Popular Stephen Starr restaurants boycotted by Democrats
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Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined a call to boycott Starr restaurants over labor disputes. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images and Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Top Democrats in the House and Senate are boycotting hot Washington, D.C. restaurants that include those owned by famed Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr over labor disputes.
Why it matters: The targeted restaurants in Starr's empire include some of the buzziest spots for Democratic fundraisers.
Driving the news: More than 50 House and Senate Democrats have signed onto Unite Here Local 25's pledge to avoid six D.C. venues.
Zoom in: Starr, who is a Democratic donor, is facing boycotts of his Le Diplomate, Osteria Mozza and The Occidental.
- The other three boycotted restaurants are founded by chef Ashok Bajaj of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group.
The list: Among the signers are some of Democrats' top fundraisers and biggest names, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
- Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are also on the list.
Meanwhile, Philly Reps. Brendan Boyle, Dwight Evans and Mary Gay Scanlon signed the boycott list, per Unite Here's website.
- U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and Philly-regional Rep. Madeleine Dean were not on the pledge list as of Friday.
Between the lines: Political groups and candidates have spent thousands of dollars at those spots over the past year, federal campaign records show.
- Former President Obama and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made headlines when they dined at Osteria Mozza in January.
- Then-President Biden was a repeat customer at Le Diplomate during his presidency.
What they're saying: Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told Axios: "We can have big policy debates, but we also have to show the American people some concrete examples."
- He added: "This is our opportunity when we're here in Washington, D.C. to not just go vote in the Capitol but actually go out in the community and make a difference."
- "We can say that all members on the list are personally boycotting," Benjy Cannon, a spokesperson for the union, told Axios in a message. "Many of them have been meeting personally with STARR and Knightsbridge workers all year."
The other side: "Local 25's call for a boycott is baseless," Starr restaurants said in a statement. "A boycott of any kind can result in lost hours, wages, and tips that hardworking employees rely upon."
- "It is unfortunate that an organization that claims to want to represent employees would call for an action that would harm them."
- "We respect our employees' wishes," Bajaj said. "How many of these congress members even know themselves that they're signing?"
Zoom out: Starr's restaurant group has accused Unite Here Local 25 of overly aggressive tactics.
- That includes union reps showing up with petitions outside employees' homes, leading one bartender to sign it even though she planned to vote against a union, as Eater reported in February.
- Francisco López, a Le Diplomate server of five years, told Axios some employees are holding counter protests to the union.
- Bajaj told Axios there haven't been picket lines outside Rasika or his other restaurants in four months.