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Long Island Pizza owner Guy Caliaguri says many customers are not frequenting his pizzeria because of a flag.
He said that one day a woman entered his store and the moment she saw a flag in support of Trump she considered it offensive after one of the workers explained to her what it was.
Then she told him that she was an admin on a Facebook page and would post it to tell no one to frequent his pizzeria.
“I’ve been in business for 43 years and I’ve seen a lot,” Caligiuri said. “And, I just took it in stride… I just ignored it, basically.”
However, his phone started ringing with calls about “this woman who had posted nasty things about me online and was asking the [St. James] community to boycott Patio Pizza.”
To Caligiuri’s surprise, residents from all over Long Island showed up at the shop to vocalize their support for the business and the president.
“They supported our president. They supported the flag that I had hanging in the back of my store,” he said.
Caligiuri stated that he also has an American flag hanging in the front of the store.
“I think he’s a fantastic president, I think he’s done a great job, and I think it’s my right to support him and to show my support of him,” he said.
“But, this woman took it upon herself to — not knowing me, not knowing my family, not knowing my grandchildren… She took it upon herself because she saw a flag in the back to try to put me out of business, ” he stated.
Caligiuri stated that he had the support of his local community which “rallied behind” him, and that he’d received phone calls from all over the country.
“It’s really wonderful. It’s really humbling,” he said.
Following the interview, President Donald Trump tweeted his support for Caligiuri and Patio Pizza.
“Support Patio Pizza and its wonderful owner, Guy Caligiuri, in St. James, Long Island (N.Y.). Great Pizza!!!” he tweeted.
