GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The owner of the Sardine Can in Green Bay is apologizing, after admitting one of his bartenders yelled a racial slur in front of customers Friday night.
Some of those customers were concerned about what was said.
The owner describes about how it all transpired.
“I received a text at home from one of my managers regarding a comment that was made,” said Chris Hansen. “While it was very crowded, it was a rather racial-laden comment.”
Hansen is one of the owners of the Sardine Can.
“We’re appalled by it, we’re embarrassed by it,” he said.
“She said that black people are not allowed,” Mario Rafe recalls from Friday night.
Rafe, an employee, says that comment was made on a microphone from behind the bar.
“I’ve been here since August and I have nothing but love for this place,” said Rafe.
Rafe says he knows the bartender. He took the comment as a joke, but he says he sees how others thought it was inappropriate.
“That joke– to her friends— kind of festered out into the crowd,” he said.
While it hasn’t affected him, we spoke to a couple people who were also at the bar. They didn’t want to go on camera, but they are offended and wont be coming back. Some employees were equally offended.
“The gal that came in this morning to bar tend was visibly shaken by what was said,” said Hansen.
Hansen says the bartender who made the racist comment was fired first thing Saturday morning.
“We can’t change what she said, but again we don’t stand for that,” said Hansen.
“That’s the kind of thing we throw people out for,” said Ed Borowitz.
Borowitz was the bouncer working Friday night. He said, he agrees with the decision to let her go.
Other former customers have expressed that things written on chalkboards at the the Sardine can are equally as offensive. Hansen was asked about some of the things written.
“We have been hit with an influx of 21 to 25-year-olds in the last year and a half. I think what the girls put on the chalkboards are kind of cute, but if someone finds them offensive, we’ll surely change them,” he said.
The Sardine Can also posted an apology on its Facebook Page.
