Bushwick Coffee Shop Whose Owner Posted Antisemitic Remarks Has Closed

Anti-Semitism and racism take on many forms and have many faces. Sometimes, honest errors or a slip of the tongue occurs. We can’t be held accountable for every thought that enters our minds, but we can be held accountable for what we say and do. That is why people apologize. This, unfortunately, does not seem to have been the case in the Bushwick Coffee Shop, located at 203 Wilson Ave, and that might be why the owner has closed shop and moved on.

Just before the Jewish High Holidays, the coffee shop’s owner,Michael Avila, posted this diatribe on his Instagram account.

“Ok, what I REALLY want to talk about is how to consider the Jews (oh yes, let’s talk about it) who want a piece or all of Bushwick. My stubborn Bushwick-oroginal neighbor is a hoarder and a mess- true.. and he’s refused selling his building for lots and lots of money. His building and treatment of it makes the hood look much less attractive and I would like him to either clean up or move along. BUT NOT be bought out by Jews however, who in this case (and many cases separate- SORRY!) function via greed and dominance. A laymen’s terms version of a story would simply be- buying buildings, cutting apartments in half, calling them luxurious, and ricing them at double. Bushwick IS rising and progressing, and bettering, but us contributing or just appreciating this rise and over all positive change do not want to be lumped with greedy infiltrators. Two jewish young men with generally rude behavior (one more than the other) ordered coffee, and explained how they were looking for this neighbor of mine. I knew what was up and asked where are they visiting from. When asked where I’m from I firmly and confidently said “HERE. This is my neighborhood, it’s where I come from.” They began to lighten up and almost kiss a** a bit. I openly said “looking to buy the building?” They said yes and I explained how this man has been asked to sell for large amounts of money many times- which is true. So I said “Good luck with that. But if you’re going to come here ya gotta be nice”. If you know me you’ll know what my eyes looked like. You know!- when they have the look of death within them. They one guy smiled. And they both knew where I stood. The one who had a slightly more aggressive behavior let that go fast after our initial meeting n which they experienced my confidence… and then at the end gave me his card and asked if I’d contact him when I see my neighbor. He said.. and I quote “I’ll treat you right” Whatever exactly that meant. But I did say if you come here you have to be good. We’ll see what happens from here.”

Rather retract or apologize, he followed it up with Facebook posts in which he refers to Jewish people as “A problematic group”, who in “Typical Illuminati form, have infiltrated the neighborhood, quietly and unfairly/greedily”. A disturbing note is that these posts collected a large amount of ‘likes’ before any form of retraction was offered.

more: http://jpupdates.com/2015/01/08/bushwick-coffee-shop-whose-owner-posted-antisemitic-remarks-closed/

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And another one gone, another gone, another one bites the dust!