Customers at Naperville Buffalo Wild Wings asked to move because they were Black

[catbyte]

Customers at Naperville restaurant say their group was asked to move because another customer ‘doesn’t want black people sitting near him’

By Suzanne Baker
Naperville Sun |
Nov 02, 2019

A group of children and adults celebrating a birthday at a Naperville restaurant last weekend were asked to move to different tables because of the color of their skin, two men who were part of the group said.

Justin Vahl and Marcus Riley said they visited the Buffalo Wild Wings on 75th Street east of Route 59 to celebrate a child’s birthday about 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26.

As employees set up the tables to seat the group, a host asked Vahl about his ethnicity, and later a manager asked the group to move to another location because a nearby customer didn’t want to sit near black people, the men said.

A manager at the restaurant Friday directed any questions to Buffalo Wild Wings’ corporate communications team.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-naperville-buffalo-wild-wings-st-1103-20191102-3cl76kisdjcbvi3cotqgqahfj4-story.html

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If what happened was as reported, the civil rights violations are numerous and heinous. Too bad we no longer have a Department of Justice. WTF?

[democratisphere]

1. Simple solution.

Boycott Buffalo Wild Wings.

[trueblue2007]

3. they should sue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[democratisphere]

8. If the management supports THIS racist bigotry, this company

doesn't deserve to be in business.

[pangaia]

2. Dumb white customers and manager probably also think 'wings'

were 'invented' in Buffalo at the Anchor Bar, or some such shit..

[democratisphere]

10. Hey!

They were invented in Buffalo at the Anchor Bar. And don't forget it!

[struggle4progress]

4. Be sure to call your local Buffalo Wild Wings and explain why you'll never patronize them

https://www.buffalowildwings.com/en/locations/detail/

[blaze]

9. website is down for "updates" nt

[Ms. Toad]

12. It actually isn't -

that page is down, but I can't even figure out how to get to that page through their menu.

https://www.buffalowildwings.com/en/
https://www.buffalowildwings.com/en/locations/

[groundloop]

15. It appears that they've removed the "contact us" link from their website

[DonaldsRump]

23. From the Contact Us page

If I have more questions and wish to speak to someone, what number can I call?

You can always contact us at 1-866-704-0777.

[RKP5637]

5. F'en bigoted racists. I hope the restaurant is held fully accountable. So tired of this bullshit!

[brush]

16. Yep, they need to get a good lawyer and take that place to the cleaners.

It's a slam dunk case.

[stopdiggin]

6. I was getting ready to call BS

then read that (a black manager, or host?) articulated that the reason for the requested move was due to a "regular customers" stated preference regarding race. That sounds pretty damned specific. And (according to the account) a number of other "managers" attempted to effect and enforce this change in seating .. including inventing a lie about "prior reservations." That's pretty egregious. And also pretty incredible for 2019 suburbs (Naperville is NOT hicksville Kentucky). I would have been much more likely to believe that a customer just didn't want to be seated next to a birthday party. Apparently I would have been wrong.

[Hav]

7. That is really bad

and also pretty much case closed should they sue them.
Either way, the correct decision should have been clear: Throw out the customer who makes these racist demands. How hard is that?

[crickets]

11. "Throw out the customer who makes these racist demands" Exactly! nt

[42bambi]

13. I agree, throw out the racist bum!

[murielm99]

14. My son lives there.

I just asked him to comment.

[Progressive Jones]

17. Naperville has many entitled, racist white people. The trumpishness is strong there, as well.

This story doesn't surprise me a bit.

Naperville is adjacent to Aurora and North Aurora. Aurora is an old town, with many minority residents.
North Aurora is a relatively new "sprawl" suburb.

There are people and businesses along the borders, on the Aurora and N. Aurora sides of the line,
who claim to be in "Naperville" to create a "better" optic.

Editted for clumsy grammar.

[hedda_foil]

22. Naperville votes blue recently. This is shameful.

[cab67]

18. I'm skeptical.

I understand points made previously, e.g. the specificity of the complaint. I’m also not discounting the story outright. Shit like this has happened before.

But Buffalo Wild Wings is a national chain. I find it hard to believe it’s employees wouldn’t be aware of the optics of this - that they’d lose a lot of business and, most likely, their jobs.

(And if this DID happen, may this particular establishment end up shuttered pronto.) has

[Roy Rolling]

19. Ha ha. Karma's a bitch

This is what they tweeted when the New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees suffered a serious injury requiring surgery.

Karma’s a bitch, eh Wild Wings?

" title="made at imgflip.com

[Skittles]

20. anyone else think of this ad?

yes INDEED

[Karadeniz]

21. Inexcusable. I hope they sue. This has no place here.

[roamer65]

24. People of color should start demanding that whites be moved.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Be fun to watch all the bitching and whining from the “entitled” ones.