After Geno’s Decision, Similar Signs Flourish
March 25, 2008 –
In the days following the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations' decision to dismiss discrimination charges against Geno's Steaks owner Joey Vento–for his shop's sign reading, "This is America; When Ordering, Please Speak English"–hundreds of businesses across the city have rushed to post similar notices. "The commission said that [Vento] was acting within his rights, so I put up my own little sign," said Harriet Lowry of the new 'Uglies Welcome, But Not Really' placard on the door of her Walnut Street boutique. "It's basically a free-speech issue."
 Other merchants agreed. "I was originally disappointed by the ruling–but then I started thinking," said restaurateur Mark Somerville, gesturing proudly to his BYOB's window sign, which reads, "Obese? Try Applebee's." "It's something I've wanted to convey for a while, but I just wasn't sure how." Qadir Fields, owner of Feltonville's Diamond Barbershop, had similar words. "It's not like a whole lot of white folks come in here anyway," he said of his sign, which simply shows a 50's-style illustration of a Caucasian behind a barred red circle. "But it's more for my customers anyway. They really get a kick out of it."
Vento seemed pleased that the months-long controversy surrounding his own sign had spawned a citywide trend. "Hey, I always said I wasn't doing anything wrong–and neither are they," he said of the other business-owners. "It... it just makes me so proud to be an American," he added, wiping away a tear with a paper napkin. Lowry agreed, insisting that "there's nothing wrong with these kinds of signs. I mean, just yesterday, an ugly girl came in, and I served her just like I would anyone else. Although she did kind of make me angry."
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