DC For Palestine
Boycott Backlash: Israeli Restaurant Chain Forced to Shut Down in US Capital
Israeli-owned vegetarian restaurant chain Shouk closes its last DC location due to pro-Palestinian boycott pressure, citing harassment and revenue loss amid Gaza conflict.
The Israeli-owned restaurant chain "Shouk," which specialized in kosher vegetarian cuisine, has shuttered its final location in the Washington, D.C. area, attributing the closure to a relentless boycott campaign led by pro-Palestinian activists.
The fast-casual chain, which had operated five branches over the last decade, was co-owned by American Jew Dennis Friedman and Israeli Ran Nussbacher. Its menu featured Middle Eastern vegetarian staples such as falafel, hummus, and lentil stews.
Owners Cite Harassment and Revenue Loss
In statements to media, the owners detailed the severe impact of continuous harassment and a sustained consumer boycott initiated shortly after the start of the conflict in Gaza.
"The ability to continue operating was no longer there," Friedman stated, lamenting the closure and the necessity of dismissing the remaining 30 employees. "I feel terrible because Shouk was not a political place; Shouk was a place where people came together. To be targeted and mislabeled and thrown into things that are not true, it's upsetting."
Activists Claim "BDS Win"
The boycott campaign was spearheaded by local groups, including DC for Palestine, which celebrated the closure on social media with the declaration, "BDS wins in D.C."
Activists primarily targeted Shouk for importing Israeli products and for what they termed "cultural appropriation" of Palestinian cuisine, further accusing the business of "collaborating with Israeli apartheid." The group labelled Shouk as "one of the principal targets" of its consumer boycott initiative.