Do you like your coffee with a side of antisemitism? Well, you should head on down to The Bushwick Coffee Shop in New York because the restaurant’s owner just went on an Instagram tirade about all of the “greedy infiltrators” in his neighborhood.
So what prompted this rant? According to the Gothamist, Bushwick is an up and coming neighborhood in Brooklyn. That means that new businesses are coming in (forcing old ones out) and rent is skyrocketing. The Coffee House apparently thinks that this can be blamed on the Jews.
After two guys, who happened to be Jewish, came into his shop with plans of buying the building, the owner took to Instagram to complain about these “greedy infiltrators.”
Here’s the full post:
“Ok, what I REALLY want to talk about is how to consider the Jews (oh yes, let’s talk about it) who want a piece or all of Bushwick. My stubborn Bushwick-oroginal neighbor is a hoarder and a mess- true.. and he’s refused selling his building for lots and lots of money. His building and treatment of it makes the hood look much less attractive and I would like him to either clean up or move along. BUT NOT be bought out by Jews however, who in this case (and many cases separate- SORRY!) function via greed and dominance. A laymen’s terms version of a story would simply be- buying buildings, cutting apartments in half, calling them luxurious, and ricing them at double. Bushwick IS rising and progressing, and bettering, but us contributing or just appreciating this rise and over all positive change do not want to be lumped with greedy infiltrators. Two jewish young men with generally rude behavior (one more than the other) ordered coffee, and explained how they were looking for this neighbor of mine. I knew what was up and asked where are they visiting from. When asked where I’m from I firmly and confidently said “HERE. This is my neighborhood, it’s where I come from.” They began to lighten up and almost kiss as a bit. I openly said “looking to buy the building?” They said yes and I explained how this man has been asked to sell for large amounts of money many times- which is true. So I said “Good luck with that. But if you’re going to come here ya gotta be nice”. If you know me you’ll know what my eyes looked like. You know!- when they have the look of death within them. They one guy smiled. And they both knew where I stood. The one who had a slightly more aggressive behavior let that go fast after our initial meeting n which they experienced my confidence… and then at the end gave me his card and asked if I’d contact him when I see my neighbor. He said.. and I quote “I’ll treat you right” Whatever exactly that meant. But I did say if you come here you have to be good. We’ll see what happens from here.”
The message did receive some support on Instagram (about 20 people liked it) but the majority of people commenting said that they would never shop at the coffee house again.
One person writes: I think it’s great you’re being honest, @bushwickcoffeeshop. I wish all business owners would be as honest with their views – it makes it so much easier for the customers to know what establishments to avoid.
Another adds: I predict you’ll close down in MAXIMUM a month. What an embarrassment to humanity.
But the coffee shop isn’t backing down. They responded to several comments and tried to defend their post. How, you ask? Well, apparently they would have responded the same way if it had been blacks or Mexicans or Italians or any other group of people.
Which completely misses the point. It’s OK to be upset that your rent is going to go up because someone is going to buy your building. It’s not OK to blame it on an entire race of people.
But don’t worry. The Coffee Shop doesn’t hate ALL Jewish people. The coffee shop shared a YouTube video with the message: I love LOVE these Jews. These men have the right idea. #Spirituality. Not #Materialism
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