
Williamsburg Coffee Shop Bars Pro-israel Congressman Dan Goldman, Issues Refund
A Brooklyn coffee shop is facing criticism after publicly announcing it refunded a purchase made by Rep. Dan Goldman and said he was no longer welcome at the business because of his support for Israel.
Poetica Coffee posted a photo of Goldman on social media Sunday and said it had refunded the cost of his coffee, accusing the congressman of supporting policies it opposes in the Israel-Hamas war.
The post drew sharp criticism from Jewish advocacy groups and civil rights advocates, who questioned whether the shop’s actions were discriminatory and pointed to the business’s stated commitment to welcoming all customers.
Mark Treyger called the move troubling and said businesses should not single out customers based on perceived political or religious affiliations.
Goldman responded by saying he purchased the coffee as a courtesy after staff allowed his young daughter to use the restroom. He said the employees he encountered were kind and expressed disappointment with the social media post.
Employees at the Williamsburg coffee shop declined further comment, saying only that they oppose genocide.