The Mockingbird Flies in the Face of Adversity During COVID-19 Crisis

Brian Sullivan

When Mikey Corona and husband Brian Riggenbach started their underground supper in Chicago, they had the same vision in mind that they keep today: to create a warm atmosphere for friends to eat and enjoy each other’s company. Flash forward, and, even in the face of insurmountable adversity brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, that space is still open for business.

“We made the decision to close our restaurant before the first orders went into place,” says Corona. “We saw what was happening, and for the safety of all of our staff, we had a discussion with all of our business partners, and we were kind of on the forefront of that.”

At just 2 ½ years old, The Mockingbird paused on March 17, shutting down operations and informing staff they needed to file for unemployment as soon as possible. The couple then went into the kitchen and took all of the perishable foods to distribute to them, offering their staff as many resources as possible to get them through that period. The two bunkered down and waited, while finishing a few projects here and there to pass the time.

“There’s always something to do,” says Riggenbach. “There’s a million little things always on the list.”

The Mockingbird closed down completely for approximately two weeks, then opened back up for curbside, and many of the locals and fans of the restaurant came out to support them. They changed the menu slightly to fit the general needs of the community, transforming the previous business model.

“We have never been a to-go heavy restaurant,” says Corona. “Our venue is more of a place where people come for the atmosphere, the decor, the vibe, our staff’s kick ass personalities as well as the food, so that was difficult for us.”

After a surge of support for takeout in the beginning, the support slowly dwindled down as the pandemic went on. Corona and Riggenbach, both first time restaurant owners, suffered anxiety because of it.

“We spent the past 3 years creating this incredible team of employees, and you become a family, and you want to take care of every single one of them,” says Riggenbach. “In the kitchen, it’s less than ⅓ of what we are used to producing, so some of the positions just weren’t there to be filled.”

“Hard is an understatement,” says Corona. “We all sat in the room, it was quiet, there were tears. It was never ‘goodbye’, it was ‘we will be back together later’.”

“We don’t do any work talk at home,” says Corona. “When Brian gets home, that’s sort of his time to set work aside. We have a new studio in our home, and he’s able to focus on his painting. My time that’s really helped me cope is in the afternoon, when I get to go home and visit with our dogs. That’s my time to just cuddle them, and it’s pure love and positivity.”

The federal relief helped, and the couple says they appreciate it, but compares it to a bandaid on a severed arm, and says that the industry experienced a traumatic injury. “This crisis has unveiled the restaurant curtain,” says Corona. “These are the margins we operate off of, and they are very slim. We’ve seen a lot more consideration from the public of what restaurants go through.”

The failure rate for restaurants is enormous compared to other industries. The Mockingbird has continued to beat those odds so far.

The Mockingbird is not just a small business, but a safe space. The restaurant has not only hosted Dining Out for Life events since its inception, but numerous other events for LGBTQ causes. The owners say they purposefully looked to foster their community, and at its core, the restaurant kept the goal of inclusivity in mind. A Pride flag sits at the entrance of The Mockingbird to greet all who enter, and the owners say it will be there when their family comes back.

“WE MISS YOU QUEENS!” says Corona. “Our community is what sort of gave us the confirmation that we were supposed to be doing what we are doing. That yes, this is why we are here. So, we really wanted to create a second home for the community. It’s a relationship that we don’t take lightly, and we miss it terribly.”

The Mockingbird is currently open for dinner from 5-9pm Tuesday -Sunday, with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am -3:30pm. You can make a reservation online and order takeout by calling them at 615.741.9900.