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New Center City restaurant receives backlash over controversial name

Published  December 13, 2017 1:36pm EST
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

CENTER CITY (WTXF) - It hasn't even opened yet, but a new Center City restaurant is leaving some people with a bad taste in their mouths. It has nothing to do with the food, but rather, the restaurant's name.

The new Mexican joint on Broad Street is called "Illegal Tacos."

The owner knew it would stir up controversy but insists he supports immigrants.

Owner Florian Furxhiu moved to the U.S. from Albania 17 years ago.

But comments posted to the restaurant's Facebook page are blasting the name as "disgusting" and "insensitive."

"Everyone posts comments on the internet about what they don't like about the current immigration climate. But I'm the one that's actually giving a voice to the illegals. Here we go, illegal tacos, we're standing right here," said Florian.

"Is he anti-immigrant?" FOX 29 asked Michael Giuda, the building owner, "Absolutely not. He has a coffee shop in South Philadelphia, probably 90 percent of the people who come into the coffee shop are immigrants," said Giuda.

The restaurant is expected to open before the end of the year.