A security video that blew up online shows a man in a Topline Heating & Air shirt tearing open a to-go box, whipping a cheesesteak across the lobby of Rockin' Robyn's on Buckeye Road and yelling at staff. The restaurant's owner posted the clip, it raced across social media, and the backlash followed fast. In response, the HVAC company has fired the worker and says it will pick up the tab for the first 200 cheesesteaks at the shop on Friday during a midday giveaway.
As reported by News 5 Cleveland, Rockin' Robyn's owner, Robyn Matthews, was on the phone when she logged into her store cameras and saw the confrontation unfold. She shared the footage with her nearly 12,000 followers. The station's video shows three men in Topline shirts, one ripping apart a Styrofoam takeout box, hurling food onto the floor. Matthews told the station the episode felt deeply disrespectful and that she worried about how the incident might reflect on her business.
Topline's local footprint
Topline Heating & Air lists Lyle Horst as an owner and notes operations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, including Cleveland and Canton, on its About page. The site also lists a Lancaster, Pa., headquarters and advertises a 24/7 customer service line.
Company fires worker, offers free cheesesteaks
Topline confirmed the man seen in the footage is no longer employed and, according to News 5 Cleveland, owner Lyle Horst contacted the restaurant to apologize. Horst told the station he was impressed by Rockin' Robyn's cheesesteaks and wanted to "do something to support the restaurant." The company will pay for the first 200 cheesesteaks on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Horst said he plans to travel from the company's Pennsylvania base to be there. The giveaway comes on the heels of the company's decision to terminate the employee caught on camera.
Shop owner hopes for support
Matthews said she appreciated the outreach and hopes the promotion brings customers back to her Buckeye Road shop. Rockin' Robyn's lists its address and hours on its website, and the owner said both chicken and steak cheesesteaks will be available during the Friday giveaway. Given the shop's small footprint and midday hours, a crowded counter is likely while the promotion is running.
The episode shows how fast a tense moment in a neighborhood restaurant can erupt online and how businesses sometimes scramble to repair reputations with public gestures. Expect long lines at Rockin' Robyn's between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday as people turn out for free cheesesteaks and to support a local spot that suddenly found itself in the spotlight.
