A restaurant in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, experienced numerous employees walking out following the introduction of a menu featuring beverages named after racial terms by the owner.
As reported by the Gettysburg Times, when Donald Hoffman, the owner of Mela Kitchen at Jack’s Hard Cider, chose to offer interesting cocktails in the theater, at least 25 workers resigned. A handful of workers vented their grievances on social media, claiming that Hoffman required them to serve beverages with names like “The Caucasian” and “The Negro.”
“Myself and most all of my coworkers walked out on Friday due to the owner and heads of production at Jacks cider pushing for some racist cocktail names,” Emily Kate Hessler wrote on Facebook. “Despite days of efforts from upper management trying to halt this cocktail and it’s name, Friday comes and it’s time to reveal this weekends special. I made a formal complaint to upper management and notified them that if the name isn’t changed most of the scheduled staff will be walking.”
Hessler also accused Hoffman of mistreating staff since he acquired the business in 2019.
“Donald has repeatedly mistreated staff being emotionally and verbally abusive, sexist, inappropriate touching and comments to both female and male staff members,” Hessler wrote.
Nevertheless, Mela Kitchen responded to the claim and apologized for the incident.
“I have come to realize how we have fallen short on addressing the sensitive issues towards others. Both inside the company and in how we present ourselves to the community. I take full responsibility for the shortcomings and I apologize to the current and former employees who have experienced harm while working at Mela Kitchen,” the owner stated. “I will be ordering additional sensitivity training for myself and promise to develop a culture of understanding, empathy and tolerance to ensure that our staff feel safe and empowered.”
