A US sports bar was beaten up for imposing “offensive” dress codes on customers stating that “no ghetto gear” was welcome at the venue.
CJ’s Upper Deck Bar & Grille in Waterford, Michigan, was reviewed after an image of the venue’s dress code was posted online.
The sign reads “Pants and shorts must be at waist level (always pulled up – no ghetto equipment).”
READ MORE: Mom struck for complaining about Nickelodeon’s George Floyd tribute
Restrictions were also imposed on headgear and shirts with “oversized shirts”, “bats for women”, “sleeveless shirts”, “tank tops” and shirts with “large logos”.
Former guests of the bar described the dress code as offensive and referred to the use of the “ghetto”.
“Obviously they’re looking for a less urban crowd,” one user wrote regarding the sign in a review on Yelp.
“Meanwhile, their club upstairs plays the same rap / hip-hop songs alternately on Friday and Saturday. And with ghetto equipment, they mean everything that has to do with urban / black culture.”
“Never, but this is your dress code. NO ‘GHETTO GEAR’ allowed. I’ll let you determine what you meant by that …” commented another.
“After such a sign, I would not encourage anyone to eat here. It is insulting, disrespectful and disgusting,” wrote a third.
The term “ghetto” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary refers to “a quarter of a city where members of a minority live, particularly as a result of social, legal or economic pressure”.
Since the early 20th century, the term has been used to treat the effects of segregation in the United States, with connotations of the word implying negative, racist stereotypes for people with color.
After responding to the bar’s dress code, a CJ spokesman announced TODAY that the sign had been removed.
“At the moment we are in very delicate times. With this message we would like to contact our community to thank you for your support,” says a statement.
“At CJs, we strive to make the customer experience a fun and safe place for everyone, whether you visit us for dinner or for a few cocktails. A picture of our dated dress code has been posted online and we wanted to keep everyone informed about it and updated.
“We apologize to everyone who felt insulted. With the dress code, we want to create a respectful environment.”
READ MORE: Reporter struck because he asked to pose with the shopkeeper’s drill while entering the store after looting
