A New Jersey man wearing a red MAGA hat was refused service at a Lower Manhattan coffee shop on 9/11, just moments before he walked over to Ground Zero to honor his late father who died in the World Trade Center.
Anthony Pullis, 31, claimed a callous barista greeted him with “No service” after he walked into the aptly-named Café Grumpy in the Financial District wearing his pro-Trump baseball cap.
It marked the first time Pullis had ever worn his MAGA hat to the annual city remembrance, telling The Post he did so out of respect for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was tragically gunned down a day earlier.
Pullis makes the pilgrimage from Hazlet to Ground Zero every year to honor his dad, Ed Pullis, who worked for risk-mitigation firm Aon, which had offices between the 98th and 105th floors of the South Tower.
“We were confused” by the barista’s declaration, said Pullis, who was also wearing a shirt emblazoned with his dad’s visage when he visited the café with a friend and Tommy Smith, his mother’s longtime partner, who is retired from the FDNY.
“We walked outside and saw the hours on the door, and they were open — people were going in and getting coffee,” said Pullis.
“They never said it was because of the hat, but I assumed it was,” Pullis said.
He went back inside to challenge the barista to an honest dialogue, but was dismissed. Pullis and his guests were eventually served by the barista.
He even left her a $5 tip, but she called him “disgusting” as he exited.
When his local newspaper, the Asbury Park Press, called Café Grumpy about Pullis’ claims, co-founder Caroline Bell, got in touch to apologize.
“She seemed genuine, and she was very professional,” said Pullis, who was assured the barista would be let go, once a replacement could be found for her.
“I hold no grudges against [Café Grumpy] at all, but their barista just made them look really bad.”
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