DC server fired over ‘unforgivable’ remarks about refusing service to

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Suzannah Van Rooy, a now-former server at Beuchert’s Saloon on Capitol Hill, found herself without a job after she mouthed off to a local media outlet about refusing to serve some members of the incoming Trump administration.

The establishment was quick to respond, showcasing the professionalism that defines much of the food and beverage industry in a statement that called Van Rooy’s remarks “reprehensible” and further stated that she had been terminated for violating their “zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.”

“I personally would refuse to serve any person in office who I know of as being a sex trafficker or trying to deport millions of people,” Van Rooy told The Washingtonian. “It’s not, ‘Oh, we hate Republicans.’ It’s that this person has moral convictions that are strongly opposed to mine, and I don’t feel comfortable serving them.”

“People were a lot more motivated the first time around to do those kinds of shows of passion. This time around, there is kind of a sense of defeat and acceptance,” Van Rooy said, referencing how some Trump officials were treated during his first term. “But I hope that people still do stand up to this administration and tell them their thoughts on their misbehavior.”

Beuchert’s Saloon also disputed Van Rooy’s claim that she was a manager — her LinkedIn page said her duties included daily operations, messaging strategies, developing relationships with influencers, managing in-house events for political figures and VIPs, according to the New York Post — the page has since been taken down.

(She also posted that she worked as an organizer for Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke’s failed run for governor in 2022.)

Beuchert’s initial statement, released on Thursday, said: “Recent comments made by a member of staff who had no authority to speak on behalf of our entire restaurant have been, quite rightly, flagged as inappropriate, hostile, intolerant, and unacceptable. This staff member does NOT speak for us as a restaurant,”

“After the inauguration in January, we will begin serving our fourth administration as a neighborhood restaurant on Capitol Hill open to all and welcoming to all. We have always been a safe space for all. Everyone, especially anyone who feels prejudged or misunderstood, will always find friendly service and a sympathetic ear at Beuchert’s Saloon,” the release continued, according to Fox News. “Again, we deeply apologize for the comments made by a member of staff. They are NOT representative of our restaurant and do not reflect how we operate as a business, and how proud we are to be a gathering place on Capitol Hill.”

On Friday, the establishment announced in a follow-up statement that Van Rooy had been dismissed, explaining that in addition to her “unforgivable behavior,” she had signed into its social media account and posted “wildly offensive” rhetoric.

“Not only do Ms. Van Rooy’s comments clearly violate our zero-tolerance policy on discrimination, but her decision to sign into our social media accounts in the middle of the night to post her own rhetoric in wildly offensive responses to comments is a further breach of conduct and protocol. She has no authority to speak on our behalf, and her comments do not reflect the positions of over twenty other people who make up our staff,” Beuchert’s Saloon said in Friday’s release.

“For these reasons as well as the sheer dismay and disgust we feel at her unforgivable behavior, Ms. Van Rooy has been dismissed immediately. Our staff and families (many of whom are personally offended by Ms. Van Rooy’s comments about them) are still reeling from what Ms. Van Rooy said and did, and we as a restaurant are simply horrified to be associated with base prejudice,” the statement added. “We are still the same restaurant known for its warm service and friendly staff, and hope you will all visit us soon. We look forward to serving you. All of you.”

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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.