Do Restaurants Get A Political Voice?

Posted by Carey Jones, October 23, 2008 at 9:00 AM

I spend many happy mornings at Joe: The Art of Coffee, my favorite neighborhood café (which I will stubbornly contend serves New York’s best cappuccino). In recent weeks, there’s been a big smiling muffin drawn on the chalkboard sign out front—boldly captioned, "Sponsored In Part by Muffins For Obama."

They’re not the only Obama-heads in the neighborhood. A sign at the Gray’s Papaya a block away occupies an entire window: "YES Senator Obama, We Are Ready To Believe Again." The letters are as big as the ones proclaiming their "Famous Hot Doggery." At Penny Licks in Williamsburg, two handwritten signs hang next to each other, one listing the price of their Brooklyn Egg Cream, the other reading, "Vote for Obama!"

Personally, I get a warm and fuzzy feeling every time I walk by my neighborhood sign. Since I take a pro-Obama, pro-muffin stance, a smiling Democratic muffin—plus the promise of delicious coffee ahead—makes my morning.

At the same time, though, I’m not sure that politically neutral establishments (like coffee shops) should risk alienating customers. There's no doubt that we differ in our political views—if I walked into, say, a café in St. Louis and saw a sign proclaiming “Quiche Lorraine for McCain,” I might feel a tad uncomfortable.

Of course, in New York City this is less of an issue—Joe’s Coffee, after all, is in a notoriously liberal neighborhood in a decidedly Democratic city of an already blue state. New York Magazine claimed today that “something approaching nine out of ten New York voters will pull the lever for Barack Obama two weeks from now.” Still, though—politics are inherently divisive, and coffee shops shouldn’t be.

What do you think? Should restaurant owners make known their political stances, if they so choose? Or should partisan positions be left at the café door?

40 Comments

Tags: Gray's Papaya, Joe: The Art of Coffee, Penny Licks, politics

40 Comments:

I don't know about restaurants, since they generally tend towards a different atmosphere and different methods of expression their dining philosophies, but one thing that everyone prizes in their coffee shops and cafes is their originality and creativity. Little eccentric quirks and attitude are what make a coffee shop beloved of locals and out-of-towners. Obviously national and local politics are going to be a big part of the self-expression of a funky little cafe. So I'm FOR IT, although I'd draw the line at anything past candidate advocacy (nothing on individual propositions or issues, like abortion, gay rights, financial things).

Christina at 9:20AM on 10/23/08

Unless the muffin cost $14 for those who can afford it and was free and came with a $5 bill for everyoe else, I don't see how they can be Obama muffins.

ESNY1077 at 9:24AM on 10/23/08

Political commentary from a coffee jockey is about as welcome as that from an actor or musician. The left is all about using (and abusing) one's position to force their agenda on others. The more cerebral professions maintain a higher degree of professionalism, that's why you won't be observing a McCain button on your doctor's white coat during your colonoscopy or be handed a free Ron Paul pen by your accountant - even if you were in red-state Kansas.

f650gsd at 9:31AM on 10/23/08

They should be able to voice their opinion all they want. They can play speeches by their favorite politician all day long, whether it is current politicians or Hitler/FDR inspirational speeches during the Great Depression, as long as they have legal permission to play the items in a public venue.

I would hope the owner would be aware of the impact on business. We have people who are a little uhh overzealous with their political infatuation, as evidenced by the Palin Syrah wine thread, who would go so far as to argue over something that has no remote connection to a candidate other than to share 1/2 a name.

Cassaendra at 9:34AM on 10/23/08

It doesn't bother me as long as it is a privately owned business and they aren't pushing their views on anyone-- I don't think a sign is pushing. I don't think a "Yay Communism" sign would prevent me from patronizing a great restaurant, as long as it's just a sign.

Laurel E at 9:51AM on 10/23/08

As small businesses, they have a pretty big stake in this election, so if the owner wants to make his/her preference known, I don't have any problem with it.

peachfish at 9:54AM on 10/23/08

We just wrapped up a federal election (I'm in Toronto, Canada) and nearly every restaurant in my riding -- at least, those that chose to put up signs -- posted signs for every candidate. In my riding we had four major parties running, so that meant posting four signs in the window.

When I asked a local café owner about her decision to post them all, she said that she saw her role more as being an "election advocate" more than a partisan player. She just wanted people to know who all the candidates were, and remind her customers and passers-by that they had an important role to play on Oct. 14. I thought that was a winning attitude.

jeninewsbite at 9:55AM on 10/23/08

Well, in St. Louis, there actually IS an anarchist bakery that does pretty well, both gastronomically and financially (which is to say, they appear to be breaking even or slightly better). But the label on their products doesn't say Anarchy Rules.

lemons at 10:12AM on 10/23/08

Of course restaurants get a say in politics. The owners/proprietors of the store have a right to voice their political opinions. If someone is opposed to those views then they do not have to shop/dine at that establishment.

vanillapudding99 at 10:17AM on 10/23/08

I have a lot of respect for business owners who are willing to state their political affiliations in an open way. That said, I'm also far more likely to pass on by a place that makes their support for someone I'm not willing to vote for known to me. (There are levels of this....if someone is supporting a candidate or a position that I disagree with but don't find actually offensive or problematic, than I'd still patronize the place. If, though, the owner supports a candidate or position that I find entirely unacceptable then I'm moving on.) Being willing to risk alienating or losing customers shows the level of commitment they have to their beliefs.

ccbweb at 10:30AM on 10/23/08

i dunno, this question seems like, "should restaurant owners do what they want to do?"

and the answer is yes.

In every business, you have to be profitable to stay open. So alienating customers is probably not an issue. People who like the product will go unless there's a better or just as good alternative. My guess is that many restaurant/coffee shops are neighborhood driven. This prolly wouldn't fly in Orange County, but in the West Village? Yea

foodinmouth at 10:31AM on 10/23/08

I agree with vanillapudding, restaurants can do whatever they want, and patrons can decide if they want to take their business elsewhere.
Personally, I'm not turned off by a partisan muffin, but I did have an interesting experience a few weeks ago. My husband and I just moved out of NYC to the suburbs and we are trying to discover good restaurants where we live. We had a great dinner at this tiny Italian restaurant, where the owner is also the waitress and chef. So it takes awhile to get your food but its worth it. There was just us and one other couple in the restaurant, and they were regulars and knew the owner. I saw pro-Republican newspaper articles taped in the window but that didn't bother me at all. The reason I will never, ever go back to this restaurant is because as we were finishing our meal, the owner came out of the kitchen and started going off on Obama and Democrats. I won't go into detail but it made me REALLY uncomfortable. But, I think I would have felt that way if she were anyone, not just the owner of a restaurant.

sarag22 at 10:33AM on 10/23/08

sarag22- Now you know what it's like being a conservative in NYC! Keep this in mind next time you're repeating the "Bush lied, People Died" drivel that you "open-minded" liberals like to repeat amongst yourselves.

As for coffee/muffins, is there a coffee shop in NYC that DOESN'T have an Obama sign at this point? I thought it was required.

chaddius at 10:44AM on 10/23/08

Hell yes they have a right to voice their opinion! That said, I find it very annoying...I would be annoyed with a place preaching their religion in a coffee shop window as well. Don't try and convert me, just give me my coffee....

VOTE OBAMA!

donnymandible at 10:46AM on 10/23/08

Restaurant owners absolutely have a right to say whatever they want, just as consumers absolutely have a right to choose to shop wherever they want.

That said... if being around people with different political views makes you "uncomfortable," then perhaps you need to get out more.

findlayboy at 10:55AM on 10/23/08

chaddius - I didn't mention my political affiliation. I would have felt the same way if the restaurant owner had gone off that way on Republicans. It was just way out of line and most of what she said was racist and crude.

sarag22 at 10:56AM on 10/23/08

I think it's awesome!

Freedom of speech rules!

-Just like muffins do!

OBAMA '08

gastronomeg at 10:56AM on 10/23/08

Yeah, if it was a McCain muffin, it would cost $6 for everyone except the wealthy who could afford it-they'd only have to pay $3.50 for the muffin so that the trickle down effect would stimulate the economy!

Grace at 11:04AM on 10/23/08

I'm sorry I should have been clearer. I am quite comfortable discussing politics, and being around people who's views are different from mine. However, this restaurant owner's "views" were that Obama should be die, and that he hates "us" (us being white people). That made me uncomfortable, and I don't think that is an unreasonable reaction.

sarag22 at 11:05AM on 10/23/08

sarag22: Well, that's different, obviously. I would not fault anyone for avoiding an eatery owned by that lunatic!

findlayboy at 11:08AM on 10/23/08

Here in DC, it's a real gamble for restaurants to play politics. The risk of cutting in half the potential customer base is all too real. Just ask former lobbyist and convicted felon Jack Abramoff about his failed deli, Stacks.

The sandwiches, the soups.. every single thing I tried there was fantastic. Until I learned that it was owned by a Republican lobbyist named Abramoff. After that, no matter how much I longed for the pastrami, I couldn't bring myself to darken the doorstep. Evidently I wasn't alone - despite its prime location and stellar fare, Stacks closed its doors long before its owner was brought down by legal troubles and scandal.

With bars, on the other hand, partisanship is far more acceptable. Take Tune Inn, for instance: a "sportsman's bar" with more dead animals hanging on its walls than there are live animals throughout the entire city. With its atmosphere, great prices and a very respectable breakfast, the place is a classic. The crowd generally leans right, but first and foremost it's a bar - and a favorite haunt for this Democrat.

The moral of this story: As a partisan, I'm glad to drink, and even dine, with the opposition. Still, I draw the line at putting money in their pocket. So long as the establishment's owners are not underwriting the opposition, I'm glad to be served by people with opinions, no matter which way they lean.

lordnelson at 11:15AM on 10/23/08

Isn't it kind of like being a Mets bar in NYC, a very Yankee town? (Mets fan here) I'm totally fine with people expressing their opinions and I will patronize a place regardless of their politics, but like sarag22, I don't want it in my face. I really don't like anyone, of ANY party, getting all up in MY face over my politics. It's a very personal thing and it's very difficult when you sit there silently, not provoking anyone, and all you hear around you are derogatory comments about either candidate (whether you support them or not!). I don't need to sit anywhere in a hostile environment... I can't wait until this election is over and people will go back to those things that are important to me: FOOD.
(I realize this election is super important, hell, they all are, but I find it aggravating as I get older to have people really getting upset if they find that I have a different political views than they do, and then trying to convince me I'm wrong. Sorry, I'm not wrong - neither are you - we just have different values. Deal with it.)

feistyfoodie at 11:43AM on 10/23/08

Haha @lordnelson, for some reason your comment reminds me of the movie "Clerks", and their argument over the politics of the independent contractors who were working on the uncompleted Death Star ...

lo82070 at 11:55AM on 10/23/08

So f650gsd, your assertion is that this coffee shop is abusing its immense power as the sole purveyor of muffins in NYC to force you to vote for Obama? Seriously?

I have no problem with businesses displaying their political affiliations. I like being an informed consumer, and if I disagree, I move on to the next coffee shop. Freedom - it's a beautiful thing.

dmg2471 at 12:10PM on 10/23/08

I go out of my way to avoid independent coffee shops for reasons like this.

Keight at 12:29PM on 10/23/08

@keight - that is depressing.

I would never patronize an establishment who actively supports candidates or causes with which I disagree. There are far too many dining/coffee options out there, why spend my money knowing it will go to support my political opponents? Luckily I am a "drivel"-believing liberal and I live in NYC, so it's pretty easy.

producestories at 12:38PM on 10/23/08

@Keight,

i'm sure they don't miss your business. and hey, it works out better that way in the end.

foodinmouth at 1:01PM on 10/23/08

Actually, on further thought an Obama Muffin is more like those hucksters in Union Square hawking the Obama buttons/tshirts - just trying to make a quick buck off the media darling du jour in a town that swallows whatever MTV spoon feeds them. By June it'll be "Iran Over Israel" muffins and Pres. Obama will be on the outs for voter fraud and questionable personal finances. Happened to Bill Clinton, will happen again.

f650gsd at 1:40PM on 10/23/08

As an employee of above mentioned shop, I will say that is the best sign we have ever done, along with "come in for hot baristas."

Allison Hemler at 2:24PM on 10/23/08

Well, while f650gsd enjoys his not-entirely-correct fond memories of the Clinton years, and Keight continues his quest for fair-and-balanced coffee, the rest of us can enjoy tasty, tasty muffins!

dmg2471 at 6:32PM on 10/23/08

f650gsd, since you live in an alternate universe, the outcome of this election and our national politics will have no effect on you.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with restaurant owners displaying their political affiliations. Obviously it's going to turn off some customers, but might attract others. A sign in the window, a little joke on the menu board, it's all a nice form of civic engagement.

Now, if we go beyond that to being proselytized for The Cause at table/counterside, I have a problem. Let me sip my coffee in peace, thanks.

dantsea at 10:14PM on 10/23/08

The owners of a restaurant or coffee shop or other public accommodation certainly have a right to publish their political views. As long as they don't practice any kind of illegal discrimination and I can afford the restaurant, I can choose to patronize their establishments. On the other hand, I can also choose to not patronize their establishments as well. And if I really disagree with the political views or business practices of the location, I can even walk back and forth in front of the restaurant asking other people not to patronize them.

It's a beautiful feature of the U.S. Constitution: we have "freedom to" not "freedom from."

greenfield at 1:54AM on 10/24/08

@f650gsd:

I might amend your opening statement, "Political commentary from a coffee jockey is about as welcome as that from an actor or musician," to read "[...] actor, musician, or your average anonymous food blog reader/commenter."

Keeping it civil,
mem

markemorse at 3:42AM on 10/24/08

The people working in the muffin place must make less than 250,000 or make way more and feel guilty about it, so they advocate for someone who will give other peoples money away. There is a spot on your income tax to pay more if you wish. If you feel the need to pay more for worthless programs, be my guest...just don't take my money and do it. Socialism doesn't work...history has proven that...and even if it did , it isn't fair.

mtsod at 1:41PM on 10/24/08

Sure, restaurant owners can advertise whatever political/social/religious belief they want - but I don't have to patronize their business. As long as they understand and accept the consequences of emblazoning their politics on their storefront, they can do whatever they want.

Of course, as a conservative living in Seattle, I'd starve if I avoided the coffee shops/stores/markets that advertise for Obama so I just ignore the political proselytizing.

culinaryrabbit at 1:41PM on 10/24/08

I'm wondering...

The merchant may have employees whose views differ from their employer's. Would this be construed as creating a hostile workplace?

LoCo at 3:38PM on 10/25/08

@LoCo...I would think so...

Of course every owner has the 'right' to do so but it is a bad business decision. We acutally are closed on Election day simply to avoid any possible heated discussions with our regulars/customers.

Kim Nyland at 2:08AM on 10/26/08

In one of my favorite blogs (http://kidoinfo.com/ri/coffee-with-a-purpose/), I read about a coffee shop that just puts it all out there, starting with the name: Blue State Coffee. The comments in the blog expose just how putting politics in your business can be a challenge.

Personally I do shop based on politics when I can, but then again, often the companies I buy from reflect my politics anyway...Apple (yes on 8 - http://www.apple.com/hotnews/)...Target (giving back to schools)...Walmart - yeah, I try to avoid shopping there (anti-union, anti-women, etc.), Blue State Coffe (yes, for all they stand for)

Bluesy at 11:51AM on 10/26/08

i find it interesting that the author of the thread thinks that coffee shops are {or should be} politically neutral places. as someone who lived in berkeley during the seventies, a proclamation that the caffe mediterraneum on telegraph avenue was a politics free zone would have had its clientele either laughing or scratching its collective head.

cybercita at 2:59PM on 10/26/08

I'll concur with most of the commenters above (the proprietors have the right to express their opinions, and I have the right to shop elsewhere). I would add, however, that there might be a marketing plus for staying politically neutral. Not only do you not risk driving away customers - in a low margin business, why risk driving anyone away, no matter how small a segment of the market? - but you also can offer customers a politics-free zone. There is something pleasant about not having to make a political statement with every act we perform. Casting a vote on election day, sure, but buying your morning cup of coffee? I am reminded of my father's experiences as a young foreign service officer in Rotterdam in the early 60's. He would ask a local where he should buy a new suit or some tobacco for his pipe (yes, I know...), and the first response was always: Are you a Catholic or a Protestant? Different denominations patronized different merchants. I expect that this is no longer an issue in Rotterdam today, and I expect that this is a relief for everyone involved.

That said, as a Republican living in NYC, it gets really old really fast to learn that every establishment you would like to patronize either disagrees with your politics or, worse, goes out of its way to insult yours (Mud Truck, I'm looking at you). This election cycle has given me a whole new list of places where I will no longer do business. I hope the proprietors think it was worth it.

cjstephens at 2:37PM on 11/07/08

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