A Detroit restaurant sparked an online reaction this week after posting an ad about its dress code policy, including telling customers that “they smell like marijuana ”for not“ even thinking about entering ”.
Detroit Caucus Club on a Tuesday Facebook post wrote that “Business Casual is the minimum dress code that should be followed during dinner” at the restaurant.
“Seriously, people, hoodies and T-shirts are not business suits,” the exclusive restaurant noted, adding that “ball caps” and “sneakers” would not be considered appropriate either.
“Most importantly, if you smell like marijuana you don’t even think about entering the Caucus Club,” the message added. “Please note that strong ‘smells’ are unacceptable.”
The restaurant owner, George Sboukis told Fox’s local affiliate station WJBK that the post was motivated by customers coming to the food establishment in a more relaxed attire during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as by complaints from some customers that other guests smelled of pot.
“It’s so spicy, that some of the guests have commented,‘ It smells like you’re sitting next to a dead skunk, ’he told the local press.
He added that those who come to the restaurant should also be prepared to comply with the clothing guidelines.
“We had people celebrating their fiftieth birthday [anniversary] last week, the week before. They get dressed, they put on a nightgown, their earrings, their best dress, ”explained Sboukis. “They will go out to celebrate and hope to be surrounded by guests with similar ideas.”
Although some Facebook users expressed support for the restaurant’s post, with one person commenting: “Just because it’s like that [marijuana] it’s legal … you don’t have to show off, ”others said the guidelines were racist.
“It is a language codified for racism and will probably be used as a tool to prevent Black and POC Detroiter from eating here, ”one person wrote. “Horrible decision to make this message. You’ve lost so much business for such a “exclusive” restaurant that you’ll think more would have been thought of in a post like this.
Sboukis, however, told WJBK that it “didn’t mean any harm,” adding that the Facebook post “was a reminder with a little sauce just to get people’s attention.”
In Michigan, recreational marijuana use is legal for all adults over the age of 21, although state law prohibits smoking in public spaces, encouraging residents to limit their use to their homes or other private areas.