New Restaurant Bears Hitler's Name

**Phatie** · 08.23.06, 10:36 AM

Aug 23, 9:51 AM EDT

New Restaurant Bears Hitler's Name

Customers leave after visiting 'Hitler's Cross' a restaurant at Kharghar, New Bombay, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Bombay, India, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006. Hitler's Cross, a four-day old restaurant has riled the small Jewish community in India's financial capital, but its owner has no plans to make amends. (AP Photo/Gautam Singh)

By AIJAZ ANSARI
Associated Press Writer

BOMBAY, India (AP) -- When Hitler's Cross restaurant opened four days ago in a Bombay suburb, local politicians and movie industry types were on hand to celebrate beneath the posters of the Nazi leader and swastikas.

The owner insisted then - and still does - that the name and theme of his new eatery is only meant to attract attention, even if it has outraged Bombay's Jewish community.

"It's really made people very upset that a person responsible for the massacre of 6 million Jews can be glorified," Elijah Jacob, one of the community's leaders, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

But owner Puneet Sablok has refused to back down, and apart from Bombay's 4,500 Jews, there's been little controversy in India, where Holocaust awareness is limited, Hitler is regarded as just another historical figure and swastikas are an ancient Hindu symbol, displayed all over to bring luck. There are just 5,500 Jews in all of India.

"It's just to attract people. There is no intention to hurt anyone," said Sablok about his spacious restaurant, which serves pastries, pizza and salad in Navi Mumbai, a northern suburb of Bombay, which is also known as Mumbai.

Those objecting to the restaurant plan to ask the local government to force a name change, said Daniel Zonshine, Israel's consul general in Bombay.

"Instead of Hitler's name being an example of extreme evil, this is like giving legitimacy to Hitler. It's not right to advertise his name in public," Zonshine said.

But while India is ordinarily sensitive to causing religious offense - recently taking action to bar "The Da Vinci Code" movie and cartoon drawings of the prophet Muhammad - at least one local leader said the name Hitler didn't bother him.

"People are unnecessarily making this into an issue," said Sudhir Jadhav, a local ruling party leader. "We have no plans to protest outside the restaurant or ask him to change the name."

Diners were also quite happy eating in Hitler's Cross.

"Hitler was a bad man, but what's wrong with having food here?" said Ashwini Phadnis, 22, a microbiology student as she tucked away a piece of chocolate cake.

Engineering student Anand Dhillon sat with friends, sipping soft drinks. "I think the name is quite interesting. Tomorrow if someone keeps a name like Saddam Mutton Shop or George Bush Footwear, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?" he shrugged.

http://ap.washingtontimes.com/dynami...S&SECTION=HOME

**WinterlessIceness** · 08.23.06, 10:55 AM

Always hated India and their inhabitants, now one more reason.

**Filthy 150** · 08.23.06, 11:39 AM

On the sign it says 'From small bites to ??????'

I see really bad jokes here......

**Phatie** · 08.23.06, 11:47 AM

I am officially boycotting my local 7-11 until this restaurant changes its name.

The little ma & pop store up the street is owned by Israelis, so I'll shop there instead.

**chefcraig** · 08.23.06, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Phatie

I am officially boycotting my local 7-11 until this restaurant changes its name.

I already am. Apparently this "mom and pop" Indian owned store has some black-market deal in which they somehow get hold of cigarettes deemed for export sale, and sell them illegally here. They have no Florida seal on the bottom (first clue) and they are usually stale, being about a year old.

They gave me shit about trying to return them until I mentioned that maybe I should call the newspaper about their little "arrangement". They exchanged the stale ones for fresh ones, giving me several packs extra.

I never went back. Fuck 'em.

**MattWales** · 08.23.06, 12:45 PM

man.

These people need to go to http://www.hatefree.com/

When is someone going to call me. man. I could chnage the world.

get me on TV and the news. The hate will end world wide.

How long do I have to wait. UGGGGG call me!

**the_atomic_punks_rule** · 08.23.06, 01:19 PM

Anyone need some dots...my new store "Ghandi's a Stinky Pussy" just opened! I kid I kid....

**Phatie** · 08.23.06, 01:20 PM

Matt,

No thanks for the Jackson video. I hate the Jacksons. Hey Matt, how many t-shirts did you sell today pimping Jackson songs on your site? You're probably too busy to fix the typos on the site too, and I'm sure all your sales get donated to the Jacksons?

Wow, thanks, that site changed my life. I think I've had some sort of spiritual awakening.

Ph@

**ZeoBandit** · 08.23.06, 02:16 PM

Fuck that place.

**jd5150** · 08.23.06, 02:20 PM

Am I to assume I can't get my Bagel, Lox and Cream Cheese at this "fine" establishment?

I don't know what is worse, the owners of the restaurant or the patrons that see no problem with this! This just spreads anti-semitism and intolerance. I would not have expected this in India at all, they are a pretty peaceful nation... so I thought.

**Rovus** · 08.23.06, 02:34 PM

Man, I would so love to dress up like these blokes and drive through that restaurant causing a huge ruckess.

I'm on a mission from God, baby!

**Axxman300** · 08.23.06, 03:17 PM

What I don't understand is that Hitler was a lousy cook, he burned everything.I could see naming it after Herman Goering, that guy was a montser in the kitchen. Sure he was fat but that was all home cooking, but Hitler? The guy was a vegitarian anyway.

**MattWales** · 08.23.06, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Phatie

Matt,

No thanks for the Jackson video. I hate the Jacksons. Hey Matt, how many t-shirts did you sell today pimping Jackson songs on your site? You're probably too busy to fix the typos on the site too, and I'm sure all your sales get donated to the Jacksons?

Wow, thanks, that site changed my life. I think I've had some sort of spiritual awakening.

Ph@

LOL.

I took the jackons off.

the song is about everyone "the world" all races working togther.

I will be redoing this site with serrious note now.

The time is now. Thanks for the feedback.

please buy a hate free shirt. I sold only one.

i will send you one free if you will wear it.

just drop me a note

I got like 500 of them I printed up that i never sold.

stay "hate free"

**MattWales** · 08.23.06, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by the_atomic_punks_rule

Anyone need some dots...my new store "Ghandi's a Stinky Pussy" just opened! I kid I kid....

time to agitate the dots?

**Phatie** · 08.23.06, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by MattWales

LOL.

I took the jackons off.

the song is about everyone "the world" all races working togther.

I will be redoing this site with serrious note now.

The time is now. Thanks for the feedback.

please buy a hate free shirt. I sold only one.

i will send you one free if you will wear it.

just drop me a note

I got like 500 of them I printed up that i never sold.

stay "hate free"

I'll take a shirt if you paypal me 11.95 + S&H (6.95)

I'll give you a 15% discount for any amount of shirts over 20 QTY.

Ph@