Soon-To-Be Restaurant Faces Backlash Over Controversial Name, Owner Refuses To Apologize

Soon-To-Be Restaurant Faces Backlash Over Controversial Name, Owner Refuses To Apologize | September 18, 2023

A yet-to-be-opened restaurant in Amarillo has become the focus of intense racial controversy because of its name and sign.

Jesse Quackenbush, an attorney, and owner of “Big Beaners” restaurant, stated that the inspiration for the name came from the fact that the restaurant would be selling Mexican food, coffee, and beans.

“And there’s no intention of racism behind that sign, the sign was merely trying to connect the brand with the product,” he said.

Abel Bosquez, president of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, had a different opinion about the restaurant’s name.

“It was a word that was used like you beaners, you wetback, you dirty Mexicans,” he said.

Quackenbush responded: “If anyone took the time to read the menu and look at the logo and understand it’s a kidney bean not an Abel Bosquez or some Mexican that’s bored at some committee. There’s no racist intention, I’m not a racist, we don’t cater to racists, we don’t have anything to do with racists, so Abel Bosquez is simply wrong.”