HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The owner of a Greek diner on Long Island has faced a backlash, and found an outpouring of support, after he covered his business in Israeli flags and posters of hostages kidnapped by Hamas.
Peter Tsadilas, who owns the Golden Globe Diner in Huntington, told 1010 WINS that the visible support for Israel and the hostages was to honor his best friend's son, who was in Israel when Hamas launched its Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
"We were talking and he was crying, because he was trying to get his son back to the United States, and his son was refusing to leave and he wanted to fight and protect Israel," Tsadilas said. "At that point, I wanted to honor him."
The display also honors Tsadilas' family members who are Jewish, including his partner and his father-in-law, he said.
As Tsadilas put up more Israeli flags on the diner, he started losing business from customers, including regulars. At least three workers also walked out, believing he was "going too far and taking sides."
Israeli flags and the posters of dozens of missing hostages have been placed in the windows of the Golden Globe Diner in Huntington, formerly known as the Golden Dolphin Diner.Sophia Hall
"We got some backlash," Tsadilas said. "I don't know every customer, but I know people by faces and we're a very tight-knit group here. It's a little coffee shop, so when people come in, it's like Cheers. We know pretty much everybody. We lost a lot of our Middle Eastern customers."
Then DoorDash drivers refused to deliver food for him.
"They would come here and try to pick up the food and then when they noticed the flags, they decided they were going to stand together and tell us either we take them down or they're not going to pick up our food," Tsadilas said.
More recently, Tsadilas put up posters showing some of the roughly 245 Israelis and other foreign nationals held hostage by Hamas.
"I figured the flags weren't enough, and we decided to start putting all the hostages. We were going to start just with the kids," he said. "When people see it, it's a lot more powerful."
While the diner has lost some business, people have come from as far away as Pennsylvania and Delaware to eat there.Sophia Hall
The business also features the message, "Greek diners stand with Israel." Tsadilas said there are over 200 Greek diners in the Tri-State area who count Jewish diners among their most loyal customers. "I think they have a responsibility to show solidarity," he said of the restaurants.
While the diner has lost business, first-time customers have also been traveling from as far away as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware to show their support.
Tsadilas said he has nothing against Palestinians and that his focus is on getting the hostages released.
"I can't stop a war," Tsadilas said. "I want the innocent people who don't belong in this situation to be released."
Next Tuesday will mark a month since Oct. 7. The attack and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war have left more than 10,000 people dead, including more than 1,400 people in Israel and more than 9,000 in Gaza, according to the Associated Press.
