Pro-Palestinian Employees Quit Jobs At UES Cafe En Masse: Reports

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Nearly all of the employees of an Upper East Side coffee shop quit their jobs this week in protest of the owner's support for Israel amid the war in Gaza—and members of the community are stepping up to lend a hand.

Aaron Dahan, the owner of Caffè Aronne, has donated $1 dollar from every sale at the shop to the Israeli Red Cross since Hamas launched their attack Oct. 7, according to NY1.

On Tuesday, notices began pouring in from employees who claimed Dahan was "pushing an agenda" and that they were quitting, he told the outlet.

Soon, only two of Dahan's seven employees remained, and Dahan felt he had no choice but to close the shop early, he said to NY1. It was his mother Peggy who convinced Dahan not to stand down, volunteering to help alongside her assistant Ashley Lucas.

Fast forward a few hours—after the community found out about the walkout—and the shop had a line wrapping around several buildings, of customers offering their business, help, and supplies.

"My soul is overflowing with the energy of a united community," one customer shared on X alongside a photo of himself smiling with a cup of coffee. "Thank you Caffè Aronne!"

Another New Yorker wrote that while "lines in this city are never things to be excited about," this is one line they will "happily get behind."

"New York and Israel are two places that understand terror more than anyone else unfortunately, and when the time comes to stand up, we stand up and are there for each other," Dahan told NY1.

In a post shared on Instagram two weeks ago, the cafe wrote that "Here at Caffe Aronne we are a team of action."

"It is why we are actively engaging with our friends and neighors as we have a goal to raise $36,000 for Magen David Adom - the Israeli Red Cross," staff wrote, adding that they hoped to purchase a morotcycle-ambulance hybrid with the proceeds.

"Every year Magen David Adom saves the lives of tens of thousands of Israeli Jews, Muslims, and Christians," the statement continued. "Whether they be religious or secular, straight or gay, man or woman, each life is worth saving."

With locations both on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, Caffè Aronne's menu offers organic specialty coffees, teas, espressos, and other beverages. They also offer catering and an online order option.