Brooklyn Restaurant Removes Trump Photo After Yelpers Complain

A Bay Ridge German restaurant reluctantly took down a signed photo of Donald Trump after customers complained that the presidential nominee’s presence was akin to "having a picture of Hitler" on the wall. Brooklyn Daily reports that the owners of Schnitzel Haus put up the photo of Trump back in 2007, when the restaurant first opened. Fred and Amber Urban consider Trump a supporter of German-American heritage and were flattered that he sent them the signed photo.

But the Republican nominee for president’s more recent public comments about Muslims, Mexicans, and women made his presence in Schnitzel Haus uncomfortable for some customers. Six Yelp reviews this year mention Trump’s presence as a negative. Yelper Andrew L., who previously had a positive experience at the restaurant, couldn’t stand eating near the businessman-turned-politician:

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.

Fred Urban originally responded to Trump Yelp reviews defending the picture, but he finally decided to take it down last week after the Hitler comment. Urban wasn’t happy about it, though. He responded to the reviewer in a long message, noting that Schnitzel Haus serves "many Mexican, black, Hispanic, Chinese, white, Milano, Indian, German, Italian (I can go on and on) patrons." "We have removed the picture tonight because I don't like to waste time defending my right to display a picture in my own restaurant," he writes. He ends the message: "And hey all lives matter!! Be strong!"

His wife Amber explained further to the Brooklyn Daily: "When you’re hurting my income and taking food off my family’s table, we’re forced to make changes. Honestly, I was very upset. I don’t know how posting a picture on the wall is promoting hatred."

The removal appeased at least the Yelper Andrew L, who turned his two-star review into a five-star one after the Urbans took the photo down. Trump’s photo has now been replaced by a letter explaining its origin. And even though the Urbans say they felt "honored" to have the photo up, they will not be voting for Trump. They might not vote at all, according to Brooklyn Daily. "We don’t speak politics," Fred Urban says. "We speak beer and wurst."

• Art of the veal: Schnitzel Haus under fire for signed Trump photo [BD] via [Gothamist]