Cody's @ Lake Sumter
 

On Friday some of our friends gathered at Cody's to sit outside, enjoy the beautiful weather and the music. We were excited because some of our northern friends were back in town and it was one of their birthdays. We got a spot, but it was quickly damper by the present of a loud man, slamming dishes and yelling at the waitresses/waiters. Concerned I thought maybe it was he wanted our table but eventually found out he is the owner. Many of the patrons notice this individual frowning, yelling at the help which made for a very uncomfortable atmosphere. I attempted to explain to him how he was ruining our evening by his actions but he then started to yell at me. He stated that he didn’t care what I thought and that he would run his restaurant the way he wanted. I walked away knowing that there are too many other great restaurants in The Villages. Owner or not, it was a classic example of how not to treat customers. We won’t return!

Similar situation
 

We went to Cody's for dinner last month and sat outside. At the end of the deck a man was screaming at a waitress. I went inside to get a manager to stop the verbal abuse and was told it was the manager screaming at the waitress. We have never returned.

Not surprised.

Unfortunately not a nice way to treat his employees either. I hope he will reconsider his actions and consequences, and correct his behavior in the future. Bad day or not, it's not a good way to treat anyone!

Cody's is a franchise operation. Maybe the corp office would like to hear from you. Cody's Roadhouse

A true shame in many counts
Cody's has a prime location, near the lake and the music...
I wonder if some sort of harrassment ( not sexual, obviously) , or ruling could be filed by these poor servers....

Maybe someone should take up a petition..let him know that inspite of the fact that he obviously doesn't care about his business...he will care when he has to lock the door for the final time after people quit coming.

Below is a link to Cody's website. Not just the one in Lake Sumter but I believe corporate. Under where it says "Just Plain Good Food" there is a section which says, "Tell Us What You Think". If would assume if everyone who has had the same experience tell them about it, thinks could change.
Cody's Roadhouse

great idea!

No one deserves to be verbally abused. This sounds like a manager from he** and he is not using his head. Sadly, this man needs some anger management classes.

I like the idea of a petition or he needs to hear from corporate to mend his ways. I'm sure he doesn't talk to a superior in this manner.

Be sure to watch the clock when at Cody's ... Drink prices DOUBLE at 7pm !!! ... You'll not have a problem getting a seat at the bar after 7 ... Everyplace else sells beer for about 2 bucks, but at Cody's the price is $4 ... Makes no sense to me, but hey, I've never owned a bar - just paid for a few.

Some suggest when you have a complaint: ask to see the manager; Not a good idea! Maybe he needs some friendly cat!

Thanks for the feedback!!!! I will be contacting Cody's Corp office plus whoever manages The Villages Commerical Property.

Attitude here has been this way for a long time. Same goes for neighbor, R.J.Gators. Maybe it's contagious.

CPM is only interested in that they pay their rent on time.

Vote with your feet.

Skip

I've never been there and I won't be going. I refuse to patronize any establishment where the hired help are abused.

Some friends of mine play music there and I have wanted to go so them, but I'll see them somewhere else now. The only way that this kind of thing will stop is if people stop going there. so posts like this are important if we want to effect change.

I have been going to Cody's on a fairly regular basis since the day it opened at Lake Sumter Landing. I have never seen anyone yelling at the servers or at the customers.

I was there this afternoon and the owner was laughing and joking around with the bartenders and the customers.

It is a great place to go to get a delicious bar-burger and a couple of ice-cold draft beers at a very reasonable price. The views are great and the staff is friendly.

Cody's does not have to worry about a few people saying they have never been there and never intend on going based on forum chat. They have a huge clientele and a great business.

Besides being wrong, it is poor management and leadership. When I was working, I would always be sure to "coach" an employee in private, and anger would never be part of it.

I'm there at least 5 days a week. Never heard anyone "yelling" at anyone. It's a great place.

And City Fireholic ! LOL :1rotfl:

I agree with you. We go there at least twice a week and I have never seen bad behavior by the manager or staff. We will continue to go as often as possible cause it's like "Cheers" to us....everybody knows your name!:beer3:

Let me try to understand this. Someone has never been to Cody's before so they really don't know first hand what has or has not occurred there and won't go in the future because they have read on TOTV that employees were being abused by management, yet their friends still play music there. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think the theory of "this kind of thing will stop if people stop going there" will be very affective in effecting change because people actually have to go there in order to stop going there.

Also if anyone refuses to patronize a business because they read on TOTV a not so glamorous comment or observation, I'm afraid their choices will be severely limited and they will be spending alot of time dining and shopping at home.

:clap2:

Once again, people, check out the person who sent in the rant of the first post. Chances are this posting was a SPOOF meaning it never happened.

Lots of angry people with an ax to grind will do such a childish thing. They think by posting a plausible sounding story that people will stop going to a business - like a couple on the forum said they would do.

If it is a person's first post and is a rant against a business - I tend not to believe it happened. It is very similar to another first time posting by someone recently about a waitress at Gator's telling them their 4 month old child should not watch FOX News and getting into a spiel about Islam. Never happened!!

Take the rants with a grain of salt.

So true.

Just read the recent posts. I have been going to Cody's a few times a week. This was the first bad experience. It is not a spoof or a raint. FYI It happened. The owner has no experience in customer service. I take it, my nor my friends business does not matter to him or what we experienced. Other customers saw it.

:BigApplause::agree:

A few times a week...........for how many weeks. So you must have observed this behavior many, many times, right?

Once again, people are attacking the poster, who was just sharing their experiences from their perspective. Sheesh.

Seeking more information is not attacking the poster.

Isgrimes: Most people like to believe the "best" in people so please don't take some of the comments received as personal. Sure sounds to me that this manager/owner needs some "anger management" help. From your experience, none of us would want to work for someone like this manager at Cody's. Unfortunately, some folks have no choice as they really need their job. You have to wonder how these type of personalities end up in the positions of managers. Personally, I don't care for the loud music but the lake in the evening is really nice. Because of the location, the former restaurant seem to have lots of customers too. Thanks for your information. :what:

Quirky, in my humble opinion, it's just a difference in the way members view threads. I'm sorry you feel the poster is being attacked. I just see people with different perspectives wanting to comment about their experiences at Codys and ask questions. People just naturally will challenge a negative comment about a restaurant if they often frequent that restaurant and love it. TOTV would be a dull place if there was no "back and forth" on topics.

I love appropriate exchanges of information. Where I come from, challenging a sincere person's veracity and integrity is rude and inappropriate, and sometimes hurtful. We can agree to disagree on this one.

The OP said that this was his first bad experience, yet you said that if he goes there often he must have seen this behavior many times. I don't quite understand the logic of that statement unless you were trying to be cynical. If you're going to disagree with the poster with either your words or your tone, than stand behind what you've written. If you were just "seeking more info", than I also misunderstood your post.

Went to Cody's last night. Food was great. I actually caught myself looking around to see if anyone was yelling or if there was any disturbance. It was a very relaxing evening and the service was great. I'm sure that what was posted is factual, just have never seen anything like what had been posted by the OP and certainly hope I never do.

When I was a teenager I worked at BIG BOY. One day the cook decided to use me for all his frustration..called me every name imaginable. Even threw a knife. I've never forgotten the experience.

I have to say, I've know John, the owner, for several few years. He has all of the Codys in northern Florida. These are not franchised.
I have to say, he has such a big heart. He is always willing to help anyone in need. He really cares about the communities they are located in. He has helped many worthy causes in the Villages and has been a sponsor for many great things. He's really a great guy.
Next time you're in Codys & see him, introduce yourself to him.

Can't have you cake and eat it to.
 

Stopped in last Saturday around 6:30. Myself and good neighbor friends were looking to satisfy a sweet craving with their carrot cake or choclate. Our group was disappointed to see nothing left before closing.

Manager stated they only buy on what was sold the day before? And that they sell the whole cakes to anyone who shells out $70.00(Gasp)

We filled out suggestion cards asking that they consider increasing the orders as we now have more patrons in TV.

As of tonight no luck. Another so sorry answer and the Kitchen Manager was to busy to come talk to me.

So I guess at Codys you can only wish for your cake cause you can't eat it to.:rant-rave:

Does anyone out there know where in Orlando they buy from? Or that is where the manager stated the deserts come from.:shrug:

Years of going to Cody's and been through different managers and then this pops up out of the blue. I feel something happened, but I doubt it was a cage fight as OP suggests. I sense exaggeration at the very least. What is a fact, is that the waiters and waitresses are smiling way to often to be working under the conditions suggested. Go to Cody's and observe for your self. Yes, Cody's is our favorite bar and favorite dining spot in The Villages, and that is because of the overall experience of staff and food quality. Like most couples, I see the bad first and my wife always finds the best in people so we are a balanced team. We were at Cody's the other night when Just Mike was playing outside and everyone was smiling with their toes a tapping.

:beer3:

People's definition of "yelling" differ. People's definition of "motivating" differ as well. With that said, some joints are crowded and loud. Maybe an assertive management style is being misunderstood.

I have been to Cody's 4 times in my 2 visits to TV. Loved the place.