Poetica Coffee, a coffee shop in New York City, has stirred controversy after announcing online that Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman is not welcome due to his pro-Israel stance. The shop shared a Facebook post on Sunday featuring a photo of Goldman at one of its Brooklyn locations.
In the post, the shop stated that Goldman received a refund for his $9.82 purchase. Poetica Coffee declared it does not serve “racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between.” The message continued by mentioning Goldman’s ongoing Democratic primary battle with Israel critic Brad Lander in New York’s 10th Congressional District. It ended with a firm stance: “Don’t ever come to Poetica.”
Local Jewish leaders condemned the post, resulting in an online review bombing campaign against the shop. Previously, Poetica Coffee enjoyed mostly five-star reviews for its friendly service and quality coffee. Since the posting, however, one-star reviews have surged as reports spread. Yelp temporarily halted reviews for Poetica Coffee to investigate their authenticity, stating the need for genuine first-hand consumer experiences.
Poetica Coffee claimed it received death threats, sharing them on its Instagram account. The account has since been deactivated, with unclear circumstances regarding the responsible party.
Goldman, an advocate for Israel, commented on Poetica Coffee’s Facebook entry, expressing disappointment. He praised the barista’s kindness and noted he bought coffee to reciprocate the service he received with his daughter.
Newsweek contacted Goldman for further comment, but his staff referred to his Facebook post. The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York condemned the coffee shop’s stance, with CEO Mark Treyger noting that attributing collective blame to Jews or perceived supporters of Israel constitutes antisemitism. He reiterated businesses must not discriminate based on religion, ancestry, or ethnicity.
In response to the incident, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced an investigation into Poetica Coffee. It pledged enforcement action if necessary.
Poetica Coffee, when approached by the New York Post, stood by its position against genocide without further comment.