Coffee Chain Owner Apologizes After Barista Insults, Denies Service to Man in MAGA Hat

A New Jersey man says he was denied service and insulted at a New York City coffee shop after walking in on the morning of Sept. 11 wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.

Anthony Pullis, 31, told Fox News Digital he stopped at Café Grumpy in the Financial District before heading to the 9/11 memorial ceremony at Ground Zero. He wore the MAGA hat in tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who had been shot and killed the day before, and also carried a photo of his father, Edward Pullis, who died in the South Tower during the 2001 terror attacks.

According to Pullis, the barista immediately looked at him and said, “No service.” At first, he thought the café might not be open, but after watching other customers receive their drinks, he realized the refusal was directed at him.

Pullis said his friend urged him to leave, but he felt compelled to stay and push back. “I felt a fire inside of me,” he said, explaining that walking away felt like the opposite of what Kirk would do.

He later returned with a family friend, retired firefighter Tommy Smith, whose father also died on 9/11. Smith, dressed in uniform, demanded that they be served. This time, the barista complied, but when Pullis asked why she had refused him earlier, she didn’t respond. He claims that as he left, she pushed his tip back and told him, “You’re disgusting.”

Pullis said he left shaken, especially on a day meant to honor the victims of the attacks. “This should have never happened,” he said. “But out of all the days, 9/11 should be the last day.”

Café Grumpy co-founder Caroline Bell later said she was “horrified” by the incident, confirming that disciplinary action had been taken against the employee. She added that staff had been reminded company policy forbids denying service based on personal appearance or beliefs. Pullis said he appreciated how management handled it but was disheartened it happened at all.

The controversy comes as other coffee chains face similar backlash. Starbucks recently drew attention after a TikTok video claimed a barista refused to write Charlie Kirk’s name on a cup, as fans of the conservative figure ordered his favorite drink in tribute following his death.