Streeterville Doorperson of the Month: For Mark Cornelius, his job is a family tradition

By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer

For Mark Cornelius, doorperson at 850 DeWitt Place, the service industry is in his blood.

“My dad was a doorman for 30 years at 260 Chestnut [St.],” Cornelius said.

Cornelius is being modest about his father’s legacy. In 1987 the Chicago Tribune, wanting to know more about the profession, profiled Cornelius’ father, Lawrence.  Lawrence was quoted in the paper calling the job “a love affair” and extolled the virtues of the profession.

“Some of the nicest people I’ve ever encountered in my life reside in this building,” Lawrence told the Tribune.

The younger Cornelius has been a doorman for 20 years now. He’s been at 850 DeWitt Place for the last three years, and, like his father, he said he’s fascinated by the residents.

“I like meeting the different people from all walks of life,” Cornelius said. “It was very interesting to me…when I first became a doorman.”

Cornelius said a key to success with residents is proximity. Be friendly, he said, but don’t go too far.

“I get to get close to some people,” he said, “but I keep it professional and I don’t get too close to people and be in their business.”

For Cornelius, being a doorperson is more than working with families. Working in the downtown area, Cornelius said he knows regular professional folks, but he’s also seen his share of famous faces.

“I’ve met a lot of celebrities doing this,” he said. “It’s been a great ride for me, to say the least.”

Cornelius said it’s a great job for anyone who considers themselves a people person. The key is leaving personal problems at home, he said, and being a friendly face at the beginning and end of the day for residents.

“I would say just be happy,” he said. “Just have fun doing it. If you can’t have fun doing it, it’s going to be a bore.”

Of course, not everyone he meets is friendly, and sometimes even the warmest smile from a doorperson is enough to melt the ice of someone who is having a bad day, and that’s just part of the job.

“Sometimes you get some people that are hard to deal with,” Cornelius said. “But you just have to take the bitter with the sweet.”

Cornelius called himself a “homebody.” To unwind, he said he likes to hang out at home with his girlfriend and watch movies.

The Equalizer franchise is his favorite.

“I liked The Equalizer, one and two. I guess that was about my favorite movie,” he said. “[More recently] I saw Hotel Artemis; that was OK.”

To nominate your favorite doorperson, email info@neweastsidecommunity.com with the doorperson’s name and why you think they should be the Doorperson of the Month. Each winner will receive a $25 gift card to Mariano’s.