A Melbourne restaurant endured a substantial loss of bookings, with a 90 per cent cancellation rate overnight, after posting a message expressing solidarity with the local Jewish community in a neighbourhood Facebook group.
The Mediterranean Greek Tavern, situated in the Melbourne inner southeastern suburb of Elsternwick, which houses a sizable Jewish population, faced a sudden wave of both positive and negative reactions to the heartfelt message.
Perry Le Greco, the restaurant's co-owner, was deeply moved by the response to his post. In light of the conflict, he had watched disturbing footage and wanted to convey his thoughts to the restaurant's Jewish patrons.
The post, featuring a Jewish flag, conveyed empathy and compassion, with Mr. Le Greco stating, "To all our Jewish customers, we are thinking of you in these difficult times. We hope that your family and friends are safe back home in Israel. The events of the past few days have been hard to watch, and our thoughts and prayers are for the safety of all. The Jewish community have been fantastic friends over the last 22 years to our humble Mediterranean Greek Tavern."
However, the response was mixed, with the business receiving abusive phone calls. Many individuals expressed harsh criticism, using derogatory language. Mr. Le Greco noted that the callers were not of Palestinian or Lebanese origin but were, in fact, "very well-spoken Australian people." This aspect was particularly unsettling.
The subsequent impact was severe, leading to a 90 per cent cancellation rate for the following week, including fraudulent bookings that were never honoured. Mr. Le Greco recounted that "on the Saturday night, no one showed up." Bookings for the next week also witnessed an 80 per cent decline, a situation that had never occurred before.
The situation turned positive when local Member of Parliament David Southwick, raised awareness of the restaurant's predicament on a Melbourne radio program. In response, the restaurant received an overwhelming outpour of support, with over 200 messages and phone calls. The community's support has been greatly appreciated, and the restaurant has regained momentum.
Nevertheless, Mr. Le Greco expressed concerns about an underlying anti-Semitic sentiment that is brewing in the local community and called for public figures, including the Prime Minister, to address this issue.
Mediterranean Greek Tavern
- 511 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick, Elsternwick, VIC, Australia, Victoria
- +61 435 767 258
