When a new small business opens, community members often want to try the spot as soon as possible, both to support local entrepreneurs and hopefully find a new favorite eatery. For many South Carolina locals, including content creator Sarah Baus, the public grand opening of Zachary’s Daiquiris restaurant and bar in Charleston on February 28 presented the perfect opportunity to do so. But instead of enjoying a lovely night out with some delicious slushies, Baus and her friends left before they finished their drinks once an unusually specific dress code was announced.
What is the Zachary’s Daiquiris dress code controversy?
Baus, or @sarahebaus on TikTok, posted a rundown of her evening at Zachary’s Daiquiris a few days after visiting. She described arriving at the restaurant and ordering a round of drinks with friends — which features a wall of frozen daiquiri dispensers and bright decor — before the public opening.
“I was literally making an Instagram story saying ‘Welcome to Charleston Zachary’s Daiquiris,” because I was excited to try a new Charleston small business,” recalled Baus. “When a bouncer came down the line and announced that there was a new dress code as of right now.”
Baus said that the bouncer “stops next to the one group of Black men…that’s where she makes the announcement.” The bouncer then stated that at Zachary’s Daiquiris, there are “no Jordans, no ripped jeans, no athletic pants.”
According to Baus’ TikTok, there was no established dress code on the website prior to her groups’ arrival, and many customers both in the restaurant and in line for the public opening were dressed casually. Baus was unsettled by the bouncer’s specificity when it came to the description of the dress code, saying she “felt like [she] was short circuiting.” Instead of “sneakers” or “athletic shoes”, the bouncer specifically called out Jordans — “describing this group of Black men[‘s outfits].”
After the encounter, Baus estimates that half of the line waiting outside, including the men that were seemingly targeted, left the establishment. Many restaurant goers discussed the incident among themselves and seemed very put off by this type of treatment before they even entered the bar, according to Baus. “We looked at each other, like ‘there’s no way we just witnessed that,’” said Baus. “But there’s no way we’re going to support a business that does that.” As Baus and her husband left, they brought it up to the bouncer, who quickly deflected by placing the blame on upper management.
Since Baus’ video garnered over 200,000 on TikTok, , the restaurant has limited social media comments and Google reviews — a choice that TikTok user @katedoesmarketing dubbed a “bad PR move.”
Baus also emailed Zachary’s Daiquiris on the night of the opening to ask why this dress code was enforced in the way that it was. Instead of a response,the bar was “deleting reviews, not replying to [her] video, AND blocking” her on Instagram, Baus revealed in a follow up video.
Many comments on Baus’ TikTok also detailed customer experiences that were misaligned with the bouncer’s dress code. According to user @mrscaseywebb, who was also in attendance opening weekend, other patrons, including a musician who performed at Zachary’s, were also wearing Jordans — although most of these patrons were white. And, while the bouncer specifically mentioned Jordan shoes by name, the dress code that has since been added to Zachary’s Daiquiris’ website does not specifically mention the footwear brand.
Many commentators on Baus’ video were especially shocked by her experience since Zachary’s is run by Leva Bonaparte, the co-owner of four other restaurants throughout the Charleston area and a TV personality. Most known for her appearances on the Bravo shows Southern Charm and its spin-off Southern Hospitality, Leva also works with a marketing and events management firm. The reason so many already familiar with her are shocked at this behavior? Bonaparte’s husband, Lamar, is a Black man, and she has been very outspoken about her support for the Black Lives Matter movement on Southern Charm, even speaking out against other cast members who have been racially insensitive. This makes Zachary Daiquiri’s response to this situation very shocking for many Charleston residents, who expected the discourse to be taken more seriously.
What are people saying about Zachary’s Daiquiris?
Over this weekend, the bar’s Google page has been flooded with five star reviews, and many one star reviews — including one from Baus’ husband and another authored by one of the men targeted by the bouncer’s statement — have been deleted. A second Google page was also started for the business, which could be to cover up the backlash on the original account. While comments on the bar’s official Instagram are limited and those left are only positive, the Yelp reviews and comments on the bar’s owner’s personal Instagram allude to this brewing controversy.