In an unexpected turn of events, Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery, a former vegan restaurant located in Los Angeles, was taken by vegan protesters this past Sunday. The restaurant’s owner, Mollie Engelhart, relayed the chaotic events of the day, saying she was forced to call the police when protesters descended on her establishment. However, she reported, it took a full three hours for the police to arrive. As a result, frightened customers quickly left, leaving Engelhart with no other option but to close down for the day, on Father’s Day no less.
Engelhart described the disturbing situation as follows: “On Father’s Day, I’m trying to focus on my husband and my children and deliver quality customer service to other families who have chosen Sage for their Father’s Day experience. These individuals entered my restaurant, harassed my patrons and employees, defaced my property, and openly stated their desire to see me go out of business.”
This incident highlights Engelhart’s growing concern over the increasing crime rates in Southern California, which she believes is making it harder for her to keep her small business going.
The rebranding of Sage Plant Based Bistro to Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery took place just last month. This shift involved adding animal-based products like beef, bison, cheese, and eggs to the menu, an announcement made on social media that sparked backlash within the vegan community. Engelhart, who is committed to the practice of regenerative agriculture focusing on soil health, biodiversity, and natural processes, defended her decision, suggesting activists direct their energy towards more urgent issues.
Engelhart’s struggle continues. “Last Friday night, a stabbing happened right outside the restaurant,” she shared. “The neighborhood already feels chaotic and frightening without this additional pressure. The harassment these individuals are directing towards guests and staff inside the restaurant is illegal, but the police response time was three hours.”
Restaurant owner in Los Angeles had to close her place on Sunday after vegan protesters took it over with their mob of screaming lunatics.
In a sane city the police would’ve been there immediately to arrest and jail these protesters.
California is lost.pic.twitter.com/owSODmKM77
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) June 18, 2024
Echo Park, home to the restaurant, is a community beset with crime. Engelhart and her family, who once owned a farm in California, moved to Texas during the pandemic. They now manage a ranch there but make frequent trips back to California to manage the restaurants Engelhart still has in the city.
It might be time for Engelhart’s to leave Cali for good.
Engelhart reflects on the area’s decline, “When I first moved into Echo Park, there was significant crime, but there was a sense of order, and the neighborhood had seen an influx of investment, becoming expensive and beautiful. Now, we’ve reverted to high levels of crime. Two of the three drug stores in the neighborhood have closed due to theft. My building is half vacant, as is the entire block.”
