(Photo by Miki J)
This post has been updated with new information.
A slew of D.C. bars and restaurants are preparing to be short-staffed or even closed this Thursday due to a planned “day without immigrants” strike.
The movement is being organized as a rebuke of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Details were first reported by Washingtonian.
The list of affected businesses is continuing to evolve, and the full effects of the strike will likely not be known until Thursday rolls around and workers decide to take part (or not). A number of establishments have already gone public with plans and views, though.
Several have already decided to close Thursday.
José Andrés announced via Twitter that Zaytinya, Oyamel, and area locations of Jaleo will not open for business. Pizzeria Paradiso decided that it will close its Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria locations. Brookland’s Finest too, will forgo businesses entirely for the day. And all locations of Busboys and Poets will shutter “tn solidarity with our immigrant tribe.”
A publicist for Shouk tells DCist that the vegetarian quick-serve restaurant may close and will announce its decision on social media Thursday. The restaurant also released a statement that, “Shouk stands with immigrants who wish to protest.”
Taylor Gourmet tells DCist that its “employees are free to exercise their rights with zero repercussions,” and that it expects to be short-staffed or closed at some locations. Again, it will provide updates on social media about operating status.
John Andrade, owner of Smoke & Barrel, Meridian Pint, and Brookland Pint, announced his support for the strike in a Facebook post this afternoon.
“As a Latino business owner I stand in solidarity with all of my immigrant staff,” he wrote. Therefore, we will close our kitchen this Thursday in support of our immigrant staff’s desire and right to protest the evolving state of immigration policies in our country.”
All three bars will remain open with the option for patrons to bring their own food.
Washingtonian reported that Bar Pilar expects to be down 17 employees and will serve a minimal menu of Latin American dishes. Ownership at Black’s Restaurant Group (Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, BlackSalt, etc) has reportedly asked staff to alert management in advance if they plan to be absent.
Colin McDonough, owner of Boundary Stone in Bloomingdale, told The Washington Post that he and his co-owner will run the grill as nearly his entire kitchen staff will participate in the protest. “It will be a very limited menu because we are not as talented as the people who normally work there,” McDonough said.
Many more restaurants say they are still mulling their options about how the day will affect them and how they’ll react.
The strike is not limited to D.C. A similar event happened Monday in Milwaukee and seems to be catching on across the country. Philadelphia publication Billy Penn reported today that many of the city’s restaurant workers will participate this Thursday as well and that influential local restaurateur Stephen Starr (who owns Le Diplomate in D.C.) will not reprimand any of his staff who choose to participate.
For now, the best plan seems to be monitoring social media of any restaurants you plan to visit on Thursday for operating information.
