Brooklyn Restaurant Yanks Autographed Trump Photo Over Bad Reviews
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - The owners of a Bay Ridge, Brooklyn German restaurant have taken down an autographed photo of Donald Trump because they say it was hurting their business.
The Brooklyn Daily reports that Fred and Amber Urban, owners of the Schnitzel Haus say the photo of the Republican presidential nominee had been there since the restaurant opened in 2007. The Urbans were friends with Trump's head of security at the time and they say Trump dropped by to wish them good luck. He sent an autographed photo the next day.
Amber Urban explained the decision to remove the photo to the Brooklyn Daily, saying: "When you're hurting my income and taking food off my family's table, we're forced to make changes. I was very upset. I don't know how posting a picture on the wall is promoting hatred."
The photo is a topic among online reviews on Yelp, with diners saying they were uncomfortable or offended.
Fred Urban says on Facebook that some people have canceled reservations over the photo, while others want to take selfies with it.
Reviews on Yelp are equally polarized, with Nancy K. saying, "We've eaten here for years and years. Sadly, we'll never go back. Why? Because the owner succumbed to activist, anti Trump postings, from fake reviewers who have obviously never eaten here and probably have never been to Brooklyn. Who supports this restaurant? We regulars, or blow hard liberal wind bags? If Trump is so full of hatred then ask yourselves why all the cities in the USA that keep blacks, hispanics and other minorities down and out, are liberal demorcratic? Good luck Schnitzel Haus. You've alienated your customers for whiney babies, that targeted your restaurant and set you up. I guess your restaurant just isn't the safe place these thin skinned morons were looking for. Goodbye."
Lewis B. says, "Would not eat there. Want to get political. It goes both ways, if your around a bunch of left wing liberals this might work out for you. If you count on regular hard working people to eat at your Restraunt (sic) maybe you can make a living doing something else."
Bret R. chimed in with this comment: "Put the picture back, you wimps. Why would you let a bunch of pansies tell you what you can hang on your walls. Tell them to stay in their safe space. So disgusted."
Andrew L. likes the food but wanted the picture taken down: "Came here with friends and The food was good, but I felt uncomfortable the whole time. On the wall there is a picture of Donald Trump. I just couldn't stop thinking about me ,a black man with plenty of Mexican friends, supporting a business that supports such a racists and disgusting person as he is. Imagine going to a place and they having a picture of Hitler just because he visited them at one point in time. Just not cool. Should be removed."
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