Protesters Call Decor of New Brooklyn Restaurant with ‘Bullet Holes’ Offensive, Racist

23 Jul, 2017 by Sonja Bochow

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In an ill advised attempt to give a shout out to the neighborhood’s past, a new Brooklyn restaurant, Summerhill, decorated the eatery with fake bullet holes and planned on serving 40 ounce bottles of wine in brown paper bags.

Residents were not happy with that decision and took to the streets to make their opinions known. The problem, they say, is that a past that includes bullets and people drinking wine on the corner out of brown bag, is not a past that needs to be remembered, glorified or emphasized. One resident said the neighborhood doesn’t need trendy fake bullet hole restaurants, it needs schools and child care.

Judith Lovell, who has resided in the neighborhood for over fifty years, said, “Go out to the community. Find out what the needs are. This is not funny. People are dying every day. It’s absolutely terrible. And that’s why we’re gathered here today.”

The new Crown Heights restaurant would have been a welcome new resident in this neighborhood, had it maintained some kind of decor decorum. The owner, Becca Brennan, has apologized.

“I deeply apologize for any offense that my recent comments might have caused. I did not intend to be insensitive to anyone in the neighborhood, and I am sorry that my words caused pain,” said Brennan.

One local resident, Jamal Mohammad, 29, opined that he had seen three shootings on Bergen Avenue last year and that he hadn’t observed any Summerhill patrons there. Clearly not angered like some of the other residents, he said, “I saw none of these organic, gluten-free guys. What’s bad for the community is gun violence.”

While fake bullet holes and brown paper bag drinks may not be exactly tasteful, Mr. Mohammad has a point. It isn’t fake bullet holes that are a danger to Crown Heights dwellers, it’s real bullets from real guns in the hands of real killers. Yes indeed. He is absolutely right. A little perspective is always helpful.