The Most Racist Restaurant in America?

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Laura Gottesdiener

The Most Racist Restaurant in America?
Maker's Mark Bourbon House and Lounge wanted to know the ratio of "black people to white people" for an upcoming party--then denied African Americans access.

December 20, 2012 |


The Maker’s Mark Bourbon House and Lounge in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, used to be a decently classy place, the type of glass- and wood-paneled establishment striving for a level of authenticity beyond the reach of a chain restaurant named after a bourbon label.

Late this past August, however, the Bourbon House and Lounge officially became one of the most despicable restaurants in the country when it denied African Americans access to a public event held at the site.

Here’s what happened: Andre Mulligan and his brother went to the Maker’s Mark Bourbon House and Lounge on August 17 to speak with managers from the restaurant about a public event to be held at the restaurant the next day. At the meeting, the managers wanted to know “the ratio of ‘black people’ to ‘white people’ attending the event” explains Mulligan in his lawsuit against the establishment.

Mulligan and his brother explained that the party-goers would be ‘100 percent African American,’ to which information the managers said essentially, nope, you can’t hold an event at our lounge—a clear violation of not only the states’ laws, but also all human decency and basic 21st century codes of ethics and respect. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/most-racist-restaurant-america

[lunatica]

1. Boycott them and close them down

Racism should have zero tolerance in this country. ZERO!

[Starry Messenger]

2. The fuck?

Wow. I hope they get sued to the ground.

[rucky]

3. this will be an easy boycott

Maker's Mark is overrated.

[RKP5637]

4. I hope they end up out of business! Yet another WTF, showing how racism was under

the rug.

[rdking647]

30. nothing like jumping to conclusions

[RKP5637]

39. Post #5 and #13 are interesting! n/t

[Honeycombe8]

5. Oh, how easy it is to fool some people.

This is not true, according to the establishment. Seriously, think about it....would a public restaurant REALLY admit outright that they are ready to be sued over race discrimination? Hardly. They'd come up with some other reason. But more likely, they'd be happy to take the money, regardless of who is holding a private affair.

No, a quick Google of the Mulligan guy shows what's what. He's a repetitive suer. He sues for discrimination, instigating events to sue over. He sues for slip and falls, for personal injuries. He has a criminal record for drunkenness and assault. I didn't see where he had won any of his lawsuits. He sues establishments, employers, you name it. No one's too good for a lawsuit by this guy.

This sounds like a setup for yet another lawsuit. It is not believable. And there is apparently no evidence whatsoever of it, except for Mulligan's say-so (and I think there was a pal with him).

[marmar]

10. So, the black man making the allegation is automatically not believable, but.....

...... the establishment accused of racism is?

[Honeycombe8]

12. Yes, the guy with a pattern of bringing frivolous lawsuits is not to be believed. Regardless of his

race or gender or height or eye color.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

31. I don't think "automatically" means....

....what you think it means.

[CreekDog]

11. you automatically take the side of the restaurant, wow

which isn't surprising.

i'm not saying it happened or didn't happen, but wondering where you get your assurance that it did --easy, you believe one side.

[Honeycombe8]

13. Just looking at the facts...a pattern of bringing frivolous lawsuits, and here's another one....

they didn't just show up and were refused entrance. Mulligan went to the establishment and set it all up.

It defies common sense, what he's alleging. Then looking at his history of bringing frivolous lawsuits and with a criminal background...the truth is evident.

You'll see, when this case is concluded. He's of course hoping for a settlement, which is what these guys usually get...a settlement instead of going to court, even if the lawsuit has no merit whatsoever. It'll be interesting to see if this establishment's ins. co. settles, or takes it to court.

People are so ready willing and able to believe the worst in people, esp when it comes to race.

If Mulligan were a woman who had sued five times over rape, would you believe this sixth allegation of rape? Add to it a background of criminal assault and drunkenness charges in the woman's history.

I know what most people in this forum would say about her credibility. Heck, they don't even want to admit it when there's a good chance it's true. Her oath is not considered evidence.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

23. interesting, that presenting FACTS on Mr. Mulligan

Results in knee jerk accusations against YOU by people too

[font size=4] LAZY[/font]

to check for themselves.

What's different from conservatives who automatically ASSume the opposite: that authority/power is always right and refuse to listen to facts?

[Hosnon]

25. There is no difference. It's part of a circlejerk that does nothing but hurt the left. nt.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

29. exactly

Our great pride is that as progressive dems, we respect facts.

So to see people engaging in the same stubborn protection of their own biases is disappointed.

Pisses me off, actually.

[Honeycombe8]

50. That's a personal attack on a reasonable opinion I gave...and a balanced statement of the facts.

Why do you assume the restaurant manager is guilty because one person says so, when that person has a history of suing, and this is yet another lawsuit?

If you were the one being accused of something, you would want people to assume you are innocent until proven guilty by a preponderance of the evidence. And the plaintiff's history of suing is allowed as evidence in a civil lawsuit.

That's a pretty balanced, reasonable opinion. Not a KKK opinion. Nothing for anyone reasonable to get angry over, for certain. If they are interested in the facts and the truth.

Did you read about this guy's history?

As I said...if he were a WOMAN who had sued men several times for rape, how likely would you be to assume that her fourth lawsuit against a man for rape is true? It COULD be true. But her pattern of suing people for it would be allowed in court, along with whether there was any outside evidence of rape.

So let's see if there's outside evidence that the manager told the man, "we don't want you because you're going to be all blacks at the party." And if there is, there would no doubt be other times that he refused to hold such parties. So let's see. It COULD be that the manager is KKK and is absolutely stupid, knowing he'd be sued over such a statement. But it's questionable because of the accuser's history of alleging wrongdoings and suing to get money out of it.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

56. woa there...did you mean to respond to someone else?

Maybe I was a little jumbled in how I spoke, but what I was trying to say is that you bring forth a CRITICAL fact that people are ignoring, because they'd rather attack the manager, as he represents an authority figure that is easy to make into the de facto bad guy.

Sometimes we do that on the left and it's just as reactionary as the teahadists who refuse to HEAR anything that conflicts with their belief system. This story is about the *other* side of the coin.

I was talking about the people attacking your post because they didn't want to bother to check that the guy suing the manager is actually a crank.

Did u read my previous reply to u? Post #23? I thought I was pretty clear there.

[Honeycombe8]

60. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were saying you were pissed at ME....

because of what I said, and that I was lazy at not checking the facts.

So sorry. Apparently I can't watch TV and post at the same time! (it was probably that part of Lord of the Rings where that weird little character that says "Precious" was on.)

[HangOnKids]

68. LOL!!!

You bring up the PRECIOUS. I can't stop laughing.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

96. :P

LoL!

Oh dear! Well, I NEVER misread or get distrac----HEY Oooooooo! Sparkly Christmas lights!!

[Honeycombe8]

49. If a woman sues men several times for rape, then sues again for rape...

as a matter of fact, that tends to throw doubt on her credibility, esp when there is no outside evidence of rape.

In the instant case, there is no outside evidence of discrimination. It is only his say-so, and there is no statement under oath (yet).

So yes, that someone repetitively sues people shows a pattern of behavior that throws doubt on his credibility. Just sayin'.

Why are you so ready to believe such a person? What if you were YOU someone was accusing of discrimination? Wouldn't you want others to take into account that the accuser has made accusations (via lawsuits seeking money) on several occasions before?

I can tell you that law enforcement takes a pattern of past behavior into account.

Plus, it just doesn't make sense, when you think about it. A MANAGER of a successful establishment is going to come out and blatantly say "we don't want you because you're black," knowing he would be sued if he said that?

Let's see what happens with the lawsuit.

[Chan790]

51. Simpler...

A MANAGER of a successful establishment is going to come out and blatantly say "we don't want you because you're black," knowing he would be sued if he said that?

I don't know a manager of a restaurant anywhere (and having grown up in the restaurant trade, having two brothers and a parent in the trade in three different metro areas in different parts of the US...I know a lot of restaurant managers.) who is going to say "We don't want your money" unless you give them a damned good reason to not want your money. The only color most restaurant managers see is green. Lots of green gets you a raise...or it gets you a job managing someplace with Michelin stars and that means more pay.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

59. was i really so unclear?

I thought I was saying to you that a lot of people are missing the exact point you're illuminating.

I'm REINFORCING your point because it's so important; and you're pounding me for supposedly missing it.... ??

Specifically, a serial suer IS pretty UN-credible.

[heaven05]

26. I'll

wait and see. Been burned a couple of times, one with that set on fire person. Turned out being self immolation. These days one has to wonder about people, especially like that poster in this thread quoting some restaurant owner in S.C. hating people of color and giving every penny gotten from the people of color patrons, to the KKK. Sad but that's an example of land of the free, home of the brave, gun toting amerikkka.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

32. Pinnochio and George Washington walk into a courtroom

Insert your own joke here as to who's more credible.

[Ter]

20. Others may bash you, but I won't

Great find, hope this comes out. Your attackers will be silent if it's proven that he lied.

[RKP5637]

40. +1, n/t

[HangOnKids]

69. You Hope What Comes Out?

Care to explain?

[OneMoreDemocrat]

97. Apparently the truth will come out...

one hopes anyway.

[Hosnon]

24. Sad (regarding the state of discourse) that two replies to this attack you for

"automatically" siding with the restaurant, despite your explicit statement that you did a bit of research.

This website isn't a discussion forum any more.

[HangOnKids]

70. So Sad You Think That

Many think DU is a great discussion forum. Maybe you should take that up with META or admin. I'm sure they want to hear how you feel.

[BigDemVoter]

6. I thought you were going to say Cracker Barrel. . .

But maybe they're just the most homophobic!

In any case, the first word that comes to my mind is BOYCOTT. I'm glad you posted this, as I will NEVER set foot in this shitty establishment.

[slackmaster]

8. Or Hodad's

But that's more of a surfer vs. "Fred" discontinuity.

[Brickbat]

16. Or Denny's. They've had problems.

[ElbarDee]

66. I hadn't heard about Cracker Barrel,

what's up with them?
My sister always wants to go to it. Can't stand the place myself. Too contrived as a 'down home' place.

[BigDemVoter]

67. They're hellishly homophobic

For years, Cracker Barrel had a policy of firing workers for being gay. The company actually issued a memo stating that people who did not demonstrate "normal heterosexual values" could not work for Cracker Barrel. On employee pink slips, managers would write this reason for the termination: "Employee is gay."

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Local right wing radio host is always bragging about the Makers Mark here

I've never been there.

[Tempest]

9. When it comes to businesses like this

I have no problem with having someone burn it to the ground.

[surrealAmerican]

18. Well, I do.

There's no need to start a war over this kind of incident. I'd rather see such places go out of business for lack of customers.

[mythology]

21. With no proof, you think it's okay for somebody to commit a crime against them?

Personally, I wouldn't be happy if somebody burned the place down even if this is true. But before I go off on a rampage, I'd want to see further proof. For example, there was the woman in Louisiana recently who faked an attack and blamed it on racist white guys, or the lesbian in Nebraska who also faked an attack on herself, of that idiot who carved the backwards B into her face.

Rushing to judgement usually results in poor results in my experience.

[Mike Daniels]

77. The census taker who was found "lynched" in a tree a year or so back comes to mind as well...

The whole site area was made to look like he got killed by some tea-bagger / anti-census militia types and a couple of days later it turns out it was a suicide.

[Vinnie From Indy]

27. lol! All ready with your pitchfork and torch are you?

Call me crazy, but I'll wait for a verdict first.

[oldhippie]

48. That right there .....

... is a real progressive stance that we should be just so proud to have on our board.

I won't alert on this, but really, advocating violence? I thought Right Wingers did this?

[Arkansas Granny]

14. I'd like to know a little more about this. It just

doesn't pass the smell test. If true, they need to be put out of business. If it's not true, I don't know what recourse they would have.

[DollarBillHines]

33. See replies #5 and #13 - serial frivolous lawsuit kinda guy

You're right, A G, this story stinks to high heaven.

The rabid knee-jerk reactions around here are quite disturbing. Something pops up and half the denizens light their hair on fire.

[Quantess]

42. People need to remember this is still just an allegation. (no text)

[Baitball Blogger]

15. .

[HangOnKids]

71. The OP is barf worthy?

Really? Gee there just might be a backlash from this but we don't know yet do we?

[Baitball Blogger]

74. Your opinion is a reflection of your prejudices.

You failed the Rorschach test

[HangOnKids]

80. Really? I failed the test?

Did I agree to take the test? And you are a Doctor? Can you provide some credentials for that diagnosis? Thanks!

[Baitball Blogger]

82. Tsk, tsk. Looking to pick a fight, are you?

I'll make it easy for you. We are on the same side on the main topic of this thread. Perhaps, next time if you're uncertain about someone's position you should ask them a question or two before getting nasty with them.

[HangOnKids]

84. I never got nasty nor did I pick a fight

You accused me of failing a medical test, you made a nasty snark about my opinion. Maybe you should take your own advice, it appears you are projecting here BB?

[HangOnKids]

81. And your opinion is what dear?

A reflection of your??????

[rdking647]

17. a few facts

the restaurant is seperate from the distillery. the restaurant simply licenses the name,the distillery.
the plantiff in the lawsuit has filed suits against other restaurants in the past. in 1 case he filed a fraudulent workers comp case and was ordered to pay the defendents legal costs after committing perjury.


its amazing that some here would immediately jump to the conclusion the restaurant is guilty. I thought democrats were smarter than that

[Coyote_Tan]

19. Outrage is more fun...

.. and so much easier.

[RKP5637]

41. You are quite correct, as you told me in your post #30. I was jumping to

conclusions too quickly without enough facts!

[jmowreader]

22. Not even close, guys

Maurice's BBQ in Columbia, S.C. is the place. Right after the government ordered separate-but-equal to end, Maurice posted a sign: "The government forces us to serve niggers but we donate every penny we earn from them to the KKK." The man who posted that still runs the place...and he still hates nonwhites.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

28. Maker's Mark

is rather like drinking lye when compared to Tennessee's Gentleman Jack.

[DollarBillHines]

34. If you ever see a bottle of Elmer T Lee, grab it.

You'll be glad you did.

I'm with you on MM.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

36. Elmer T Lee is super smooth?

Is it hard to find?

[DollarBillHines]

38. It's beautiful

But the only place I've found it is BevMo (a chain of large liquor stores) and sporadically, at that. They can only get two bottles per shipment.

It is distilled in small batches by Buffalo Trace.

Check this out:

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=997971

If you can find it at $25/bottle, buy all you can afford.

Trust me on this.
DBH

[Sekhmets Daughter]

44. Total Wines

will be emailing me when they get more....$30 a bottle. I cn buy it online for the same price but $13.80 in handling and shipping charges.

Thanks for the tip. One way or the other I will be trying this.

[DollarBillHines]

46. I'll expect a full report

I wish we could share some.
DBH

[Sekhmets Daughter]

47. Maybe when it come in....

The link you provided doesn't ship to my state.

[DollarBillHines]

57. Just a minor detail, ma'am...

We will find someone to ship to me (CA) and I will ship to you.

I don't care about no stinkin' laws.

Heck, we will have two shipped to me and I will send one to you.

We can share over Skype or phone.

I kinda like that.
DBH

[OriginalGeek]

61. I have no opinion on the OP at least until

we see some real facts come in (but I can say up front that Honeycombe's revelation that the guy is a serial suer doesn't bode well for him) but I just wanted to thank you 2 for this sub-thread. I now have a goal for my week off form work.

Well, 2 goals actually. First I want to get new glasses because I think my prescription has changed but, after that, I want to find some Elmer T. Lee to screw back up the vision I just fixed with the glasses.

[DollarBillHines]

62. Let's work together

Crank 'em up OG...

Maybe we order a case (maybe wait forever)

[Sekhmets Daughter]

64. There you go!

There are places that are in CA that will ship to CA.

I am clear across the county in south FL

[OriginalGeek]

86. I'm in Central FLorida

I bet Total Wine and Spirits is our best bet. (if I had a gif-maker I'd alter that to a shot glass. Also I'd need a clue how.)

[Sekhmets Daughter]

88. Total Wines carries it, but is out of stock at the moment in the stores near me.

I have requested an email when it comes in, and hopefully will be able to buy it online for in store pickup.

I'm clueless myself when it comes to gifs

[DollarBillHines]

91. Let's make a plan

Maybe have them send it to me and I will send it to you.

I will just bubble-wrap the heck out of it and send it away.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

92. Okay...

How do you want to go about it?

[Initech]

35. What year is this? 2012 or 1956?

[Quantess]

37. Here is another article about it

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20121222/NEWS01/312220053/Lawsuit-alleges-racism-Maker-s-Mark-Bourbon-House?nclick_check=1

[RKP5637]

43. +1, n/t

[Spider Jerusalem]

55. Reading that? This sounds...questionable

given that the plaintiff has a litigious history involving lawsuits against other restaurants.

[KeepItReal]

45. Clubs do this everyday

They will tell you "we need to let more ladies in" as they let in non-minority groups of guys

or "are you on the list?" (an LA favorite)

It's not as big or blatant as denying someone the ability to host a party, but club bouncers and party promoters discriminate on a more individual basis - especially at more high-end venues.

Think I'm wrong? Try grabbing a couple of your best male black friends and try to party at an upscale non-black nightclub.

[lunasun]

53. +100

[DonCoquixote]

52. Stupid as well as Evil

Let's face it, all restaurants are in competition for customers,and nothing drives away customers like bad publicity. The irony is, all businesses are going to have to become more inclusive as every little dollar becomes precious. Don't like the color my money is?, well, you lost some Green.

[Atman]

54. STOP IT!

This asshole's lawsuit is so obviously bogus, you people sound like you've been drinking too much bourbon! Jesus f**king Christ! "Knee-jerks." The hot new brand of DUer.

[cali]

83. yep. except it's not a hot new brand. same old same old.

[cecilfirefox]

58. Take them for every single penny in their pocket. NT

[TheMightyFavog]

63. Who's running this place, Zombie Lester Maddox?

[trumad]

65. Not the first time the restaraunt has been sued...

Seems we have a couple of posts blasting the alleged victim for creating lawsuits in the past...

Well--- this don't look to good for the restaurant---eh?

UPDATE 4:40 p.m. This episode is not the first time Maker's Mark Lounge has been accused of a racist door policy. According to a Louisville Courier-Journal article, in October 2009, Kiersten Trover-Gillam, "the former director of promotions and marketing for Maker's Mark Bourbon House and Lounge at 4th Street Live has sued the bar, claiming she was instructed by management to discriminate against African-American patrons."
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20091030/NEWS01/910300362/Former-bar-employee-sues--claiming-she-was-told-to-discriminate?gcheck=1

[HangOnKids]

72. Good Info

Lots of people on this thread don't want you to share this info. Thanks.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

90. Really?

It seems there was more outrage in daring to point out the plaintiff's history.

[Atman]

94. Good info? Are you serious?

"She was instructed by management to discriminate against African-American patrons."

Does that sound legitimate to you? Really? Have you EVER been in a corporate staff meeting? Can you even begin to imagine someone INSTRUCTING the staff to "descriminate against African-American patrons?" Really? Seriously? When you're that deep into the toilet, wouldn't he have just called them niggers? Who was he worried about offending by instructing the staff to discriminate "African Americans?"

Really? Good grief. Use some common sense, people.

[lumberjack_jeff]

75. If I were inclined to make a false lawsuit...

... doing it against a company that has recent legal troubles along that line would improve my odds of success.

We don't know enough at this point to jump to ANYONE'S defense.

[lumberjack_jeff]

73. Benefit of the doubt should go to the accused.

In this case, there's ample reason for doubt.

[HangOnKids]

76. Benefit Of Doubt Should Go To The Accused?

What law school did you graduate from Jeff?

[lumberjack_jeff]

78. Dunno... read it somewhere. Something about innocent until proven guilty.

Some shit like that.

[OneMoreDemocrat]

98. Awesome...

[union_maid]

85. What's irritating about this story...

...aside from the obvious, if true, is that any basic news story about it should include information about Mr. Mulligan's propensity for lawsuits and the past suit for racism against the establishment. It's not like this is a hot breaking story that couldn't wait for the reporter to do a basic search for the information. At the very least, reputations are at stake and if there are any innocent parties here they deserve full disclosure.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

89. Because Alternet or the reporter wants to push a point of view

It wants you to get outraged, like FOX News does, about one sided stories. The same as how FOX News claims teachers are kicking kids out of class for praying or some such shit....

Journalism is dead. When you present both sides of this story, it becomes just a local kerfuffle headed to civil court, and not worthy of national internet outrage unless the court finds in the plaintiff's favor.

[Atman]

95. EXCELLENT point.

This is NOT "breaking news." Why was this story released at all? Why not wait until serious journalists could uncover the FACTS?

Oh, wait...this is America. We have no more "serious journalists."

Never mind.

[arely staircase]

87. i smell bullshit

eom

[Beaverhausen]

93. Who books a venue the day before a public event?

This is bogus

[Atman]

99. I thought that kinda stunk, too.

How did this guy plan to send out invitations? How did he plan to get the people there with LESS than one day's notice? This whole story stinks to high heaven, and I'm embarrassed for my fellow DUers who have fallen for it. Critical thinking is a skill...and we apparently have lots of McDU workers here, flipping bullshit burgers.