BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A North Buffalo bar will voluntarily close after numerous complaints were made to the Erie County Department of Health following a protest on Hertel Avenue Tuesday night.
On the same day the health department announced it would investigate MT Pockets, the City of Buffalo announced the bar was voluntarily shutting down. A large group of counterprotesters gathered outside the bar during the protest on Tuesday. A 7 Eyewitness News crew captured some of the protest.
In a news conference on Wednesday, Mayor Byron Brown said MT Pockets violated social distancing and mask guidelines.
Right now, it's unclear when MT Pockets will reopen. The establishment provided the following statement to 7 Eyewitness News via email:
The management of MT Pockets does not condone racism. The individual with a knife and who spoke vile racist words last week was never in our establishment. Yesterday, we tried to let people know this. We tried to say we support people of all races. This was not the right time or place to carry on that conversation with people.
We are sorry that things got out of control and some of our customers acted inappropriately yesterday. We do not tolerate racism in our establishment. We are saddened that our establishment is being viewed in this manner. We do not condone racism or violence.
We support the recommendations from the Mayor and the Buffalo Police. We look forward to meeting with the Mayor next week and we will comply with any and all health and safety regulations both inside and outside our establishment.
