Austin Bar Accused Of Racism As Part Of Its Theme, Including Swastika Beer Bottles (Updated)

UPDATE: Brandon Cash, owner of the Rainey Street bar named Unbarlievable who has come under fire for racist and misogynistic comments against patrons critical of his establishment, issued an apology Friday evening. In an email sent to Patch, a public relations consultant emailed a prepared statement from Cash in which the bar owner apologizes for his actions:

“It is with profound humility that I issue this heartfelt apology. To those who I have hurt and offended, I am deeply sorry. My words and actions were wrong, inappropriate and inexcusable. They certainly don’t exemplify the values of a community that I love and care deeply about and my insensitive actions do not represent the views of my loyal and dedicated employees.

“Austin has been my home for over 30 years and I have worked hard to create hospitality experiences that reflect our unique, fun-loving Austin culture and attract patrons and guests who appreciate it. Unfortunately, my own intolerable actions have contributed to a negative environment that has detracted from that culture and vision. I fully realize that forgiveness may not come easily, but I am asking for it and I pledge to earn it. I am going to work diligently to earn back the trust of my customers, my employees and this community.”

A number of people have scheduled a protest this Friday outside the establishment to decry Cash's words and actions that sparked the controversy. It's unclear whether that protest will still be staged in light of his apology.

Read the original story by Patch below.

From earlier:

EAST AUSTIN, TX — There are tourist-appealing bars throughout the country that have as their gimmick server sarcasm, where everybody's in on the joke. But a bar along the Rainey Street entertainment district appears to have taken unexpected behavior to new heights (or lows, depending on outlook) with accusations of beer bottles arranged on tables in the shape of a swastika and racist commentary about its clientele.

A group dubbed "Defend our Hoodz," which rails against brisk gentrification overtaking established neighborhoods in Austin, has called attention to the bar's unconventional marketing. Organizers of the group paint the tactics at the bar named "Unbarlievable" as symptomatic of an aggressive influx of new commercial interests from out of state capitalizing on the hot Austin real estate market at odds with more progressive ideals embraced by the city.

"Table next to us ordered a lot of beers, and the worker brought the beers out then put them in the shape of a swastika," one customer wrote on Facebook. "Totally uncalled for and disrespectful." The customer noted she complained to the owner of the bar, but he didn't respond to her complaint.

A subsequent response to complaints reflected this dismissal but with attendant curse words (caution to readers): "If you have feelings, all complaints should be directed to our HR department," someone with official administration duties wrote on the bar's Facebook page. "You can reach them at getf***ed @ unbarlievable dot com."

According to records, the owner of the bar is Brandon Cash, who also owns the Goodnight bar on Anderson Lane and the Rooftop on Sixth Street. The Rainey Street establishment reportedly opened this spring and has a circus theme to it. Some are now calling for a boycott for all of Cash's businesses.

Facebook reviews of the bar on its website have since been disabled, although users have taken to complaining on other social media sites. Considerable backlash on Reddit also is helping to fuel the controversy. One complaint on Reddit drew a response from a user identifying himself as a bar owner "Since you had a towel on your head, my bartender thought you were the new bus boy and handed you dirty dishes to wash," the response to the complaint read.

Unbarlievable is located at 76 Rainey St. in the heart of the East Austin entertainment district. Attempts to reach the owner were unsuccessful.

Detractors of the establishment have formed a separate Facebook page titled "Unbarlievably Racist Rainey Street Bar" to promote unfettered expression related to the bar and eatery. One woman wrote of being insulted after registering her complaint and being asked to leave in an expletive-laden tirade.

Another reviewer drew a vulgar response, purportedly by the bar owner:

A preemptive insult to negative reviews sought to generalize them as a an ideological monolith:

Others with the temerity to offer a negative review also drew the bar's wrath:

Noted Austin culinary author Mando Rayo has added his voice to complaints, re-posting a message purportedly pinned by the bar owner depicting a Latina girl as part of a fake help wanted ad. "Looking for a really tan/brown small human to walk around Unbarlievable tugging on people's shirts while attempting to sell them chicle," the post reads, the latter a reference to chewing gum manufactured in Mexico.

For those who might take offense to the post, the author directs them to the bar's vulgarly named, make-believe HR department to register complaints.

In the ongoing gentrification war in Austin—one pitting neighborhood activists against newly arrived business interests seeking to capitalize on the hot real estate market—the Unbarlievable skirmish is the second major battle from the front lines of a changing landscape. Activists have demonstrated in front of the Blue Cat Cafe in East Austin since it opened on grounds where a neighborhood piñata and party supplies store long stood.

The piñata store Jumpolin, was bulldozed by new land owners intent on capitalizing on their newly acquired land to host a SXSW-related party in 2015, with no warning to the owners and with their property still inside the building. The store's destruction garnered national headlines given the owners' extreme mode of gentrification, and the Jumpolin owners eventually were awarded a settlement of undisclosed amount to end their claims against the land proprietors.

A cat cafe has since been erected at the site, an eatery filled with wandering felines up for adoption, that has been the collateral target of protesters decrying gentrification.

Yet long after the dust settled on the Jumpolin destruction, sign-carrying members of Defend Our Hoodz have faithfully protested at the site, staying on the public sidewalk in adherence to city protocol while chanting their aversion to gentrification. Over time, racist undertones to the gentrification debate have emerged in that protest as well.

Earlier this month, protesters were confronted by a pair of supporters of Blue Cat Cafe—an eatery/cat adoption site where diners can relax over a meal or cup of coffee while marveling at the abundance of cats inhabiting the place, both at ground level and overhead mazes. Protesters' signs were forcibly removed by stick-wielding defenders of the site wielding their wooden weaponry in menacing fashion to chanting protesters.

Defend Our Hoodz organizers later identified one of the de facto bodyguards as Paul Gray, the brother of the cafe's owner Rebecca Gray, accompanying their assertions with photos of him attending alt-right demonstrations where Nazi salutes were used.

Protesters' tactics seemed to have finally paid off, as Rebecca Gray recently announced she was handing over the reins of management to others, while disputing allegations of personal ties to alt-right hate groups. She posted at length on the Blue Cat Cafe Facebook page to convey recent developments.

"This statement is to address the rumors stemming from a protest that occurred here a few weeks ago," she wrote. "Since then, it has come to light that a few anti-protesters (which were here purely out of safety concerns for staff and patrons) have affiliations we do NOT align with here at Blue Cat Cafe. We want it to be known, Blue Cat cafe is here to welcome and support people of all age, disability, sexual orientation, race, and nationality."

Gray added she'd be handing over the reins to a new group of investors, without specifying whether the feline theme would continue: "I am so incredibly grateful for their help, as well as all of our staff for being extremely supportive since I began transitioning out at the end of January. It's taken half a year but am very proud of the way that our new management has taken over the reins, and I look forward to seeing all the great things they've got in store for the Cafe."

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