Cross Cafe

Controversy

The swastika is controversial in some parts of the world due to usage by the Third Reich.

The Hitler-themed restaurant caused an uproar in the Jewish community in Mumbai and other citizens in the city. Although the store's owner, Punit Sablok, argued that his establishment was not promoting Hitler, Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation, was among the infuriated. According to the Associated Press, there are just 5,500 Jews in India, and all but 1,000 live in Mumbai. Sablok's refusal to change the theme earned the restaurant notoriety around the world as strongly worded letters from Israel and Germany outpoured in the city's dailies. The Israeli Embassy also sent a strongly-worded letter to the owners.

On 24 August 2006, after less than a week of international outcry and a meeting with local Jewish leaders, Sablok agreed to remove Hitler's name and the Nazi swastika from billboards and the restaurant's menu. At that point, he said he was unsure of the name to be chosen. The Indian Jewish Federation reacted positively, saying it was relieved. "The incident exposes the lack of understanding of the present generation about the atrocities of the past and the need to educate them about crimes against humanity," Solomon said.

On 30 August, the restaurant was renamed the Cross Cafe. Two other options, Fort Knox and Exotic Goblet, were considered by the owners before they decided on the new name, Sabhlok added. Puneet Sablok said the Nazi swastika that adorned signs advertising the eatery and its menus would be removed.

Other similar establishments

Adolf Hitler Techno Bar & Cocktail Show used to exist in Busan, South Korea, though by 2003 it had been renamed to the Ddolf Ditler Techno Bar & Cocktail Show, and then renamed again after Julius Caesar. By 2011, the bar was replaced by Carnival Song Club karaoke bar. In Bandung, Indonesia, there is a Nazi-themed cafe named "Soldatenkaffee"; however, the cafe claimed to be a World War II theme instead of a Nazi theme.

References

References

1. News, Taiwan. (29 August 2006). "Mumbai restaurant renamed The Cross Cafe, Hitler dropped from name {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} 2006-08-29 23:36:36".
2. ''[https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060821/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_india_hitler Mumbai's "Hitler" eatery angers Indian Jews]''{{dead link. (July 2012, by Krittivas Mukherjee, ''Reuters'', 19 August 2006.)
3. "New restaurant bears Hitler's name - Boston.com".
4. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20060829210739/http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/24/sports/fuhrer.php In India, a café named Hitler's Cross]''{{dead link. (July 2012, by Anand Giridharadas, in the ''International Herald Tribune'', 24 August 2006.)
5. (July 2012, Reuters news bulletin, 24 August 2006.)
6. "Top News, Latest headlines, Latest News, World News & U.S News - UPI.com".
7. (29 August 2006). "Mumbai's Hitler Cross renamed 'The Cross Cafe'". Expressindia.com.
8. "A Visit to The Hitler Bar".
9. ''[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/nazithemed-caf-in-indonesia-reopens--keeping-the-swastikas-and-images-of-hitler-it-pledged-to-remove-9554643.html Nazi-themed café in Indonesia reopens—keeping the swastikas and images of Hitler it pledged to remove ]'', The Independent UK, 22 June 2014.
10. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110525120946/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7004602502 ''Hitler-themed Restaurant Causing Uproar In Mumbai''] by Shaveta Bansal, in ''All Headline News'', 21 August 2006.