Pizza Parlor Owner Who Bear-Hugged Obama Says People Are Boycotting His Store Now

[teko]

UPDATE: It seems there are consequences to bear-hugging the president. Scott Van Duzer, who became famous overnight for lifting President Obama, tells Politico that “people are saying a lot of bad things and boycotting my restaurant.”


Monday, Sept. 10 at 7:27 a.m.: President Obama got more of a lift than he likely bargained for when he walked into the Big Apple Pizza & Pasta Restaurant in Fort Pierce, Fla. Sunday. The place was nearly empty but the owner, Scott Van Duzer, couldn’t hide his excitement to have the commander-in-chief visit his store.


Obama quickly began admiring Van Duzer’s physique. “Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I’ve ever seen,” Obama told the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Van Duzer. “Everybody look at these guns.”


The two men hugged, and Van Duzer seemingly couldn’t resist the urge to lift the president off the ground. (Video after the jump.) "Look at that!" Obama exclaimed once back on the ground. "Man, are you a powerlifter or what?" Indeed, notes Politico, Van Duzer later said he can bench-press 350 pounds.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2012/09/10/video_obama_bear_hug_lift_off_ground_by_scott_van_duzer_bigg_apple_pizza_florida.html

[orphanedhawk]

I agree with you that hanging a ground to roof sign on their building is not a smart thing to do, business wise. It will alienate some people and isn't about to attract converts.

[brice1967]

You're the consumer, so spend where you wish.  I like mom and pop joints too and try to support some of them.  Recently, we went into a mom and pop drug store to pick up a lancet pen, to check my wifes blood glucose levels and the thing was $30!!!!!   A brand new kit doesn't cost $30!!!!  

Hello K-Mart......

[specialmom]

I don't much care about people's politics----  I have friends and family for that matter that believe all sorts of things I may or may not.  No big deal.  But, that darn hardware store became political when they hung what I considered to be offensive political signs on their building.  It really bugged me.  And when I am irritated, I'm irritated.  I think it is stupid to use your business as your place to spout your political beliefs.  It wasn't that they just had the beliefs but they hung ground to roof signs.  Ugh.  

I am not hypocritical.  If I'm irritated, I don't pretend I'm not.  And that place irritated me.  

Ha.  Okay, I sound mean and nasty, don't I?  

[orphanedhawk]

I used to go to a feed store back when we had horses, that had Rush Limbaugh babbling on the radio all the time. I didn't know who it was for a long time.
They never put signs in their windows or talked their politics with me so I continued to shop there. They can listen to whatever radio station they want to, no problem.

If they were to push it with big sign, like the Tea Party supporters, I wouldn't shop there.

Now, if it was good pizza I'd eat there whether it was Romney or Obama who was in there. I don't demand fellow diners agree with me politically.

[rivll]

That is an interesting point. I was just thinking as I read the posts, that I really couldn't care less if I shopped at a store run by Democrats or Republicans but then ...the tea party folks? Oh no way- especially not if they advertised it.
Better not to tell and B. is right- best not to get into politics or religion if you want to run a successful business.
M-That was funny about buying a whole pizza to balance the losses...Haha

[specialmom]

Funny that this is news.  There is a hardware store that is a mom and pop shop by me.  I'm pretty prone to shopping at places like that because I want to support the 'little guy'.  This shop was one I'd been to many times.  Then, they 'revealed' themselves as big time tea party members with a big sign.  Guess what, I've not been back.  They put up signs about a school levy in my area that we desperately needed trying to get people to vote against it.  

Now, I probably shouldn't hold their political affiliation against them.  But I do.  And I would rather not give that store any money.  And that is my choice.  And I have a lot of school PTA friends that also won't shop there either.  I think it is human nature to be choosey when you can because so much in life you have no choice about.  

I'm Republican, by the way.