South Carolina bar owner fires black staff after crowd becomes ‘too dark’

A South Carolina bar is under fire after the bar owner fired the manager and staff because the crowd at the bar became ‘too dark’, attracting a predominately African American crowd.

Moosehead Saloon owner Matt Shmanske reportedly sent a text message to his former manager in June saying ‘whatever is happening to the crowd shift, I want it to stop now. It’s gone too far. I will bring in a entire [new] staff if needed’.  

He complained that the bar was attracting more black customers and had too many black employees working there,’ according to The State. 

He then fired his staff at the Columbia bar on July 2, demanded employees play less hip hop music and bouncers allegedly tightened restrictions on who could get in. 

South Carolina Moosehead Saloon is being accused of racism after owner Matt Shmanske said his bar was becoming 'too dark', meaning it was filled with more black patrons and employees

South Carolina Moosehead Saloon is being accused of racism after owner Matt Shmanske said his bar was becoming ‘too dark’, meaning it was filled with more black patrons and employees

The bar owner fired all his employees in July and rehired a select few black workers. He demanded less hip hop music be played and bouncers crack down on who is allowed in

The bar owner fired all his employees in July and rehired a select few black workers. He demanded less hip hop music be played and bouncers crack down on who is allowed in

Bar owner Matt Shmanske, pictured in 2007, sent his manager a text in June saying: 'whatever is happening to the crowd shift, I want it to stop now... I will bring in a entire [new] staff if needed'

Bar owner Matt Shmanske, pictured in 2007, sent his manager a text in June saying: ‘whatever is happening to the crowd shift, I want it to stop now… I will bring in a entire [new] staff if needed’

A black customer was reportedly denied entry for wearing a solid-colored shirt which was against the dress code, yet a white man wearing a solid-colored top was let in.

Other banned dress code items at the bar have been interpreted as racially biased as list items include grills, baggy clothing, and chains.

Shmanske’s racist message was exposed by the bar’s social media head Trent Brown, who posted about the alleged words on Twitter and Instagram, including screenshots of Shmanske’s ‘crowd shift’ quote. 

The post was viewed by nearly 400 people on Snapchat.  

Now Moosehead Saloon is being plagued with negative reviews accusing the saloon of racism. 

Former manager Josh Sutton, who is white and worked at the bar for two years, said Shmanske told him the business was becoming ‘too dark’.

‘He said they (the bouncers) were all trash and didn’t work,’ Sutton said to The State.

His boss Shmanske formerly said Sutton was a member of his ‘dream team’ and a part of the ‘hardest working staff’ he knew.  

He along with other staff were fired in early July and told to reapply for their jobs.

At least two African American employees were invited back, but refused to return. 

Former manager Josh Sutton, who is white and pictured above, received the 'crowd shift message' which he shared with some employees. That text was shared online where it ignited a social media storm, leading to a stream of negative comments on the bar's review pages 

Former manager Josh Sutton, who is white and pictured above, received the ‘crowd shift message’ which he shared with some employees. That text was shared online where it ignited a social media storm, leading to a stream of negative comments on the bar’s review pages 

Several say the dress code is racially biased banning chains, grills, and baggy clothing. A black customer says he was denied entry for wearing a banned solid-colored shirt, but a white man wearing the same thing was allowed in 

Several say the dress code is racially biased banning chains, grills, and baggy clothing. A black customer says he was denied entry for wearing a banned solid-colored shirt, but a white man wearing the same thing was allowed in 

Moosehead Saloon's review pages are now inundated with negative reviews alleging racism

Moosehead Saloon’s review pages are now inundated with negative reviews alleging racism

Negative reviews: One user said 'Do not patronize this racist bar'

Negative reviews: One user said ‘Do not patronize this racist bar’

Yelp users have left comments accusing the business of being racist and discriminatory

Yelp users have left comments accusing the business of being racist and discriminatory

Of the black employees eight to 10 were of the bouncers were black and three of the seven bartenders were black. 

‘He was like you don’t have the people in the bar that I want in the bar. There was no need to carry on the conversation anymore. … I told him I’m not going to fire anybody because of their skin color. You’re going to have to fire me if you want that done,’ Sutton said. 

Fired black employee Marcus Hughes, who started working at Moosehead Saloon in October 2017, said the bar was doing well prior to the firing. He didn’t get re-offered a position at the bar. 

‘I don’t see any reason I would have been let go. I wasn’t late. I did my job and made sure everything was done. … There wasn’t any viable reason for Josh and everyone else to get fired,’ Hughes said.

Moosehead Saloon is just one of the bars Shmanske owns in the area. His other bars including Thirsty Parrot and Latitude 22 are also being plagued with negative online reviews following his racist business crack down.  

 One Tripadvisor user accused the pub of racial profiling saying: ‘Purposefully keeping certain people from entering based on “rules” made up in the moment. Blatant disregard for diversity & inclusion.’

A Yelp reviewer wrote: ‘I went in for a fun evening, but then noticed that Matt Schmanske was giving me funny looks…After being told about his attitude regarding wanting a “lighter” crowd, I put two and two together. To be singled out because I wasn’t light enough was very upsetting, and I will never tolerate such poor business practices. DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS RACIST BAR.’

‘Racist business owner. My money will go elsewhere,’ another reviewer wrote. 

‘Best bar in South Carolina….for racists,’ another added.  

 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk