Baltimore restaurant slammed for 'racist' dress code that bans 'excessive baggy clothing, jerseys and athletic attire'
A Baltimore restaurant has come under fire on social media even before it has opened. An image circulating on social media about the establishment's dress code posted at their gate has drawn a lot of flak online.
The sign prompted several observers to complain that the rules appeared to discriminate against certain groups of customers. Meanwhile, others defended the restaurant for simply trying to maintain a certain atmosphere designed by the business, according to a New York Post report.
The Choptank is "opening soon", according to its website, and an image shared on Twitter of the sign on the restaurant's gate declares an apparent dress code required to enter the establishment.
The sign prohibits items like "excessively baggy clothing, athletic attire, jerseys, brimless headgear and backwards or sideways hats" in the restaurant. "Dress CODED sign at the new Choptank restaurant in Fells," the photo's caption read, implying that the code had an ulterior motive.
“Y’all could have saved yourselves some time and just posted a 'No Black People' sign," one commenter said criticizing the poster.
Another user echoed the sentiment, writing "this is racist as hell and I will never enter your restaurant and will actively warn others away from it, have a great day."
A spokesperson for Atlas Restaurant Group, which owns The Choptank, told Fox News in a statement that their "policy is no different than countless other bars in Fells Point, Federal Hill, and many other bars and restaurants around Maryland including Seacrets and Tiki Lee's — both posted on their websites."
"There are also national properties such as Wynn Las Vegas (XS) that have similar dress codes in their entertainment venus," the statement continued.
"The most prominent African-American nightclub in Baltimore, Select Lounge, has a stricter dress code as well. Baltimore City Public Schools has a similar dress code and language for their students."
According to the report, the group provided Fox News with their official dress code. While it was mostly similar, it did not disallow the wearing of baggy clothes, sideways hats or sunglasses after dark.