Midtown's Keens Steakhouse Removes Racist Decor, Report Says

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — An institution of old New York City that dates back to the 19th century is taking steps to evolve for the 21st by taking down racist and offensive decorations from its walls, according to reports.

Midtown's Keens Steakhouse recently removed 10 posters advertising minstrel shows featuring blackface and artworks portraying racist stereotypes of African Americans that adorned the restaurant's walls for decades, Eater New York first reported. The decision was made by longtime manager Bonnie Jenkins, who told Eater that Keens can remain a historic place without offending people.

The restaurant's former owner George Schwarz, who died in 2016, wanted the decorations kept up while he lived, according to the report. Schwarz, who was Jewish and fled his native Germany after Nazis took power, believed in preserving both "the good and the ugly" of history.

Jenkins told Eater that she's "truly sorry" if the decorations offended diners at the Midtown staple, and that "restaurants have to be living, breathing, and continue to evolve, whether it’s the walls, the food, or the people."

Keens was founded in 1885 by manager Albert Keen after being known as the "Lambs Club." The West 36th Street steakhouse is known for its mutton chops and for being a favorite among influential people such as Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth and Albert Einstein.

Read the full Eater New York article here.