Politics on the menu? Some restaurant owners willing to take a stand

Jess Fleming, Pioneer Press
·5 min read
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When The Nook and Shamrock’s took Matt Birk’s name off of a menu item in an attempt to stay out of politics, social media commenters had a lot to say about it.

Mainly, people were supportive of the restaurant’s right to be neutral. But many folks who agree with the former Vikings player turned candidate for lieutenant governor — who recently gained national attention for comments about women and abortion — were offended by the move, promising to take their business elsewhere.

Business owners wade in to the political realm all the time — just look at any PAC or politician’s donor list. But when a restaurant tries to tackle anything remotely related to politics, many customers have loud opinions about it.

So why would a restaurant owner take a stand on something? For some, they deem the issue so important they don’t want to stay on the sidelines.

Others say — as The Nook and Shamrock’s attempt to be apolitical demonstrates — that no matter what, they can’t win, so they might as well put their money toward things that matter to them.

For Tara Coleman, owner of Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit and Chip’s Clubhouse, both on St. Paul’s Snelling Avenue, it’s the former.

Coleman and Chip’s co-owner Gina Mangiameli were so outraged when Roe v. Wade was overturned that they decided to do something. They held a sold-out barbecue July 31 that they called the “Fight Back Fundraiser” and asked other local businesses to contribute.

“I don’t follow politics; I’m not usually very political,” Coleman said. “I’m not the kind of person to push my views on someone else. But this particular issue is very personal to me. … So Gina and I reached a place where we said, ‘Let’s do something good; let’s put a day of business on hold and raise money for what we think is right and what is personal to us.’”

Since the event was announced, Coleman said, she’s had a handful of people try to get her to cancel the event or change her mind regarding reproductive rights. But Coleman hasn’t budged.

“The way I look at it is, I’m treating this as a way to reach like-minded people and invite them in to support a cause that I feel so strongly about,” Coleman said. “I think it’s a very personal issue. If you choose that you don’t like abortions, I would never go to your house or place of business and say you’re wrong.”

Proceeds from the event will benefit Planned Parenthood and Our Justice, which helps house and transport women who are seeking abortions.

On the other side of the political divide, Brian Rubenzer, owner of Jameson’s Irish Bar in West St. Paul, is vocal about his conservative political views on social media and recently said he would add a burger named after Birk in early August.

Rubenzer told Alpha News that he had been planning to add the burger before The Nook/Shamrock’s flap to thank Birk for his support of the restaurant during the pandemic.

Tim Niver, owner of Saint Dinette and Mucci’s in St. Paul, helped out with Coleman and Mangiameli’s event and a two-day, sold-out chef’s potluck funding the same issue that’s being hosted by Hai Hai restaurant in Minneapolis.

Niver said his restaurants are open to everyone and he welcomes people of all political stripes. But he also expects people to respect the fact that he has his own views.

“For years, my programming as a white person and a business person was to stay neutral, because I needed everyone to like me,” Niver said. “At this point, I do not give a (expletive). There are too many things to be picky about and have personal opinions about.”

The issue of reproductive rights is something Niver said is important to him — and to his family.

“I have a mom, I have two older sisters and I have a wife,” Niver said. “Every one of them wants their reproductive rights. What am I to do as a husband, father, son, brother? Am I going to choose the guest who is telling me what I should believe when I stay out of their beliefs? No. I’m with my family on this.”

Niver said he’s gotten pushback from a few people — and even a letter hand-delivered to the restaurant’s mailbox that included photos of fetuses. He’s not deterred, though.

“Really, I’m just a person who owns a restaurant and is trying to put the best vibes out there that I can,” he said.

Jason Hansen, co-owner of Estelle and Mario’s restaurants in St. Paul, is also participating in both events and said it’s the first time he’s put his name on something like this. He’s given food or money to help causes before and has a Black Lives Matter sign on the front of the restuarant, though.

And Hansen doesn’t much care if potential patrons don’t like his views.

“If people are offended by that and don’t want to support women’s rights and don’t want to come to my restaurant, that’s fine,” he said.

In general, Hansen said, he prefers to help out quietly, but in this case, he was willing to put his name on the fliers and promote the events on social media.

“It’s probably better from a business standpoint to stay neutral on these things,” Hansen said. But when it comes down to important issues, we are willing to take a stand.”

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