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Bar owner eager to meet with angry veterans |
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Written by Publisher
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Friday, 30 October 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
Vytas Abrutis, owner of the Nansen Hotel on Route 66 in Highland Township south of Kane, says military veterans are “more than welcome” at his business. He said his son, Rytis was “not too smart” when he posted an anti-military notice on the front door. Even though the sign has since been removed, many area veterans are still upset with the notice and plan to boycott the business.
A notice posted recently on a local barroom door has infuriated Kane area military veterans and those who support U.S. troops.
But the bar-owner claims the intent of the acrimonious notice is “misleading” and wants to meet with veterans to talk about the highly controversial issue that has led to threats of a boycott at the bar.
“I want to meet with our veterans to discuss what happened,” Vytas Abrutis, owner of the Nansen Hotel bar and restaurant, said Thursday. “I absolutely welcome veterans at the Nansen.”
The Nansen Hotel is located on Route 66 in Highland Township south of Kane. Abrutis and his son, Rytis, formerly of Philadelphia, have operated the bar for about four months.
According to a copy of the notice received by The Kane Republican, the message on the entrance door read:
“Warning. This place is for anti-U.S. government people and inspectors only. We believe in law and we are convinced that U.S. government does not represent any law.
“Those who support U.S. military or U.S. government are not welcome at Nansen.”
Abrutis said his son “did a stupid thing” by posting the notice on the entrance door. He said “I didn’t bother to read it first.” He said the sign no longer is posted on the door and is upset that the notice is conveying a “misleading” message to military veterans.
Abrutis, a native of Lithuania, admits that he is a harsh critic of government and various federal policies. But he said he has been a critic of government long before he moved to the U.S. Abrutis said he was imprisoned in his native land for criticizing the Soviet Union.
According to Abrutis, his beef is with certain facets of the U.S. government, not the men and women who have served in the military. He said he is anxious to make his views known to veterans and invites them to his business to hear him out.
Meanwhile, there is widespread uproar in the Kane community about the “warning” notice that once adorned the Nansen door.
Several veterans reportedly have vowed to lead a boycott against the bar.
BOB-FM radio in Kane has canceled its scheduled live Halloween night broadcast from the Nansen. Area merchants have donated prizes for the show, which has been moved to the Kane Motel from 6-8 p.m. Saturday.
Quentin J. Shutters, manager of the radio station also known as WLMI, said it is in “the best interests” of the company to move the site for the Halloween program. She said businesses which donated prizes “didn’t want to be associated” with the Nansen Hotel due to the rift over the notice.
Shutters said the radio station also is “very supportive of our troops” and felt it was best to cancel the event at the Nansen.
Abrutis said he is cognizant of the fact that the notice has created bad publicity for his business. But he said he hopes local veterans accept his invitation to visit the Nansen to speak with him to clarify the issue.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 09 November 2009 )
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