A San Francisco restaurant is facing backlash after its staff denied service to three police officers. The owners of the restaurant said the eatery didn’t feel comfortable allowing the police officers to eat there because the presence of their weapons goes against the establishment’s “safe space” ideology. However, the owners of the restaurants are walking back the original decision to boot the cops.
On Friday, three San Francisco police officers frequented the Hilda and Jesse restaurant – that offers “Breakfast without boundaries.” The police officers were seated, but shortly after, the “staff felt uncomfortable with the presence of their multiple weapons.”
The police officers were then “politely asked them to leave,” according to the restaurant.
The owners of Hilda and Jesse reportedly issued a response that said, “Our restaurant is a safe space – particularly for queer and BIPOC individuals.”
The brunch spot wrote on social media that they “respect the San Francisco Police Department and are grateful for the work they do.” The owners – Kristina Liedags Compton and Rachel Sillcocks – said the cops are welcome into the restaurant “when they are off duty, out of uniform, and without their weapons.”
According to KNTV, the San Francisco Police Officers Association issued a statement on the refusal of service.
“Three foot-beat officers looking to eat where they patrol are treated without any tact or class by this establishment,” the organization stated. “Fortunately, there are plenty of restaurants that don’t discriminate and will welcome our officers working to try and keep all San Franciscans safe.”
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott pointed out how the restaurant’s refusal to accommodate cops hurts community policing.
“Community engagement is a core principle of SFPD’s 21st century police reforms, and we are intentional about asking our officers to support local businesses and get to know those they’re sworn to safeguard,” Scott wrote on Twitter.
“The San Francisco Police Department stands for safety with respect, even when it means respecting wishes that our officers and I find discouraging and personally disappointing,” the police chief said. “I believe the vast majority of San Franciscans welcome their police officers, who deserve to know that they are appreciated for the difficult job we ask them to do — in their uniforms — to keep our neighborhoods and businesses safe.”
There was local and national backlash against the restaurant. “Online reviewers voiced their disappointment by giving the restaurant 1-star reviews on several websites including Yelp,” according to NBC News Bay Area.
The owners of Hilda and Jesse issued an apology on Sunday night.
“We made a mistake and apologize for the unfortunate incident on Friday when we asked members of the San Francisco Police Department to leave our restaurant,” the owners of the Hilda and Jesse restaurant wrote on Instagram.
“We are grateful to all members of the force who work hard to keep us safe, especially during these challenging times,” the post continued. “We hope this will be a teachable moment for us as we repair and continue to build bridges with the SFPD. These are stressful times, and we handled this badly.”
I wonder if they would ask the police to leave if a riot was breaking out in their restaurant. I think the police should start to publish a list of establishments where they are not welcome. And then stay out of those establishments REGARDLESS of the reason requested. EMT’s could piggyback on the list saying that they are not comfortable working on staff or customers without police protection. The tune might change quickly.
Great idea! Apparently they require me to have at least “15 characters “ but I said it all in the first two words. Again, thanks for your post.
I don’t even go to San Francisco anymore much less eat there, BUT the still sane people in San Francisco should put out a plea for a BOYCOTT of this stupid restaurant!
Sane? San Francisco? An oxymoron if ever there was one.
Now SF’s “Finer Residents” know where they can go and not worry about Law Enforcement stopping their efforts in having Hilda & Jessie, “Share Their Wealth”
Apology not accepted! It’s all about the money. You didn’t expect the backlash because you are located in liberal capital San Francisco, we’ll surprise surprise!
The SFPD should all resign and go elsewhere. The good citizens can call social services or the suicide hotline in an emergency.
How stupid can you get?
Hey Florida is offering a $5,000.00 hiring bonus to police officers that move there and sign on with local law enforcement.
My family and I will NEVER visit SF again …. remember Kate Steinle
Are liberals really SO stupid they don’t realize that criminals don’t give a DAMN about their “No Firearms” policy?
They’re CRIMINALS!!
a ‘no firearms policy means everyone will be unarmed – EXCEPT CRIMINALS!!
Yes, they are that stupid, Tom!
A safe space in this day and age isn’t a defenseless space – Incredibly naive stupid ideology
All San Fran LEOs should steer clear of this idiotic restaurant, especially when they are called 911 in order to report a robbery, shooting, etc. I say let them call their local lawyers at “Drink, Gamble & Hump” to save them!
I’m sure if there was a disturbance or robbery then the police would be welcome with their guns! Maybe the police should boycott this restaurant if thee is a incident.
To the good people of San Francisco I say it’s time to take back your city. This action by an establishment shows how stupid the people in power are. Time to take back your beautiful city and restore it to its old grandeur.
Crazy how these idiots treat the cops, but when trouble brews they come running to them for help. Disgusting is what their behavior towards law enforcement is.
Safe space = open season for criminals, no resistance !!! Use your brains sheeple!
Well, now all of the criminals in San Francisco know that their will never be any police protection or any other level of protection at the Hilda and Jesse Restaurant! I certainly hope their patrons feel much safer now in their “safe space!”
Police should decline to provide any protection for the business, or the owners. Let the clam-lickers fend for themselves!
I would not eat there , and i hope they do not have to call the Police . Might take some time for them to get their. Best they can do is CLOSE the Restaurant .
* HAVE NOT BEEN TO sf IN YEARS NOR WILL i GO THEIR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. TO MANY LIBS.
I guarantee you that this restaurant will now get robbed and can you IMAGINE the discussion as to what to do?
Serve the bitches right if they end up in the unemployment line.
“Stressful times, we handled this badly”. True, but not good enough. These POS libtards think because they live in Cali they can act out any way they want. They didn’t count on the SFPD complaining, and the resultant backlash.
They think its stressful. Imagine the stress these Police Officers put up with anywhere, anytime, on or off duty.
And these restaurant owners think their delusional world view is acceptable by everone.
The Police in this country are under attack by the libtards, and I for one am very happy to see some of them complain about how they’ve been treated by some of these idiots.
Someone suggested starting a list of businesses who disrespect LEO’S and post same for additional listings so they can be boycotted. LEO’S need to fight back, and they need help doing that.
Thank God I live in Florida with sanity regarding law enforcement!! San Fran is the very LAST place I would ever consider visiting – and this restaurant’s response just confirms that belief!
If restaurant need police in near future tell them to wait till we go home and change clothe and leave our guns so we dont affend any one
If restaurant need police in near future tell them to wait till we go home and change clothe and leave our guns so we dont affend any one.
To the liberal moron pansy owners of this restaurant: Let’s see how “safe” your safe place is when the SF Looters and Burners show up, and the armed LEOs don’t. The L’s and B’s are on their way.
“We are grateful to all members of the force who work hard to keep us safe, especially during these challenging times,” the post continued. “We hope this will be a teachable moment for us as we repair and continue to build bridges with the SFPD. These are stressful times, and we handled this badly.”
Ya think? Spoken like a true forked-tongue liberal politician. HOW can the LEOs protect you w/o their weapons? Criminals will have them, and don’t give a damn about your asinine rules and wimpy “uncomfortable” staff. Your staff will get you two morons killed.
“…A teachable moment for us as we as we repair and continue to build bridges with the SFPD….”? How can you morons even speak those words, when you just burned the damned bridge ? Liberal idiots at their best.
I wish I could have thought of this opinion. The quoted words by these pitifully stupid liberal women in your writing tells it just as it is!! What is it with Californians?? Has the fog clouded their reasoning??