". I assured her they were not.
I then encouraged me friend to get up and we would go use the bathroom. She had apparently lost all control of her legs because when she got up from the seat she instantly collapsed to the floor like a rag doll. It was shocking. I had to help her up from the floor and into the restroom. To my utter shock she did not even recognize me saying, "Who are you? Where's bunny? You're not bunny!". It was bizarre. I was very concerned since I have never seen her like this and we are both seasoned and regular nightly wine drinkers for many years. Many concerned patrons came up to me to try to help.
When we finally came out of the bathroom I said to the bartender, "I have never seen my friend like this. I think she may have been drugged. This doesn't make sense." The bartender seemed quite dismissive and replied, "Oh no, I just gave her a heavy pour." Yes, the wine glass did appear more full than a standard pour but my friend again is a veteran drinker and I have seen her drink two or even three glasses of wine and be completely fine. I thought it was interesting that the bartender would say such a thing and so quickly dismiss my suspicion. I also found it odd that she had thrown the wine abruptly into the sink. I also find it suspect that the wine is not being held behind the bar where customers can watch it being poured. Instead it is poured in another room out of sight.
While I have no proof and did not witness any foul play I am sure that somebody slipped something into my friend's drink. She was not drunk. She appeared to be drugged. Was it a patron? The man who came back for his phone? Or another partygoer in a costume? That may be possible I suppose but her wine glass was within my view the entire time and I saw nothing suspect. Either way, I believe she was drugged. Again, I have NEVER seen my friend like this. She has NO memory of that night. All of that from a glass and a half of wine? I don't think so. Either way, I cannot recommend this establishment and I will never return based on this experience.
It was a very dark experience and I regret ever going out that night. This situation has created huge tension between her husband and I since I am the one who returned her home in this condition. And this tension seems to have caused a rift in our relationship as well. I have reached out to her multiple times and no response. This event not only traumatized her but it traumatized her husband, myself, and my husband as well. It appears to have caused a rift in all of our relationships. It is hard to believe that someone would do such a horrible thing.
Apparently I have run out of characters but I am not quite done. I have uploaded and image which is a screen shot of the rest of the story of the incident. read more