A 琉璃神社 restaurant manager is frustrated after three young men allegedly vandalized her restaurant after being refused entry.

Wings Tap and Grill in the Rutland neighbourhood was spray-painted with obscene drawings after three young men were denied entry just after 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14.

According to manager Michele Saraceni, three young men tried to use the same screenshot of a vaccine passport鈥檚 QR code to gain entry to the restaurant. When the hostess asked for identification, they claimed to be underage and said they didn鈥檛 need to show identification. One of the men also admitted to being drunk.

That鈥檚 when Saraceni stepped in and denied them entry. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I told them they鈥檙e really not coming in here. I can鈥檛 have underaged drinkers in the establishment,鈥� she said.

But things took a turn from there. The three men became aggressive, saying Canada is a free country and they could do whatever they want. They also threatened to 鈥渟hank鈥� Saraceni and the hostess, along with other obscenities. The restaurant windows were tagged two hours later. The graffiti has since been scrubbed off.

鈥淚鈥檓 just frustrated. We have a really solid group of people who work here and come here who look out for each other, so we鈥檙e safe and protected that way. But we shouldn鈥檛 have to worry about stuff like that,鈥� said Saraceni.

Saraceni also said that the latest round of public health restrictions have been difficult for her and her staff. They are doing everything that they can to keep staff employed and everyone safe, and have been following public health orders since the pandemic started.

鈥淓veryone is entitled to an opinion, but when you start getting nasty and threatening, it鈥檚 got to end somewhere,鈥� she said.

When asked whether or not she will press charges, Saraceni said she doesn鈥檛 know.

鈥淚 would like to see something happen, but everyone keeps saying they will get a slap on the wrist because they are minors,鈥� said Saraceni.

鈥淵ou got to know what鈥檚 right from wrong. You made a choice, and now you should probably have to suffer the consequences,鈥� she added.

READ MORE: Anger, abuse and racism: Restaurant workers struggle to enforce vaccine mandates

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paula.tran@kelownacapnews.com
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