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This summer, too, a number of cases have served as a reminder of how entrenched discrimination is in the world of hospitality and gastronomy. In late July, restaurant Manko, a chic eatery in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, was accused with supporting video of refusing blacks entry. Shortly thereafter, an investigation by SOS Racisme uncovered the discriminatory system operated by lifeguards in Juan-les-Pins (Alpes-Maritimes) to refuse the rental of sun loungers to customers of North African origin. But what about the outrage of the media and politicians with the outcome of these cases when the judiciary takes care of them?
The case of L’Avenue restaurant, a posh restaurant also located on Avenue Montaigne in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, is significant. In 2018, when media outlet BuzzFeed exposed the discriminatory system put in place by the management of this Costes Group entity, the reactions were fierce and the complaints numerous. The director Alexandre Denis is then accused of having oppressed women with veils or people with Arabic-sounding names as much as possible.
The Avenue restaurant in Paris. © Photo Nasser Berzane / Abaca
According to numerous documents and the testimonies of waitresses and hostesses, the method was well established. “Every time a hostess took a reservation from a customer with an Arabic name, he (the manager) would ask who had accepted that reservation and remind them of the instruction to refuse as much as possible and pretend the restaurant was full,” he said from a waitress.
In addition to the many testimonials, the messages published in the employees’ WhatsApp group showed the extent to which the discriminatory instructions from the management were repeated, accepted and processed by the employees. “Park Hyatt [un hôtel parisien], I told them that tomorrow we will be complete for lunch !! They are pushing for two (persons) in the name of Al Saud tomorrow at noon, be careful not to say yes to them when asking for a reservation for 4 under a different name, otherwise they will know it is not complete. They said they would call back tomorrow so be careful. Thank you girls”, for example, a manager sent to the hostesses who are responsible for the reservation.