This should crush any beef.
A Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant has reopened for business — now with guards carrying assault rifles because of the violent crime that has plagued the City of Brotherly Love.
Video from the reopening of Jim’s West Steaks & Hoagies in West Philadelphia on Sunday shows customers lining up to order sandwiches under the watchful eye of heavily armed security guards.
“Violence has increased,” co-owner Cortez Johnson told WPVI of the city that has seen a spike in homicides, mostly in areas near newly reopened eateries.
“You want people to feel safe and secure. So when they go out and eat, they don’t have to worry about any danger,” Johnson said.
Security guards carrying firearms will stand guard outside the eatery during business hours from Thursday to Sunday each week, according to WPVI.
“Our line is down the block, so while you’re standing here in line, connecting with other people you may not know, we have security here just to make sure you’re safe,” Saul Landers, Jim’s West chief financial officer, told the outlet that.
Jim’s West Steaks & Hoagies in West Philadelphia has hired armed guards to protect its customers outside the eatery.WPVI
A guard carrying a high-powered assault rifle chats with a customer.WPVI
“If you want to secure your business and you want to keep everyone safe, you have to spend that extra money,” he added.
Kevon Darden, owner of Presidential Protective Services, said those who work security at the beloved eatery all have “military, police and law enforcement backgrounds.”
“It’s not just me, it’s usually other agents who are sworn and certified by the state of Pennsylvania to do security work when they’re not on duty,” he told WPVI.
Several customers voiced their support for having heavily armed guards on duty.
“Safety and good food is always a plus,” Nitah Dunham told the outlet.
Jim’s West Steaks & Hoagies recently reopened in the City of Brotherly Love.WPVI
Mario Maiale said he’s “not a big fan of guns, but I understand.
“If it prevents it [crime]I can’t complain,” he said.
But another customer, William King, said he was concerned about the optics in the city, where a nearby gas station has also made headlines for hiring AR-15 guards.
“It’s a bit excessive. Even if you have armed guards, OK. But, walking around with a machine gun, it’s not family friendly,” he added.
In 2015, the eatery was targeted by armed robbers who made off with $215 in cash stolen from the register and customers, the Philly Voice reported. No injuries were reported.
Guards will patrol outside during business hours from Thursday to Sunday every week.WPVI
The business recently reopened after being closed since 2019.
Homicides are down 20% in Philadelphia since last year, marking the second-highest homicide rate in the city’s history after 2021, according to police. However, eight of the murders occurred within a 10-block radius of Jim’s West Steaks & Hoagies, statistics from the city warden’s office show.
The famous Philly cheesesteak is sometimes the scene of violent disputes among patrons.
In 2021, a football argument between Giants fans and Eagles fans waiting at Pat’s King of Steaks culminates in a fatal shooting.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
