Group of 25 Black people waited two hours to get in a Wild Wing Cafe restaurant in North Charleston
This place has had MANY complaints of the same type since this happened in August of 2013. Who was it that created the chicken wing concept again?
Once again we are witnessing the true power of social media. You are hearing about this story because one man posted about his experience on Facebook at a Wild Wing Cafe in North Charleston, SC, where his friends and family suffered some “1960’s” style discrimination.
A group of 25 Black people waited two hours to get in a Wild Wing Cafe restaurant in North Charleston, South Carolina, only to be asked to leave almost immediately after entering the restaurant because a white customer felt �threatened� by their presence. One member of the group, Michael Brown, took his complaint to Facebook when the corporate office of the restaurant did not call him back after placing several calls.
Mr Brown says he was celebrating his cousin’s last day in Charleston last month at Wild Wing Cafe in North Charleston. He says after his party of 25 peacefully waited two hours for a (read the rest of the story by clicking “Next” above or below< table, the shift manager told them there was a “situation.”
She said “there’s a situation where one of our customers feels threatened by your party, so she asked us not to seat you in our section, which totally alarmed all of us because we’re sitting there peaceably for two hours,” explains Brown. “Obviously, if we were causing any conflict, we would have been ejected out of the place hours before.”
Brown says while he was talking to the shift manager, someone in his group began videotaping the conversation. Brown says that’s when the manager became upset and refused to seat them. “I asked her I want to be clear with you,” says Brown. “I said so you’re telling me I have to leave. She said I have a right to deny you service. I said so you’re asking me to leave because you’re upset because he was recording you after we’ve waited for two hours, and after you’ve already pretty much discriminated on us, and she answered yes.”
Brown told WNEM TV 5 news that several calls were made to the corporate office in Mt. Pleasant, but he says they did not receive a callback, so he posted about his experience on Facebook.
His Facebook post read, “I will never go to Wild wings cafe in N. Chs again! We (Party of 25 family and friends) waited for 2hrs, patiently and were refused service because another customer (White) felt threatened by us.
This type of racial discrimination is unacceptable and we have to put a STOP TO IT. The manager looked me dead in the face and said she was refusing us service because she had a right to and simply she felt like it. DO NOT SUPPORT THIS ESTABLISHMENT… PLEASE SHARE THIS POST… We need your help.”
Once his post went live and began to circulate around Facebook, he finally got a response from Wild Wings Cafe corporate office. ” We got alerted through social media, so we always encourage our customers to respond to us or to comment on our social media pages,” says Debra Stokes, the chief marketing officer for Wild Wing Cafe.
“We had a conversation,” says Stokes. “It was a really good conversation. He and many of his family and friends were there about a month ago, and they are regular customers of ours. So, they were having a going away party, and they just didn’t receive the experience that they have come to know and love.”
Brown says an apology was offered and a free meal for the entire group, but he says he’s not completely satisfied.
“We weren’t coming here for a free meal. When we came there that night, we were coming to patronize the business. This is not a situation where you can just give us a free meal and everything is ok because it’s deeper than that.” See an employee of Wild Wings’ different account of the events >HERE<
327 comments
I could have told you that Wild Wing Cafe hires a certain type of people with a style of thinking that is not mainstream. If you want to define that style of thinking as racist then so be it.
UNBELIVEABLE THAT THIS STILL EXISTS IN 2013 AMERICA…..
It saddens me to say that I am not surprised, by the injustice coming out of North Carolina. under the terrorist tea party branch of the Republican Party. Jim Crow laws once again rule. from vote registration, to a woman’s right to choose, we know best. as far as the restaurant/Wild wings, stop patronizing. Support businesses that respect you.
Well, Mr. Brown, you can count me in as one whose family will never go there again. I live just outside of North Charleston. I am shocked at this story and hope the publicity really opens their eyes as to what they did!!! And–yes—I am white.
What about the assumption here that the “white” person was uncomfortable because of skin color? I think there is more to this story and I just can’t see a manager kicking them out because someone is “uncomfortable” with no further explanation. The fact that the people in this group normally go to the establishment with no issues I think says a lot, they have come to expect great service and have not been hated on in the past. Again, something is being looked over… this is not to say that racism isn’t real but in this case “uncomfortable” doesn’t cut it for any logical human being.
This is 2013. No wonder I never ventured to Charleston. Discrimination cannot be tolerated. This day and age, we use our heads. Social media can bring a company down. Buffalo Wild Wings lost a customer here. So sad! Free meal, how about an open Apology to the Brown family, and fire the manager. Apparently she didn’t need the job based on her behavior!
Talk about racist companies.
Reminiscent of Woolworth’s lunch counter in the last century. This situation is intolerable as the manager and allegedly wronged customer are both intolerant! A situation such as the one described should be brought to the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice. The bigots and tea party must be held responsible for the blatant discrimination and violation of federal laws. President Johnson would not have let these malcontents get away with flaunting the constitution. People are all in your face when THEY perceive THEIR gun rights have been violated. But when it comes to THEIR violation/denial of the rights of others, THEY (tea party/ bigots) are copacetic with the situation.
naggers will b naggers in chappell voice lol always wanting attention omg get over ur selfs as they would say they was probably turned up. and dont go to wild wings no one cares lol aint nobody loosing sleep over it… have a good day im going to eat at wildwings YUM!!!!
1. Not that I am not angry about this, but the color that counts is green. Send a message to boycott Buffalo Wild Wings in all states.
2. Get educated on business ownership, pull your talent, funds & resources together to open your own restaurant/businesses and patronize them. Don’t be jealous, expect a discount, be rude to the guest, not open on time, serve inferior product or tear down the establishment once it is opened.
3. Continue to use social media as way to notify everyone of the continued discrimination, as well as announce quality businesses to support. When you find a good business spread the word and encourage others to support it.
4. Do what Antoinette said in a previous post ” First, I strongly recommend calling out the conservative media, Fox News and conservative hosts publicly. Tell them you are on to their race-base scare tactics, and you will not tolerate it. Secondly, I would send numerous Tweets to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and inform him this scare tactic will cause the GOP to lose in 2016. Tweet him at @Reince. You may think to yourselves, �They don�t care.� Believe me. They do take this seriously. They know in the next few decades minorities will be the majority. I�ve been in the political game for years. Trust me on this one. – See more at: https://radiofacts.com/blacks-asked-leave-south-carolina-restaurant-white-customer-felt-threatened-video/#comments”
5. Educate your self on politics in your state, county, township or city. Register and then VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION, no matter what roadblock or suppression tactic they use!
The 2014 Mid-term elections are so important. Learn from the results of failing to vote in 2010.
That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. If you feel that strongly about being around black folks, keep you white butt at home locked behind closed doors. I am white and have no problem being around black folks. I grew up with them and my very best friend is black so put your big girl panties on and get over yourself. After all you are only a speck in this world. I can’t believe people are so narrow minded that they can’t even eat in the same restaurant as black folks. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the main reason why I never travel,visit or patronize anything in the south (unless I’m compted)..I’m born and raised in NY..I’ve traveled extensively in my line of work but I’ve never experienced any blatant direct racial discrimination that I’m aware of however I’ve always believed that ppl in the deep south ie: (Alabama,Mississippi,Louisiana,Tennessee,Kentucky,the Carolinas,Georgia to name a few) still hv residents who are 65 and over meaning they were teenagers during the race riots and most likely remember Jim Crow laws,fire hoses,bombings,lynchings,German Shepherds,segregation,injustice,corruption etc..,and they had to make a choice at that time to co-exist with their neighbors,they were either racist bigots or probably hated by their white counterparts for going against the grain..I’m sure that 50% of the ppl who hv grown up and lived in these dangerously prejudicial locations were racists & had to unwillingly comply with the civil rights movements of the late 60s to live comfortably with their white counterparts and have those deeply rooted racist thoughts today but know that the world is so self conscious of outright racism that they suppress their true feelings in public situations.Screw the south,there’s prejudice everywhere in this country but why live in places where its outright blatantly exposed and then be surprised?N.Charleston SC?Come on man,hicktown USA..Doesn’t shock me at all..Ppl of color need to remain diligent,progressive,pursue education,own property and businesses,be a decision maker and root out these racists ignorant idiots..South,lmao
Sounds to me like we’re only hearing one side of the story. He’s the only one who’s saying what happened, and how do we know that large group sat there for 2 hours. Without making any noise or causing some type of disturbance. I live in sc, and I can tell you it is NOT always like this. I can’t tell you how many times i’ve gone in a store or gas station and felt scared because there are people in there acting suspicious and cracked out. People need to quit playing victim
okay…soooo is this race baiting, playing the race card or my favorite reverse racism? or maybe we should blame this on obama? because racism OBVIOUSLY doesnt exist anymore *sarcasm*
This is too much. If someone sneezes loudly now ppl might feel threatened? Sheez! I’ll eat by black folks. White ppl, quit being scary!
Things like this will never be published in the paper, so thank goodness for Facebook.
No, an apology and free meal won’t fix this. And while my first instinct is to pass around a petition to boycott, that will probably just create more division. Certainly WW has to know that this type of behavior is not acceptable – and like the kids in Newtown belong to all of us – the group thrown out is part of all of us too. Someone needs to sit down with WW management and explain the Civil Rights Act and good management. I sent the article out to everyone I know and I’m posting it.
This is very sad that across our nation we still have to encounter things as such. Me myself as a black single mother of 4. 2 girls an 2 boys. My daughters are some what at advantage over my boys because as young black males they are the ones that are highly statistic. It’s situations like this that empowers hate in our children, therefore my job as a single black mother is extra hard. You are right the answer to this problem is not a free meal but we need justice because people who feel this way needs to know they we”black people” have the exact same rights as they do.
Come on people. I wasn’t there but if a bus pulls up with 25 people the small business isn’t ready for that. First they need to be seated. That means 6-8 tables available at almost the same time so they can order together. Other customers are arriving so you tell them you cant take them,all tables are taken”. A reservation would have been in order. The Kitchen couldnt handle 25 orders at one time The logistics just aren’t here to handle a bus load of people at one time. And it just gets worse from there. I know the black folks are always the victim now.
OK, First, I am white–I will never experience racism on the level many Americans have.
BUT, this was the act of ONE manager. I am sure the manager was not enforcing the policies of the Buffalo Wild Wings corporation (BWW), but the ONLY way to get things changed is to PUNISH the entire company.
You MUST repost to the story to everyone you know. BWW is a favorite for corporate outings, both mid-day and after work–do not allow companies you work for to patronize them. Contact media outlets in your area to ask that they contact local BWW franchises.
This is unacceptable in 2013. Hell, it was unacceptable for all time before, but it happened and the only thing we can do now is to SHOW companies exactly how unacceptable it is today.
“I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.” Dr.King 8/28/63. 50 years on and still a long way to go.
When I don’t like someone eating where I eat I take my food and bounce.
It’s sad how quickly we forgive and forget. Although we’re only 13% of the population, we’re 65% of the buying power in this country. Yet we don’t even realize the power our dollar has on this economy. We still allow them to serve us in the back of the restaurant. Wake up black people!!! If I find that Wild Wing Cafe & Wild Wings here in Charlotte NC are the same I won’t be Patronizing that business ever again.
My question was did they feel threaten because of their race…Or because of their behavior while they was waiting to be seated? Let’s keep it real…I’m so sick of everybody playing the race card!
So dumb, blacks instantly call anything racist. Btw the manager that asked them to leave is white , but the irony is …. wait for wait for it. she is married to a black man and has 2 mix children.Not only that, but the owner of wild wings North Charleston is black. Gj black people on boycotting your own races restaurant of course most of them are too busy listen to lil wayne to bother looking into any details.
As a result of this situation I have not and will NEVER patronize your establishment ANYWHERE!!!!
It doesn’t matter none of y’all bitchass (white) people who are being racist on here were there! You don’t not know what was goin on, we only heard ONE side of the story because if there was another side it would have been told! So shut the hell up, racism still exist….but guess what black people ain’t going NOWWHERE so suck it up an deal with it bitches! #obama
First, I wouldn’ve waited 2 hours to be seated in any restaurant ! They did the right thing and made a complaint to the corp. offices. Racism is alive and well in this country as event after event brings it to light.
I seriously doubt the manager would have given a party of 25 the boot over one diner’s complaint. I don’t care who you are–black or white–nobody’s waiting calm, quiet, and with a smile for two hours. Now, I’m not saying they were cussing and carrying on like some of these bigots have suggested, but I do find it hard to believe that a group of 25 is going to wait patiently for two hours without a few of them growing loud and/or angry. And how does this man even know the complaint(s) came from a white man or woman? No manager would have pointed out the other diner, and I seriously doubt anyone that felt that threatened was walking up to the group to say something. When it really comes down to it, not even Mr. Brown can say with absolute certainty that this was about race. But go ahead, folks, let ignorance and the media divide us.
FUCK WILD WINGS they wings wasn’t that wild anyway.
Just love that New South, owned and operated by James Crow Esq.
I certainly hope this isn’t true but hard to believe but if they left they are just as dumb and ignorant as the ones who kicked them out.
Wow!! It is really sad when ignorance prevails. First off, the person who felt threatened by a group of patrons simply waiting for a table should have left if he was ‘so uncomfortable.’ Then for corporate to simply offer a free meal was an insult to injury. It is far beyond some food. A free meal does not erase the racism exercised by his employee. Measures should be taken to make sure his employees do not participate in unjust discrimination.
I always wanted to try wild wings, but I will never patronize them now. Is this place buffalo wild wings/just wild wings?
This kind of racism will never go away 2013 and this shi still going on.The way you hurt someone is in there pocket band all buffalo wild wing.
File a law suit against the company and make sure that they hire managers who can manage rather than the klan types that are truly racist and need to work only where their kind lives. SUE!!!
Had a man use the N word in my place of work today. I asked him to not speak like that and it was unacceptable to our store. He said, and I quote, “I have been before the Supreme Court twice and successfully defended my right to use that word.” I said, well welcome to my store and my court. If you can’t be kind, I have to ask you to leave. He did. I lost a thousand dollar sale but I smiled all day for it, right here in SC.
Noones suprised, some people are just racist and all around scared of black people. Just a fact of life and its all because of how were portrayed and how “we” as black people portray ourselves.
Nobody here says racism doesn’t exist, because only a blind and deaf fool would actually believe it! But something else needs to be said here. The problem is that people of all races tend to lump each and every race, color, ethnicity, etc. all the time. It hasn’t changed, it’s just more out there than it used to be because it’s the information age. Nothing is going to change, because equality can never happen. When people try to help one race, other races tend to be crapped on for awhile. So get used to it, it’s not going away!! There are race-baiters on every side. There are good and bad in every race, and lately so many people want to focus on the negatives of each race rather than any of the positives. And 1 last thing……how do we even know that the guy putting it on Facebook in the first place was telling the whole truth? We heard one side, let’s hear all sides before snapping to judgments!!
There is a football team in Washington DC called the “Redskins.” Black people play for the team without protest, I’m told.
It happens to white people to. I am white and was visiting Atlanta. My cousin and I went to eat at an ihop. The place was packed with black people. We didn’t think much of it. We were seated. We waited for 30 minutes before the waitress even approached our table. She was so rude. Refused to take our order and then the black security guard came up to our table and offered to walk us to our car. So you know what get over it!!!!!!!!!!
So how is this “1960’s discrimination”/racially motivated especially if they have eaten there multiple times before? What happened, this time as opposed to others, for them to be denied service? Where is the cream filling to this story?
In 2013 this country has not come as far as we should have
Seems to me that the corporate office eventually got involved.However, in addition to offering the entire party a free meal, the next appropriate measure to have been taken by them was to suspend (w/o pay) or fire the shift manager for her actions and willingness to appease the ONE bigoted and racist (apparent) White customer in this situation.In essence, they lost the patronage of TWENTY-FIVE paying customers for the racist feelings of one reject from that 1790s?Please. Common sense (and dollars and cents) should have ruled her actions that evening. Apparently, her own bigotry and racism won out, instead.I see no need in boycotting said establishment other than to demand immediate disciplinary actions against the bigoted & racist shift manager who appears to have gone through this, unscathed.
IF YOU ARE BLACK LIVIN ANYWHERE WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF WHITE PEOPLE,ASIANS, MIDDLE EASTERNERS OR INDIANS YOU WILL HAVE A RACIST EXPERIENCE JUST YOU WAIT N SEE.DONT EVER LOOSE SITE THAT RACISM IS HERE MORE THAN EVER CAUSE YOU HAVE MORE THAN WHITES THAT HATE US.
All people are allowed to have feelings and opinions. get over yourselves. And it’s not racism, just life. Life goes on.
I am completely appalled with some of the comments on this article. “Rowdy, uncivilized.” As someone who actually knows the character of at least 10 of the people who were discriminated against, I can personally tell you that this was a church going group that had ministers in attendance. The people weren’t ignorant nor were they spouting off bad language, if anything they were talking about the last sermon that pastor preached, but they were black and someone had a problem with that. It’s funny how the assumption that they were being uncouth can easily be believed but the fact that someone didn’t want to be eating by a group of black people is incredible.I mean its obvious a lot of you are ill-mannered, ignorant racists who would probably be just as tactless and require a group of African americans to leave so you could eat “in peace.”Saying that you can’t believe that African Americans were turned away in a Southern restaurant because of a small complaint is simply because you are blinded by the white privilege. It happens all of the time because racism isn’t dead in this country, if anything its being shown in the light again as of recent years. People are sick of it and decided to say something about it. And its more than just blacks too.A lot of these comments sicken me to the point i decided to say something about it.
The manager needs to be terminated immediately. How could anybody feel threatened by this lovely family! I’m so disgusted. Oregon.
They were being extremely intimidating. Almost to the point of threatening. Why can’t people just order their food and keep to themselves, rather than getting up in the faces of others trying to just enjoy a night out. It’s a shame what America has turned into in the past few years.
First off….i am a white female. I have to go by the saying there is two sides to a story. But i also got to say there is bad and good black,,,,,same as good and bad white. Some of my most loved friends are black. Color shouldnt be a problem to any one. We are all made by the same GOD. BOTH fight for our country,,People today find to much pleasure in finding faults. If i felt so unconfortable by any one,,i would leave quietly. No reason to make any one else pay for her insecurity. This one person who felt unconfortable,,,what are you going to do when you are hurt or sick and it is a black man whom comes to your rescue? Maybe they will give the same answer you did! I know alot of Black Doctors who saves lives. Are you going to let your loved one die because he is black when it is your family in hurt? Sure,after waiting so long and in such large croud they may have been getting loud..so whats your point? Its nothing normal people,,,any type of people dont do. How can any one point fingers at any one? We need to be coming together as one to keep our country strong. But you are taking it down by your actions. I my self wish i had been there because i would have walked out with these black people.The manager should have said im sorry you feel that way,got her food and walked her to her car. This stupid stuff has went on to long. Black people has earned their rights and alot of whites walk around while they do stuff that need put behind bars.Offering them a free meal only because it has become public is stupid and very demeaning. You owe these people a public apology and if you want to run a business you need to do just that. Im ashambed of the white race sometimes…but saying blacks also do some wrong.But right is right and wrong is wrong. IF they were making a scene then you should have got your top dog and handled it right when it was happening. PLEASE STOP!!! There is some of us who welcome color and any one else. The insides are the same. KEEP our country alive and dont ruin it for all of us. I have to say,,my family,,and i do come from a extra large family will never be in this place unless it is aknowleged and made right. To the croud who got kicked out……dont feel bad…they prob did you a favor…Who needs ppl like them..let them live with all that in their hearts. WE ARE ALL ONE AND EQUAL…….They can continue as they are and take our childrens country away or act right and make OUR country the best. I apoligise for that place ,,,and i want to say dont let stupid ppl with little minds like that get you down. Send a paper around saying what ppl think and i can tell you,ill sign it againt them……Just dont turn it into a war between us.Only one way to solve a problen and that is come together as a unit and weed out the crazy ones……I think,or hope you are going to find out there is alot of white feeling the same as i do… And who ever the ones calling them monkies,,,look in the mirrow… and look around you.EVERYONE is different in their own ways. Grow with GOD and learn we ALL were put here for a reason.You can help or you can ruin a good thing…My motto is EVERYONE is BEAUTIFUL in their own ways… And its the inside that counts. Thanks for listening!
well that the south a bunch of BULL SHIT……………………