Box Hill Pizzeria Owner: 'Racists Are Not Welcome Here'

ABINGDON, MD — A new sign at Box Hill Pizzeria & Crabcakes reads: “Hate has no home here.”

Several people suggested signage showing the restaurant does not tolerate racism after a Black patron said she was called a racial slur and a staffer condoned it. The server has since been fired.

A woman who identified herself as the diner’s relative brought the incident to light on Facebook.

“My heart is breaking," wrote Joyce Cromwell of Forest Hill, before sharing what she said happened to her cousin. “She was by herself, and decided to eat in. While she was there, she went to get her drink. There were 4 or 5 men sitting at a table. As she walked by their table one of the men said to their waitress, ‘Oh I didn’t know you served [racial slur] in here.’ And the waitress replied back: ‘Oh, they come in from time to time.’”

Tom Kanaras, who owns the restaurant with his brother, said he learned what happened through social media. At the time, he was in Ocean City and immediately returned to Harford County to address it. He reached out to the Black customer and her family, spoke with staff and watched surveillance tape, which he said by law cannot have sound in the state of Maryland.

The server denied the incident occurred, according to the restaurateur.

“She said nothing was said,” Kanaras told Patch. “I had to make a decision as an owner.”

He fired her.

"Racism has no business in my business or in this world. There is no gray area,” Kanaras said.

“We wanted to do something about that, unlike some of these places that want to deny it," Kanaras said. "I’m not going to deny that it happened when she said it did.”

The Black patron had been eating lunch at Box Hill Pizzeria & Crabcakes around 1 p.m. July 6 and, less than 24 hours later, the restaurant issued a statement condemning racism.

“Racism is an ugly part of our society, and if we could make it disappear, we would,” the statement said. “The waitress involved was fired within a minute of our learning about the incident. If we had been made aware immediately when it happened, the racists involved would have been made to leave, and would be barred from ever coming into Box Hill Pizzeria again.”

Kanaras met with his staff to ensure everyone was clear on how customers should be treated.

“Everyone has a right to come through that front door and be treated with respect. Staff either has to accept that ... or find somewhere else to work," he said. "If you have views that are going to hurt or if you want to be mean to everybody and if you want to spread that word, don’t come here. That’s not what I’m about, that’s not what my brother is about, and we hope that’s not what our employees are about."

Kanaras said he spoke with the cousin of the Black woman who experienced racism in his restaurant and wants to keep the dialogue open.

“I called the family and I talked to them and I want to meet with them," he told Patch.

Cromwell, who posted of the initial incident, shared on Facebook that she was satisfied with the actions.

“They have taken care of the situation,” Cromwell said. “Mr. Kanaras has asked for the Black community to communicate with them so that this does not happen again. Yes we will be going back to his restaurant.”

Patch has contacted Cromwell seeking comment from her or the woman who was targeted but has not received a response.

In the Box Hill statement on Facebook, the owners asked the Black community to help guide them.

“Since we are white, just spelling out our love of everyone in our community is likely not enough to stem the anger that has arisen as a result,” the Kanaras brothers wrote. “So to the family members, we ask, and then to the African American community we ask, for your input on how to weather this storm, how to best communicate our values and our sincere feelings of regret that this could ever happen in our establishment. We are all family here, treat everyone like family, always have, always will, but need your help, so please positively help guide us.”

The post has received more than 700 likes and 300 shares in the past week as well as more than 350 comments, including some who suggested putting a sign on the door taking a stand against racism.

Signage went up Thursday.

In addition, an Edgewood woman recommended hiring more-diverse staff and retraining current ones.

One Black man commented: “Y’all hiring,” and Box Hill responded: “cmon in and talk to us. ask for a manager.”

A Black pastor and a Black athlete are among those planning to talk to the staff about racism, said Kanaras, who plans to have regular meetings on the topic.

“Racists are not welcome here,” Kanaras said. “Everyone has a right to sit in here, has a right to come in and enjoy their lunch or dinner, whatever, and if they are not feeling that way, we want to be notified on the spot."

He said he was glad that Cromwell spoke out.

“It’s been way overdue that this needs to stop. I respect the fact that they’re speaking out about it. You can’t stay silent on this issue," he said.

"Maybe in the long run, something good is going to come out of it," Kanaras told Patch. "If we can help, if we can do our part … that’s a start, to let people know that it won’t be tolerated."

See Also:

• Box Hill Restaurant Recognized for 30 Years in Business
• Best Crabcakes In Maryland: Here's What You Said