Kicked Out Over Sneakers: Umi Sushi Under Fire For Discrimination

Umi Sushi, an upscale sushi restaurant in Atlanta, booted a black couple for wearing sneakers while other white patrons wearing sneakers were left undisturbed. The man claimed racial discrimination, as not all patrons have to abide by the same rules. 

 What We Know:

• A video surfaced on social media Wednesday of a black man being kicked out of Umi Sushi, an upscale sushi restaurant in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. Kaylan Colbert, the man’s wife, recorded the viral video. 
• The couple was asked to leave the restaurant after they had been seated for an apparent dress code violation, wearing sneakers. The dress code does not allow sneakers. This code is communicated through Open Table, by reservation, and a plaque in the restaurant. The man was specifically wearing all-white Air Force Ones. 
• As he was leaving, the man noticed another patron, a white woman wearing a pair of Adidas sneakers, and she was not being asked to leave. So from this, the man claimed racial discrimination. He questioned the restaurant staff and asked why he had to leave and not this other patron, who appeared to be violating the same dress code. 
• When accused of discrimination, the staff attempted to emphasize with the customer saying, “we’re all minorities here”. 
• In an interview with Fox5, Colbert’s response to the situation is as followed, “If you’re going to have rules, they should apply to everyone and not just some people.” 
• The couple has visited the establishment multiple times without incident despite Colbert’s husband wearing gym shoes with their previous visits. 
• After leaving the building, the situation escalated as an argument occurred between the husband and Arshid, the restaurant’s owner.
• “We absolutely mishandled it”, said Arshid in an interview with USA Today. “I’m ashamed of that … we should’ve managed the situation much better.” He believes the incident should’ve been investigated more before asking the couple to leave. Arshid has since reached out to the couple to apologize and has tried to correct the situation. 

According to Colbert’s Instagram, she has not accepted his apology.