Chubby Chicks in Center City Receives Backlash from Neighbors

Owner of Chubby Chicks restaurant in Center City speaks out on community backlash

Source: Philippe Gerber / Getty

A Philadelphia eatery has been under fire by its surrounding neighbors

Chubby Chicks, a new restaurant in Center City, has been facing backlash since its inception. Newly opened at 1111 Walnut Street two months ago, Chubby Chicks is a place where people come to eat brunch and celebrate.

Shakeira Turner, owner of Chubby Chicks, is speaking out about being harassed by people who live nearby. Turner claims there have been complaints made to her landlord in regards to her business being “obnoxiously loud”, insinuating that the business ‘does not fit’ in such a “prestigious” neighborhood.

“We do karaoke on the weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. It is so much fun. It is inclusive. You come here and be yourself, and that is what everything is about here,” Turner said.

But since its inception, Turner reveals that things have not been good.

“We are basically not too welcomed here. I thought that we would be, and I thought maybe this would be a good addition to the street,” she said.

Shakeira claims people who live nearby have listed several issues that have been fowarded to the landlord, demanding her lawyer to get involved.

“They are saying that we are playing unusual music and that we are playing riffraff coming out of here, and that is just not true,” Turner explained to Fox News. “We are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week, and they were saying that we are playing music until 2 a.m. We are not even here. Even going as far as saying that one of us was on the roof of their building at 2 a.m., just putting in false claims to my landlord, which really stirred up some issues.”

Turner even recalled an account where she was verbally assaulted and stereotyped by a local.

“I even had someone tell me to my face, ‘How did I get here? Did I use my drug dealer baby daddy money?’ So it’s hurtful. It’s extremely hurtful,” Turner said.

The property manager nor the Philadelphia Police have not yet made a statement in response to the alleged harrassment.

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