Bojangles’ locked out Trump group after rally, chain apologizes. New photo stokes anger
A Bojangles’ shift manager who locked the doors of a restaurant in Charlotte Monday following President Donald Trump’s nearby rally “is no longer employed” and the chain has apologized to Trump supporters who were denied food that night.
In a separate incident, developing late Wednesday, the chain was blasted on social media over a photo of an anti-Trump sign that was taped to the door of another Bojangles’ in North Carolina. Bojangles’ officials say the sign was unauthorized, was not posted by any of its workers and appears to have been quickly removed after employees noticed a customer or passerby had put it up.
The Charlotte Observer first reported on the lockout Tuesday after photos surfaced showing Trump supporters standing outside the fast food restaurant, apparently not allowed in. Trump had held a “Keep America Great” rally Monday night just a short walk from the restaurant, at Charlotte’s Bojangles’ Coliseum.
Previously, a spokesman for the Charlotte-based Bojangles’ told the Observer that crowds of people who wanted to eat had likely overwhelmed restaurant employees that night, which led to the doors being locked. On Wednesday, the chain publicly said on its Twitter account that was a “bad decision.”
It’s unclear whether the manager involved was fired or voluntarily left.
The Bojangles’ restaurant location, on Monroe Road in Charlotte, is just a 10-minute walk from the Bojangles’ Coliseum where Trump spoke to more than 10,000 people. The venue was full, with attendees without seats watching on a big screen in the parking lot.
Now some Trump supporters say they’ll boycott the chicken restaurant chain after being refused service even though they’d arrived nearly an hour before closing time.
The head of the chain’s communications told The Charlotte Observer in an interview Tuesday the restaurant was not targeting Trump supporters by closing its doors.
Still, he apologized. He did not say whether the people locked out of the restaurant were given any explanation for its sudden closure.
“We apologize for anyone who felt they were treated in a way that was disrespectful. This is not in line with who we are as a business. We serve everyone who wants to purchase one of our (items),” Brian Little, head of communications said by phone Tuesday.
Sign on Bojangles door
A day after Bojangles’ officially apologized for its manager’s decision to lock the doors, the chain was besieged with more criticism.
A social media firestorm erupted late Wednesday after someone posted a photo of a sign on a Bojangles’ door that read: “No One Allowed In Wearing Trump Hats Or Shirts. You Will Be Asked To Leave.”
Bojangles’ nearly immediately began responding individually to people who circulated the image on Twitter, saying the sign was not hung by an employee and that it was promptly removed when workers saw the sign.
Many people also noted it appeared the sign had been taped from the outside of the door, suggesting it was done either as a prank or to deliberately stoke more anger toward the restaurant chain after Monday’s lockout in Charlotte.
Locked doors after Trump rally
The Observer previously reported on the lockout and spoke with Michael Furick, a local man who posted the now-viral images of Trump fans locked out of Bojangles’.
“Bojangles locked the doors to the Trump rally last night and denied service,” Michael Furick posted on his Facebook page earlier this week.
“Ironic because the rally was at Bojangles arena ... This is pretty distasteful. I walk up to the door and people are gathered around and stated they would not serve Trump supporters.”
Furick included a couple of pictures with his post, including one of a worker in the store putting his hand in a “stop” gesture toward those outside. The mood was somewhat tense with Furick acknowledging the employee was gesturing back to him because he’d raised his middle finger after being locked out.
Another photo shows at least a half-dozen people standing outside the restaurant, some holding Trump signs from the rally.
At least two dozen other people had previously stood outside the restaurant before he took the photo, Furick said. Those people were also denied food, according to Furick.
Little said he could not confirm what workers said “in the heat of the moment” to the large contingent of Trump supporters who went to the restaurant after Trump’s appearance on the eve of Tuesday’s presidential primary.
He said the “young shift manager” on duty was wrong to lock the doors despite feeling overwhelmed by the large sudden crowd. The manager overreacted, Little said. Little said he did not know how many Trump supporters showed up at the restaurant.
“He didn’t know what to do,” Little said. “He just closed the restaurant.”
Later, the shift manager called his manager, who showed up and unlocked the doors, allowing everyone to purchase food.
Furick said he is 38 and the owner of a manufacturing company. He said he doesn’t blame the young shift manager for the debacle as much as Bojangles’ corporate for not having better prepared for such a large turnout at its namesake arena just a block away.
Reaction on social media from Trump supporters was swift Tuesday.
“What?????” one man asked. “Boycott in order.”
“This is a great business model,” another man said sarcastically.
“That’s their choice, now I will adjust my choices,” posted another Trump supporter.
Others encouraged people to call Bojangles’ headquarters to complain and said the lockout amounted to discrimination.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published March 3. It was updated March 5, following Bojangles’ public announcement that an employee involved in the lockout is no longer with the company and following additional social media criticism over a sign taped to the door of a Bojangles’ location in North Carolina.
This story was originally published March 3, 2020 at 6:01 PM.