“F— Jews,” “Jews work here” Restaurant forced to shut down amid Anti-Semitic hate crime

An Applebee’s restaurant in Miamisburg, Ohio was forced to close its doors on Saturday after anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered spray-painted across the building. The disturbing vandalism included swastikas and hateful messages such as “F— Jews” and “Jews work here,” scrawled across the east and south walls of the restaurant.

Police were called to the scene shortly before 8 a.m. and launched an investigation. According to the Dayton Daily News, officers interviewed the restaurant’s opening manager, who reported being unaware of any conflicts involving staff or customers and could not suggest possible suspects. Unfortunately, nearby security cameras did not capture clear images of the individuals responsible.

By the afternoon, employees had begun power-washing the building in an attempt to remove the offensive markings, but the impact of the hateful act was already felt by the local community and employees.

Applebee’s executives quickly denounced the incident. Rodney Conant, president of operations for Applebee’s and Casual Dining, issued a statement emphasizing the company’s zero-tolerance stance. “We have no tolerance for discrimination of any kind at Applebee’s and are deeply saddened by the vandalism that occurred at our Miamisburg restaurant,” he said.

John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands and interim president of Applebee’s, also addressed the incident. “We are disgusted by, and condemn, the vandalism that occurred at the Miamisburg Applebee’s. Guest and team member safety will always be our top priority and there is no place for anti-Semitic, or any form of hate speech in our neighbourhoods,” he said.

Kelly Fishman, Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), noted that while such acts are more common in larger Ohio cities, they are still unusual in smaller communities like Miamisburg. “Unfortunately, we do have extremist acts here in Ohio,” she explained. “It’s important to not platform these groups and help people find the resources they need so we can fight back against that ideology.”

Local authorities continue to investigate the incident as community members and advocacy groups rally to support the restaurant staff and reaffirm the town’s stance against hate.