<p>An Oak Bluffs restaurant that served President Obama last week has been thrust into a storm of criticism on social media following a dispute between the restaurant owners and several patrons.</p>
An Oak Bluffs restaurant that served President Obama last week has been thrust into a storm of criticism on social media following a dispute between the restaurant owners and several patrons.
Medina Tyson Jett, a Connecticut resident and longtime Vineyard summer visitor, claims that she and two friends were treated rudely because of their race Friday night by the owners of Jimmy Seas Pan Pasta on Kennebec avenue. She has filed a civil rights complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office.
William Craffey, co-owner of Jimmy Seas, acknowledged he lost his temper, but said his actions were not racially motivated.
The incident caused a social media firestorm after Ms. Jett posted a short video on Facebook that shows Mr. Craffey cursing and ordering patrons out of the restaurant. No reference is made to race in the video clip.
According to Ms. Jett and others, patrons dining at the restaurant asked if a door or window could be opened because the heat inside was stifling. When they were told nothing could be done, Ms. Jett suggested she would write an online review of the restaurant and was confronted by restaurant co-owner Lisa Brown-Huff.
“I was stunned,” Ms. Jett told the Gazette Monday, recounting events. “She pulled out a wad of cash and slammed a $100 bill in front of me.”
A few moments later, she said Mr. Craffey came out and opened a window. But she said he also suggested that she have her picture taken with him in the event that she did post a negative online review. According to Ms. Jett, she asked why Mr. Craffey was singling out her group, who are African American, of all the people who complained.
“He just started screaming,” Ms. Jett said.
Mr. Craffey later apologized in several posts on social media, saying he was tired after working long days this month. “I didn’t handle it well, I should have handled it better,” he told the Gazette. “Does that make me a racist? No.” He noted that the video did not show what preceded his outburst.
“These women were yelling and screaming,” Mr. Craffey said. “The only part [of the video] they posted was the part where the women weren’t yelling and screaming.”
Ms. Jett denied the accusation that she screamed at Mr. Craffey.
“I certainly did not,” Ms. Jett said. “I was trying to defuse the situation. I did not want to make a scene. Never did I yell at him.”
A spokesman for Attorney General Maura Healey said this week that the civil rights complaint is being reviewed, as are all complaints received by the AG.
Comments
The customer has the right to
Lisa robinson Nyc/oak bluffs maThe customer has the right to request forthe air be turned on. The owner of the establishment needs a course in how to treat the public if you are working for the public. Throwing money and screaming should never happen especially fowl language.
I haven't seen the video, but
Kendall Bridges Reid Oak Bluffs, MAI haven't seen the video, but everyone is entitled to a bad day. No, that does not make him a racist. Now if he made racist remarks, that would play differently. Maybe, just maybe, he was actually having a BAD day. Trump has everyone boiling over with hatred. There are racists in the world., I've been confronted and have overheard horrific things. But this seems to be one person having a bad day, and handling things badly.
That's not accepting for
Sheila Henderson Bowie Maryland dThat's not accepting for Anyone to mistreat people! That's NOT okay because when You accept bad racist behavior you're condoning it. We're not third class citizens !
Kendall, just because doesn't
Garfield Trout Windsor CTKendall, just because doesn't use the words doesn't mean there aren't racial undertones. His wife referring to them as you people, him mentioning black children being bussed in when he lived in Simsbury, and wanting to have their pictures taken with him so people can see what the people that wrote review all suggest that. However, those in denial will choose not to see it that way. I am in the restaurant business and have had many bad days. There is never a reason to treat any customer in that manner. Never.
This appears to be several
Bill Paradis North Stonington, CTThis appears to be several people having a bad day. The customer, unsatisfied with the luxuriousness of her dining experience, threatens to use social media to demean the establishment. This is an antagonistic approach to an unfortunate situation. It would naturally elicit a defensive response - Yelp reviews are notoriously inaccurate and ego-driven, but still have enormously disproportionate effects. The owner, having endured the stress of entertaining the President not long prior, was clearly on his last nerve, and he was probably sweating too, and struggling to get his AC working with a restaurant full of people who were taxing his capacity simply because Barack Obama - not a professional restaurant critic - had recently graced his dining room. He and his wife responded with inappropriate and counterproductive methods. Racism is not confined to a single skin color, but neither is a sense of entitlement. There are millions of people, in America and all over the globe, who would be grateful for the opportunity to enjoy paying someone to cook their food. This is bad behavior on all sides that reflects a level of selfishness and ego that is becoming pervasive in American society, and abetted by the unfiltered access to an unvetted audience via the internet. This is bad behavior on all sides, and everyone involved should examine their response, and find room for improvement in themselves, before pointing accusatory fingers at others. The days and nights have cooled since then. Lets hope emotions will, too.
Ahah !! A note of reason and
Albie NewburyportAhah !! A note of reason and commonsense.
Well said, Bill!!!
Steve FalmouthWell said, Bill!!!
Well said, thank you.
Slater MVWell said, thank you.
Well said, Bill. I am
Kathleen VHWell said, Bill. I am assuming that many of the people who wrote comments were not there to witness the whole situation. I agree it was bad behavior on the part of both parties but I feel I can not make a judgement one way or the other since I don't know the full story.
Amen.
Totes McPolar ChilmarkAmen.
There are lots of assumptions
OB_Resident Oak BluffsThere are lots of assumptions being made by you in that comment, Bill. I wasn't there either, so I don't want to make too many assumptions about what happened. However, one eyewitness has essentially corroborated the complaining diner's account of what happened, so there's that. In addition, regardless of who may have been right or wrong here, smart and prudent business owners in the service industry recognize that "the customer is always right" (even if they really aren't), and this business owner seems not to have taken that to heart. The business owner's simple apology (warranted or not) could have diffused this situation.
Well said and accurate.
Pearl New JerseyWell said and accurate.
Very well said
Ronniej Waldorf, MDVery well said
Thank you, for writing so
Jean EdgartownThank you, for writing so eloquently, what many, including me, have been thinking.
Here here fantastic!!!!! Best
Lucy MvHere here fantastic!!!!! Best response ever!!!!
I wish I could have said it
Eileen Hamblin Melrose, MAI wish I could have said it as well. Thank you., Bill!
This is just an islander
BS OBThis is just an islander working hard who just snapped after a long Summer. Not acceptable but understandable. If he singled her out because of her ethnicity, that would be another story.
Here we go Racist, Racist,
Jeffrey Springfield Newington, CTHere we go Racist, Racist, Racist! Next thing you know BLMs will be marching again on the vineyard this time in front of his place!
How, how, how, - she claims that she and two friends were treated rudely because of their race then filed a civil rights complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office? Because of their race?
It's interesting that you
SteveF ChilmarkIt's interesting that you immediately go to a Black Lives Matter scenario. I think THAT says a lot right there. What, for example is wrong with Black Lives Matter? And why would their marching anywhere bother you? I agree that both sides seem to have lost their cool, but the larger discussion of race IS important and white attitudes are evidenced in your very remarks.
If the restaurant was too hot
Sue Brown CTIf the restaurant was too hot, why didn't they just leave.
Um, because she asked the
OB_Resident Oak BluffsUm, because she asked the restaurant owner to remedy the problem that all of the other diners were having, apparently. Moreover, I think she probably wanted to say that she dined where the Obamas had dined a few nights earlier. The incident happened when she asked the business owner for the problem to be fixed. It didn't happened after the diner had been sitting and stewing about it.
Because opening a window is
Josiah S. Vineyard HavenBecause opening a window is usually something you do when it's too hot.
She's paying to eat in a
Carol formerly ChilmarkShe's paying to eat in a restaurant. It's a business. A request to open a window or otherwise modify the temperature to something comfortable is an eminently reasonable request. Yelp exists, and you'd think any businessperson (or waitstaff) with a measurable IQ would simply smile and say, "Yes, it is warm. Let me see what we can do." And then open the window.
I just left MV - was there for the annual pilgrimage to see family. I now live in the very congested SF Bay Area, and I certainly see bad behavior here - but the general level of rudeness, unnecessary aggression, anger and unpleasantness was eye-popping. Driving up to Our Market in OB from VH, a pedestrian crossing in the crosswalk gave me the stinkeye and jabbed his finger at the sign - as I was slowing to a stop (not speeding) a good 40 feet away. Drivers who are enraged with traffic that they endure for - three blocks. Or a mile.
Yeah, nice beaches - we have nicer ones here. Warm water, sure - not as warm (or clean) as Hawaii. Boy, if I didn't have family there, I'd never go back. What an ugly place.
If you read reviews on yelp,
SamanthaIf you read reviews on yelp, trip advisor, etc. you will see that there is a history of rude behavior to customers in general. I wonder if POTUS liked the place.
This is interesting. If there
RG OBThis is interesting. If there is a pattern of rudeness to customers regardless of race, then it would be hard to call this incident racially motivated, but rather weak business owners unable too control their tempers when things get hot. Rude staff may play well at Durgin Park/Boston, but not on the Vineyard.
The fact that the proprietor
Karen Torrence Oak BluffsThe fact that the proprietor has acknowledged poor judgement is Not an excuse. Indiscreet racism is still RACISM. Making stereotypical statements like" you are trying to get a free meal"....is low-key racist. It wouldn't have been said to a Caucasian. Slapping money on the counter to support your view is unacceptable. Telling the patron that Obama dealt w/ the temperature last week....knowing that temperature does change from day to day.... is just a display of how the owner truly felt.
No excuses, no explanations. Apology is noted...but this kind of behavior is not going to be tolerated. RESPECT was never displayed by the proprietor. Your act was cowardly & insensitive. This will be dealt with & know
THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT... FOCUS to:
Keep the Peace
Judging from the reviews on
Cathy Beckwith Boston, MAJudging from the reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp, William Craffey has had several bad days. He is not cut out for the business. At all.
I agree totally Cathy. It all
LC Martin Brockton, MAI agree totally Cathy. It all comes down to customer service with or without the racist behavior!!
Only a few people know the
Bob EdgartownOnly a few people know the real story here but I have seen this one played before. A black person behaves badly to a white person and the white person reacts and now is a racist. Black people can be bad people and black people can be racist as well. Hillary and Obama have added fuel to this racist fire across the country and it needs to stop. The action here of Ms. Jett to go crying to mommy state does not help either. I am sure both sides have some to blame and time to move on.
"Having a bad day" was does
Donovan Butler Sr"Having a bad day" was does that mean if your in customer service and business?
After reading this story and
Martin Brody EdgartownAfter reading this story and all the comments my thoughts are everybody is soooo entitled. The poor princess who was too hot and threatened to post a bad review on web if owner did not cool her off. Predictably everyone else commenting is accusing the owner as being a racist. Others comment on subtle racism displayed. Do you understand how vicious the word racist is to a white person? If the owner had used the N- word to his customer she would have felt as he probably felt being called a racist. That is a very powerful, accusatory word that is thrown around with way too much regularity. Seems to me the owner is a jerk, period. Simply because this woman an her friends are people of color does not mean the owner reacted as he did because of her race. My guess he would have been as nasty to a blue person as well. To accuse someone she had a brief encounter with as racist is irresponsible. This was a slight and real racism is much more hurtful.
The problem here is that he
Wanda CTThe problem here is that he was not rude to anyone else- Many patrons complained about the heat; the owner did not yell at them. He singled the people of color out and caused a scene. In this case, he as the owner should have conceded to his customers- no matter how he felt about their request. That Mis how he stays in business. The customers have a right to their opinion and to post somethings they so choose. The actions of his wife and him demonstrated disrespect ( throwing money at patrons) accusing them of trying to get a free meal- at no time was paying for their meal an issue for the ladies. I Live in CT near where the owner says he grew up. He referenced the fact that " poor black kids from the inner city" were bussed into his school, which does not speak to whether or not he is racist, since he had nothing to do with that decision. If his tirade had been directed at all those who complained it could perhaps be chalked up to a bad day, but the direction of his actions appear to have racial overtones.
Curious what made this
Gina Menemsha/nycCurious what made this customer stay in such an uncomfortable read hot restaurant in the first place?? It's not as if anyone had a gun to her head.. Ridiculous drama on both sides.. & to press a case to the AG is truly over the top..
None of the commenters were
deshandra brown mvNone of the commenters were there. Poor customer service won't help a business that depends on keeping customers happy and coming back. I do not know the owner of the restaurant or the women who were dining there. An accusation of racism is not to be taken lightly, and just because the owner may have acted inappropriately towards a customer, 'playing the race card' doesn't cut it if you are offended by someone's rude conduct towards you. I'd expect other diners would be willing to come forward and speak in support of these diners if racist remarks were made. Seriously, how long do you think any business with racist practices would last in such a diversified town as Oak Bluffs? This Island is about the only place on the planet where one can say that racial harmony does exist, while not perfectly, but better than 99% of the rest of the world.
For the commenters supporting
Mike EdgartownFor the commenters supporting the Owners actions, have you read the other reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor? This is not the first time the owner has responded this was and in fact it appears that the co-owner is worse. The owners have also responded to those reviews by clearly stating to customers who had a bad experience, not to come back. There is a pattern here. For a restauranteur to speak to patrons like he did or put $100 bills down like she did is inexcusable.
Racism is not always as overt
Terri Oak BluffsRacism is not always as overt as using the "N" word. Whether or not Ms Jett should have threatened to write a negative review on social media Is a separate issue. Her words, while not the best h could havechosen, should not have triggered a restaurant owner to resort to using "dog whistle" language-- the subtle coding of racist language. " You people " is such a term. Throwing money at patrons to get them to leave implies that they are of such an inferior socioeconomic status that 100 dollars would be sufficient to make them go away, literally and figuratively.
It seems that this owner has had other incidents with patrons that indicate that his personality is not well- suited to the service industry. Perhaps he will take this opportunity for self reflection and attitude adjustment towards all who spend money in his restaurants.
It was the busiest day of the
Wow Oak BluffsIt was the busiest day of the year in Oak Bluffs at the end of an exceptionally busy season. The owners/management are about to get a crash course in the power of social media and how to treat customers. I bet they never treat anyone like this again.
Remember, the customer is always right, even if they are wrong. Give them a free appetizers, open a window, and keep your thriving business. Act aggressive, make borderline comments, and you will loose it. Good luck.
Read the reviews posted on
Hailey Lawson OBRead the reviews posted on Yelp from prior months. The owners seem to have a history of having bad days. This wasn't a one time blow out, but fits a pattern of misbehavior.
Racism or not, social media
Chris ObRacism or not, social media reviews or not, the business owner has an obligation to treat it's paying customers with civility. Too often I have seen this entitlement in business here. It seems that the owners could have handled the situation better. Never stoop to yelling at your customers, if they are that bad simply ask them to leave, professionally.
Add new comment