A Chicagoland Buffalo Wild Wings Fires Two Employees After Alleged Racist Incident

[George II]

Source: "Eater Chicago"

A worker at the Naperville location reportedly told multiracial and African American diners that a regular customer didn’t want to sit near black people

Minneapolis-based sports bar and chicken wing chain Buffalo Wild Wings fired a service manager and a shift manager over the weekend after a racist incident at its suburban Naperville location outside Chicago in late October, according to a company spokesperson. A party of multiracial and African American patrons said they left after an employee, who they described as a young black man, asked them about their race and told them a regular seated nearby did not want to sit near black people, the Tribune reported.

Former customers Justin Vahl and Marcus Riley told reporters that they intended to celebrate a child’s birthday at the restaurant, 2555 W. 75th Street in Naperville, on October 26 with a group of six adults and 12 children. Multiple managers tried to relocate the group to another part of the restaurant, claiming that their table was reserved for another party, and turning a festive event sour. A reporter called the restaurant later and was told that the location does not accept reservations. After staff attempted to move the group several times, the party decided to go elsewhere. Vahl’s wife Mary wrote about her experience on Facebook, upset that her young children witnessed the incident. The post has now been shared more than 5,000 times.

Read more: https://chicago.eater.com/2019/11/4/20948001/buffalo-wild-wings-racism-incident-employees-fired-naperville

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This is a better source.

I go to our local Buffalo Wild Wings about once a week, the manager is Hispanic, half the employees are black.

SO glad to see this, otherwise I would have to think twice before going again.

[cstanleytech]

1. The staff should have been blunt and told the other person that they are welcome to go elsewhere

rather than pander to them for their racist views.

[iluvtennis]

5. + 1. nt

[Delphinus]

6. Absolutely. n/m

[rpannier]

2. He couldn't sit elsewhere

There weren't other tables available
Maybe an intersection he could have sat in the middle
Why does a whole group of paying customers have to move to accommodate one guy? -- regular or no

[Blue_Tires]

7. I was wondering who the asshole was if he had that kind of clout

Because the waitstaff and managers(!) on duty pretty much did whatever he told them.

Whoever he is, he deserves to be named and shamed... If it was my family you can bet I'm getting that fucker's name before I go...

[dalton99a]

3. Kick

[MrsCoffee]

4. They should have instantly asked the racist to leave.

No other course of action would have been appropriate.

Glad they were both fired.

[roamer65]

8. So who is the racist customer?

I wonder if he or she really exists. Could be the managers were using it as an excuse for their own racist actions.

[Skittles]

9. I wondered about that too

wings restaurants tend to have very diverse customers (I know from first hand experience)

[roamer65]

11. ..

Makes ya wonder, doesn’t it?

[orleans]

10. corporate said the asshole customer will be banned from all locations

across the country.

the dad who brought his family in wants to know how buffalo w.w. is going to identify that racist customer and how they plan on keeping him out of their other restaurants

the mayor didn't sound too upset--said he wants all employees and customers to feel safe. (does that include the racist customer who was possibly feeling unsafe and therefore didn't want to "sit near black people"??) maybe the mayor should have said this kind of racist crap will not be tolerated.

https://wgntv.com/2019/11/05/victims-of-racist-incident-at-naperville-buffalo-wild-wings-to-speak-out-tuesday/