Update: Despite the vitriol, Pasiano’s owner Rick Camuglia says he’s seen a major uptick in business since the marquee sign went up.
The president of the Albuquerque NAACP chapter has since weighed in on the controversy. In a statement, published in KRQE, he wrote:
The posted sign at Paisano’s Restaurant that included the phrase ” Black Olives Matter” is a nice marketing idea. However, with all of the national uproar, demonstrations and marches, regarding the shooting of African American men and youth by police officers, the Albuquerque NAACP feels that it was in bad taste. The decision to take it down is appreciated.
Hopefully, the owners at Paisano’s will be a bit more sensitive in the future. Unjustified killing of innocent Black men is nothing to joke about. Whether it was intentional or not, it sent the wrong message to many.
I’m sure they would feel the same way if someone had an offensive marketing idea that placed Hispanics, Italians or any other ethnic group in a controversial concept.
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Contrary to popular belief, there IS such a thing as bad publicity—and this restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is proof of it.
The owner of Paisano’s, an Italian family joint, wanted to advertise its tapenade (a black olive spread) and thought it’d be a good idea to surf the socio-political current. After all, marketers everywhere have embraced the Trump-inspired “Make [insert industry] Great Again” slogan to push their products.
When his chef suggested putting up a sign that said “Black Olives Matter,” Rick Camuglia thought it was a “cute play on words” he believed would draw customers to try their black olives, he told KOB. “It was literal. There was nothing positive or negative about [Black Lives Matter] that inspired us to put that on the sign.”
But the sign created an immediate backlash, with customers leaving incendiary comments and bad reviews on the restaurant’s Facebook page. Folks called the sign “offensive,” “tacky and hideous” and “in very bad taste.”
Others, however, defended the owner’s advertising banner and sense of humor. “It’s ok to have a sense of humor,” one wrote. “As a chef I understand that you weren’t trying to be offense. In our industry humor is the only thing that takes the stress away from our job. It’s unfortunate the only people who work in the trade will understand.”
The restaurant owner and crew reassured their customers on Friday: Paisano’s would stay open, and continue serving their favorite pasta dishes, sandwiches and pizzas—with double black olives (on the side).
