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Bar bans customer for sexist comments to waitress and gets over 2,000 'likes'
19/06/2020
A BAR in northern Spain which banned a customer for life for making sleazy comments to a waitress has been widely applauded for its loyalty to and protection of its staff.
And the bar's actions seem to have become highly-effective advertising for the business - social media users across the country have promised to drop in for a drink if they are in the area.
Páramo Bar, in Gijón (Asturias) not only sent a complete WhatsApp message to the customer in question but took a screen-shot and uploaded it to Facebook – albeit with the man's name blanked out.
Owner David Sampedro wrote: “This is the second time Estefanía has been working in the bar and felt uncomfortable because of your comments.
“The first time, a few months ago, you insinuated she would be 'more attractive with her hair in bunches' (her job is to serve you drinks. Any opinion you have on her clothing, her manner of being or her way of acting, you keep to yourself). Today, even a regular customer had to tell you that the 'joke' had gone too far and 'suggested' you left.”
The message goes on to tell the unnamed man how the bar owners did not pull him up on his behaviour the first time, because he was 'a good customer' and 'everyone deserves a second chance'.
“But today, I think you overstepped the mark with an employee on her shift, not only making her feel uncomfortable at her place of work, but making sexist comments such as, 'I haven't got any money, I'll pay you with my body'.”
The now-barred customer apparently claimed frequently to be 'left-wing' and 'anti-fascist', according to Sampedro, but as he pointed out in his WhatsApp message: “Anti-fascism and feminism cannot possibly exist without each other, and there's one fundamental thing required to be both of these: To practise what you preach. Sexist comments and behaviours do not belong on our premises, which is why it's a great place to be; so, we're very sorry, but we are not going to allow you to enter our establishment ever again.
“Safe spaces like ours are created without people like you. It's intolerable that, in Páramo Bar, the waitress – and it's the waitress who is in charge, not you – is made to feel uncomfortable by the usual sexist rubbish.”
Reactions – likes, hearts and 'angry faces' directed at the recipient of the message – have already topped the 2,100 mark, and the post has been shared 1,000 times and netted more than 284 comments, praising the bar-owner for standing up for his staff.
One woman wrote: “I think I speak for all waitresses in Spain – thank you!”
Another, who said she had been a barmaid for over 25 years, called it a 'true example of comradeship'.
A third woman wrote: “I hadn't heard of your locale, but from now on you've gained yourself a new customer,” meaning, herself.
Several others, male and female, from all over the country, promised that if they were ever in Gijón, they would look up Páramo Bar and make a point of popping in for a drink in recognition of the owner's admirable defence of his employee.
The first photograph, above, shows a group of regular customers in Páramo Bar, and the second, some of the staff team, both from the Facebook page 'Páramo Bar – Central Caleya Asturiana'.
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A BAR in northern Spain which banned a customer for life for making sleazy comments to a waitress has been widely applauded for its loyalty to and protection of its staff.
And the bar's actions seem to have become highly-effective advertising for the business - social media users across the country have promised to drop in for a drink if they are in the area.
Páramo Bar, in Gijón (Asturias) not only sent a complete WhatsApp message to the customer in question but took a screen-shot and uploaded it to Facebook – albeit with the man's name blanked out.
Owner David Sampedro wrote: “This is the second time Estefanía has been working in the bar and felt uncomfortable because of your comments.
“The first time, a few months ago, you insinuated she would be 'more attractive with her hair in bunches' (her job is to serve you drinks. Any opinion you have on her clothing, her manner of being or her way of acting, you keep to yourself). Today, even a regular customer had to tell you that the 'joke' had gone too far and 'suggested' you left.”
The message goes on to tell the unnamed man how the bar owners did not pull him up on his behaviour the first time, because he was 'a good customer' and 'everyone deserves a second chance'.
“But today, I think you overstepped the mark with an employee on her shift, not only making her feel uncomfortable at her place of work, but making sexist comments such as, 'I haven't got any money, I'll pay you with my body'.”
The now-barred customer apparently claimed frequently to be 'left-wing' and 'anti-fascist', according to Sampedro, but as he pointed out in his WhatsApp message: “Anti-fascism and feminism cannot possibly exist without each other, and there's one fundamental thing required to be both of these: To practise what you preach. Sexist comments and behaviours do not belong on our premises, which is why it's a great place to be; so, we're very sorry, but we are not going to allow you to enter our establishment ever again.
“Safe spaces like ours are created without people like you. It's intolerable that, in Páramo Bar, the waitress – and it's the waitress who is in charge, not you – is made to feel uncomfortable by the usual sexist rubbish.”
Reactions – likes, hearts and 'angry faces' directed at the recipient of the message – have already topped the 2,100 mark, and the post has been shared 1,000 times and netted more than 284 comments, praising the bar-owner for standing up for his staff.
One woman wrote: “I think I speak for all waitresses in Spain – thank you!”
Another, who said she had been a barmaid for over 25 years, called it a 'true example of comradeship'.
A third woman wrote: “I hadn't heard of your locale, but from now on you've gained yourself a new customer,” meaning, herself.
Several others, male and female, from all over the country, promised that if they were ever in Gijón, they would look up Páramo Bar and make a point of popping in for a drink in recognition of the owner's admirable defence of his employee.
The first photograph, above, shows a group of regular customers in Páramo Bar, and the second, some of the staff team, both from the Facebook page 'Páramo Bar – Central Caleya Asturiana'.
Related Topics
You may also be interested in ...
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