A Longview businessman says a racial comment posted on his business sign last week is the last straw and he’s considering selling his businesses.
Cody Kohet, co-owner of Honky Tonk Tavern, said he received a phone call from a friend on March 24 that the letters on the tavern’s sign were rearranged to spell out “[N-word] Lane Live Apr 2.”
“It impacts the whole village,” he said.
“There’s been racism for I don’t know how long. There’s not much you can do.”
Kohet said he had closed the tavern, as well as the Highway 22 Liquor Store, which he also owns, for a few weeks due to slow business before re-opening them in mid March.
The sign, which he uses to advertise live performers in the tavern, stands about 20-feet tall and requires a ladder to access, he said.
“The top row of letters is at least 15 feet high,” he said. “This took some thinking because the sign is very high. It’s not for the faint of heart.”
Kohet, whose family has lived in Longview for five generations, said he is unsure who the comment was directed at in the predominantly-Caucasian community.
The incident follows recent cases of vandalism at the two businesses.
He said someone threw a rock through a window at his liquor store a month ago and his back gate was damaged last fall.
He is considering closing his Longview businesses after recent vandalism and disagreements with Village administration, which has led him to meet with a Municipal Affairs inspector next month as part of the provincial government’s review of the Village operations.
“The place makes good money, but I’m tired of putting up with all of this crap,” he said. “I’m thinking about putting it up for sale.”
Longview resident Rick Smith considers the message left on the restaurant’s sign as harmful for the small village of around 300 citizens.
“It affects people,” he said. “Unfortunately, when these things happen it reflects on the whole community and I think we all know this is not the community we are. It’s very disappointing.”
The racial comment is uncalled for, Smith said.
“That type of remark, whether it’s a joke or whatever, is hurtful and it has no positive affect on anybody,” he said.
“It’s just a shame and I hope they can get to the bottom of it and take appropriate action. Certainly it doesn’t reflect the overall attitude of most people in Longview and hopefully nobody will interpret it as that.”
