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Philadelphia Popeyes slammed for 'No homeless people allowed' sign outside outlet

The manager of the outlet Dayshon Aaron Sields said that the decision was taken after homeless people did not follow the city’s mask policy

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: A branch of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in Philadelphia has attracted the wrath of people online after it issued a notice that read, “No homeless people allowed inside the store”. Dayshon Aaron Sields, manager of the fast-food joint on 15th street and Chestnut in Center City, said that the decision was taken after it was found homeless people did not follow the city’s mask policy and they “come in and trash the store”.

Sields also noted that the workers “understand there is a problem with people being homeless, and do not want to add to the problem, but also have a business to run and rules and regulations they have to follow.” But he added that homeless people can enter the restaurant to warm up, but they have to follow the rules.

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However, a Twitter user named Bryan Blue Tsunami @BryanLFuller shared a photo of the notice and captioned it: “This is posted on the door of the @Popeyes on 15th and Chestnut in Center City, Philadelphia. I have purchased hundreds if not thousands of meals for homeless people. They deserve dignity and respect. @Baligubadle1 @_equal_access @glennkirschner2 @nathaliejacoby1.”

Several people agreed with Tsunami as a person asked, “...And, ahem, how does one ‘identify’ homeless persons?!!  Backpacks?  Unshaven? Trenchcoats? (BTW, Multimillionaire consumer talk show host Clark Howard said he was once ‘identified’ as such.).”

The second one wrote, “Probably backpacks. I remember a number of years ago, I was working the weekend shift at my work. I had stopped at the downtown McD's for a quick bite. Then I went to the bus stop nearby to go to work. I was dressed in clean/sharp clothes but had a backpack. I realized it was faster to take the other bus a few blocks away. Left the bus stop, and a block or so later, some woman drove up next to me and asked if I needed money. I basically told her I wasn't homeless, and started walking faster. Really creeped me out.”

A user slamming Popeyes said, “I'm thinking it's someone who comes in to use the bathroom, maybe buys a meal but sits and stays for hours at a time; possibly even smells up the place. so there can be rules, but this sign is not the way to go right @Popeyes ??” “That franchise owner does not understand the power of a boycott. Let's boycott all Popeye's until the parent company shuts the owner down,” another user added.

A tweet read, “Are u serious with this statement?? The franchise owner is treating homeless people like they're cockroaches not worthy of dignity.. how does one identify someone as homeless anyway? Consequences are real, it's the franchise owner putting their employees at risk, not us.”

Another tweet stated: “And who determines who is homeless?  This can so easily be used to discriminate against anyone, you simply state "I thought they were homeless".  Not everyone who is homeless looks a certain way.  Some are working homeless. This has so many problems in it.”