I imagine just about everyone has heard of the guy in Philadelphia who put the sign in his cheesesteak joint saying, "This is America. When ordering speak in English". Joe Vento is his name, and he explains the policy with, "Your loyalty should be to America and America only." The policy grants no exception for the half million tourists from outside of the U.S. who visit the City of Brotherly Love every year. I suppose our guests from all over the world can pack a sack lunch if they want to see the Liberty Bell, Constitution Hall and the birthplace of freedom as far as Joe is concerned.
Having traveled throughout Europe, Asia, South America and Mexico with only a pathetic knowledge of pigeon Spanish to supplement my English, I would have been mighty hungry had the restaurant owners I came across in my journeys shared Joe’s ignorant customer service philosophy. The ones that didn't speak English bent over backwards to find someone who did, or they played Charades with me until they were sure I left a satisfied customer.
Maybe Joe has all the money he needs, or maybe he just forgot who keeps him in business – his customers. No matter what your viewpoint is on immigration or any other social issue, telling customer to go to hell is just plain stupid.
Joe can go to hell as far as I’m concerned. He is an embarrassment to all Americans when he makes a mockery of the ‘birthplace of freedom’ and the ‘city of brotherly love’,.
And Joe is an embarrassment to all customer driven business people.
The title, for those whose Spanish is a little rusty : Hey Joe, Stick Your Cheesesteak Where The Sun Don’t Shine