My wife and I patronized that exact same Waffle House just a week ago yesterday.
We travelled to Nashville last weekend to visit my daughter and family who live a couple of miles from there. We got up early Saturday morning and went there for breakfast around 7:30am or so.
FWIW, it seemed safe enough at the time. Typical Waffle House for that hour of the day on Saturday. However, we’re both have CC permits and ALWAYS sit where at least one of us (usually me) can keep an eye on the door regardless of where we’re at.....just in case.
And to answer the question before it’s even asked: Yes. I would probably have shot him had it happened while we were there...assuming it went down the way it’s described.
No mind control here. Just move along.