Louisville makes national news again, but not in a good way

[Robin Garr]

The Most Racist Restaurant in America?

Maker's Mark Bourbon House and Lounge wanted to know the ratio of "black people to white people" for an upcoming party--then denied African Americans access.

The Maker’s Mark Bourbon House and Lounge in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, used to be a decently classy place, the type of glass- and wood-paneled establishment striving for a level of authenticity beyond the reach of a chain restaurant named after a bourbon label.

Late this past August, however, the Bourbon House and Lounge officially became one of the most despicable restaurants in the country when it denied African Americans access to a public event held at the site.

Link to full article:
http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accou ... nt-america

It should be said that Maker's Mark and the Samuels familly do not run this establishment.

In my opinion, they embody who we are as a community- kind, gentle folk that would never even consider such a thing.

I'd think that there would be some changes coming down the pipe on this.

I'll never darken that doorstep- this isn't the first occasion of such practices (remember the sexual hiring practice thread?)

These "articles" sound like they came from the plaintiff attorney's press release.

These "articles" sound like they came from the plaintiff attorney's press release.

There is that, but my gut tells me otherwise. And I've learned to trust that.

[Robin Garr]

These "articles" sound like they came from the plaintiff attorney's press release.

There is that, but my gut tells me otherwise. And I've learned to trust that.

Not a press release, but AlterNet is a leftie publication, so sure, there's a political slant. That said, though, this fits a long-term, consistent pattern of behavior at Fourth Street Live, based on the not-so-hidden agenda that they fear a clientele perceived as "African-American" would keep white suburbanites away, setting up an economic disaster for them.

There is another lawsuit floating around that the CJ did cover, in which a former employee spills a lot of beans about being required to take specific actions like this to keep the white-to-black ratio up.

[Robin Garr]

There is another lawsuit floating around that the CJ did cover, in which a former employee spills a lot of beans about being required to take specific actions like this to keep the white-to-black ratio up.

Here's the lead-in. Most of the story is behind the CJ's paywall, but the intro tells the tale:

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... ck_check=1

[Robin Garr]

And McFadden's Sports Saloon in Philly, part of the same corporate empire as MM Lounge, faces a similar suit, in a story that references the earlier Louisville suit:
http://articles.philly.com/2010-11-19/n ... ion-claims

The more I read about 4SL, the more I hope the place is forcibly shut down or transferred to a company with a more responsible corporate culture.

These "articles" sound like they came from the plaintiff attorney's press release.

There is that, but my gut tells me otherwise. And I've learned to trust that.

That said, though, this fits a long-term, consistent pattern of behavior at Fourth Street Live, based on the not-so-hidden agenda that they fear a clientele perceived as "African-American" would keep white suburbanites away, setting up an economic disaster for them.

Well...it would, to be blunt. Although I don't think its african-americans in general they are worried about so much as like a certain subculture of african-americans. And they are pretty close to the west end.

[Robin Garr]

That said, though, this fits a long-term, consistent pattern of behavior at Fourth Street Live, based on the not-so-hidden agenda that they fear a clientele perceived as "African-American" would keep white suburbanites away, setting up an economic disaster for them.

Well...it would, to be blunt. Although I don't think its african-americans in general they are worried about so much as like a certain subculture of african-americans. And they are pretty close to the west end.

True in essence, although we're labeling 100 percent of the population based on the actions of a few. Just as important, it does not justify breaking civil rights and anti-discrimination law. Too many people fought too hard, and some gave their lives, in that fight for us to ignore it lightly with a wink and a nudge.

Funny, in my professional dealings on 4th Street Live five years ago and reading reports of fights and trouble there since, most of the troublemakers were white guys. I guess they think they are less trouble?

Funny, in my professional dealings on 4th Street Live five years ago and reading reports of fights and trouble there since, most of the troublemakers were white guys. I guess they think they are less trouble?

Well if they're not letting anyone other than white people in, then it seems like the only people around that could cause trouble would be white folk.

We covered this subject back on this thread.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19307&p=144213&hilit=Black+tipping#p144213

Pretty spirited debate here! That's why I enjoy this forum so much. Almost all of us that post here with regularity can do so with civility and and an informed opinion.

they fear a clientele perceived as "African-American" would keep white suburbanites away, setting up an economic disaster for them.

Ignoring the "dispicable"(ness) of discrimination (in general) for the moment and focusing just on the -reality- of this (type) of issue...I guaran-damn-tee you that right-wrong or indifferent introducing a strong young-urban-black presence into places like 4SL will keep white suburbanites away. I've seen it happen.

When the Mall of America (Taj-ma-Mall) in Bloomington (MN) first opened, the entire 4th floor was devoted to entertainment...Movie theaters, a comedy club (two actually), Hard Rock Cafe, Hooters, Planet Hollywood and several other bars (of the type you see on 4SL). It was a vibrant albeit very "white" scene...Segue a few years later, the state put in a "light rail" spur linking downtown with the Mall of America (locally nicknamed "The Somali Trolly"). Immediately the mall began having "gang" issues...severe gang issues. To the point where all of the bars and restaurants eventually closed. It has made something of a comeback in recent years as a result of a "zero tolerance - we ain't kidding around" policy on the part of the Bloomington police but still remains a shadow of what it once was. In addition, for a number of years retail traffic took a -helluva- dip just because of the harassment of customers by large groups of roving young-urban-blacks...and I know this because both of my daughters worked at the Monster Mall at the time.

[Robin Garr]

We covered this subject back on this thread.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19307&p=144213&hilit=Black+tipping#p144213

We did? I'm not seeing Makers Mark Lounge anywhere in that thread, Dan.