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Midtown's Keens Steakhouse Removes Racist Decor, Report Says
Patch ^ | August 23, 2019 | Brendan Krisel

Posted on 08/24/2019 5:28:45 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — An institution of old New York City that dates back to the 19th century is taking steps to evolve for the 21st by taking down racist and offensive decorations from its walls, according to reports.

Midtown's Keens Steakhouse recently removed 10 posters advertising minstrel shows featuring blackface and artworks portraying racist stereotypes of African Americans that adorned the restaurant's walls for decades, Eater New York first reported. The decision was made by longtime manager Bonnie Jenkins, who told Eater that Keens can remain a historic place without offending people.

The restaurant's former owner George Schwarz, who died in 2016, wanted the decorations kept up while he lived, according to the report. Schwarz, who was Jewish and fled his native Germany after Nazis took power, believed in preserving both "the good and the ugly" of history.

Jenkins told Eater that she's "truly sorry" if the decorations offended diners at the Midtown staple, and that "restaurants have to be living, breathing, and continue to evolve, whether it's the walls, the food, or the people."

Keens was founded in 1885 by manager Albert Keen after being known as the "Lambs Club." The West 36th Street steakhouse is known for its mutton chops and for being a favorite among influential people such as Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth and Albert Einstein.

Read the full Eater New York article here.

(Excerpt) Read more at patch.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; Local News
KEYWORDS: food; newyork; racism
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1 posted on 08/24/2019 5:28:45 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Did they have a picture of a white guy or something?


2 posted on 08/24/2019 5:33:50 PM PDT by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart - I just don't tell anyone.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
“We want people to be able to come here and enjoy themselves and not feel offended or upset. That’s the goal, It’s just time.” -- Bonnie Jenkins, Restaurant Manager

Poor Bonnie, she just doesn't understand the Church of the Perpetually Offended People and what their next demands will be. Photos of white people (gasp) eating? Offensive! Photos of cows grazing before slaughter? Offensive! Insufficient number of pictures of POCs? Offensive? Photos of husband and wife together? Offensive! Photos of Trump administration people eating there? Offensive?

It's a no-win fools errand you are on, Bonnie. Get ready for the onslaught. You just cannot cave in enough. You might as well close your doors now.

3 posted on 08/24/2019 5:39:24 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I tried to come up with something comparable to me (German-Polish-Irish-English Catholic male), and the closest I could come up with would be “Know-Nothing” literature/posters from the 19th century. If I found such on restaurant walls I would find it fascinating, not offensive, and would make no assumption whatsoever about the owner.


4 posted on 08/24/2019 5:45:51 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("...a choice between Woke-fevered Democrats and Koch-funded Republicans is insufficient."-Mark Steyn)
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: BobL
Did they have a picture of a white guy or something?

They probably did. I can see where that would trigger a SJW. /s

I just removed that steakhouse from my bucket list. 😁

6 posted on 08/24/2019 5:46:36 PM PDT by Mark17 (Once saved, always saved. I am an Ephesians 2:8-9 kind of guy. It is a beautiful thing. Enjoy it)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

They should check for any Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbooks too...


7 posted on 08/24/2019 5:46:46 PM PDT by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust the Plan.)
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To: Dr. Sivana
It's over my budget anyhow...


8 posted on 08/24/2019 5:48:05 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

Might be able to get two meals out of the mutton chop.


9 posted on 08/24/2019 5:49:20 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("...a choice between Woke-fevered Democrats and Koch-funded Republicans is insufficient."-Mark Steyn)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Four blank walls would offend someone.


10 posted on 08/24/2019 5:51:35 PM PDT by bgill
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To: BobL

Have dined at Keen’s several times.

I saw MANY ethnicities dining, while we were there, and NONE seemed to be offended.

What else will they kowtow to, at Keen’s? Removal of the Teddy Roosevelt room?

This is such BS.


11 posted on 08/24/2019 5:54:53 PM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
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To: Mark17

Glad we were able to go before this nonsense.


12 posted on 08/24/2019 5:55:40 PM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
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To: All

13 posted on 08/24/2019 5:57:55 PM PDT by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The power of the Schwartz. That’s the word “black” in German. How ironic.


14 posted on 08/24/2019 6:08:16 PM PDT by HighSierra5
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To: bgill

True. But blank walls is all the history erasers will leave us.

Funny thing, Ren and Stimpy was supposed to be comedy ... not a How To:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=qhLFlIuuyMQ

You’ll need to skip part Colbert, it was just the video with the full bit.


15 posted on 08/24/2019 6:12:10 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: HighSierra5

These politically correct types obviously don’t know how to handle it.

Must be all the soy....


16 posted on 08/24/2019 6:13:30 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Keens had a special membership club; The ceiling was decorated with hundreds of clay pipes like those used back in colonial times. You could join, buy a pipe with a membership number on it and then when in the joint, call for your pipe and use their special blend of tobacco for a smoke.


17 posted on 08/24/2019 6:49:29 PM PDT by wildbill (o)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Keens had a special membership club; The ceiling was decorated with hundreds of clay pipes like those used back in colonial times. You could join, buy a pipe with a membership number on it and then when in the joint, call for your pipe and use their special blend of tobacco for a smoke.

I suppose mine is still there somewhere. Look at them on the pictures that show the ceiling. Kinda cool


18 posted on 08/24/2019 6:54:15 PM PDT by wildbill (o)
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To: bgill

“Four blank walls would offend someone.”

You sound like a real square.


19 posted on 08/24/2019 6:56:53 PM PDT by CrazyIvan (The Democrat party. A collaboration of Cloward-Piven and Dunning-Kruger.)
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To: wildbill
. . . call for your clay pipe . . . .

Very sad that those days are gone forever - taken by hive mentality leftists and “progress” as defined by “progressives”. ( busybodies)

20 posted on 08/24/2019 7:01:29 PM PDT by atc23
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