Melbourne Cafe That Charged Extra To Daniel Andrews Supporters Hires Security Guards

A Melbourne cafe owner has been forced to hire security guards after fearing vandals would damage his business.

Arcobar cafe in Moorabbin erected a sign that told people they could expect an extra dollar on their bill if they supported Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

Owner Franz Madlener insisted the sign wasn't meant to be political and instead was focusing on his dislike of the state government telling small businesses how to run during the pandemic.

Franz told 7News: "Customers have been coming in every day and lecturing us about how lucky we are to be able to open.

"They ask us, 'Aren't you grateful?'

"The answer is no.

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"The first thought in the morning and the last at night is about the lockdown. It doesn't lead to healthy banter, it's vicious."

But ever since the story went live yesterday, he's been the target of vile abuse and threats of violence.

Madlener told The Today Show that Victoria Police paid him a visit and 'strongly encouraged' him to take down the sign.

Franz said he hired security guards to look after the cafe overnight as he was worried people would throw rocks through the windows.

He added that the sign had been up for three weeks and he had around 30 people chuck a dollar in the jar without complaint.

However, the backlash escalated after a photo of the 'tongue in cheek' sign went viral on social media.

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"In the last 24 hours, I guess since this sign's gone viral, the level of abuse and vile anger and personal attacks on the business, me and the staff yesterday, was completely over the top," he told Channel 9.

"If you've had the police ask you to take the sign away, of course.

"My main concern is for our staff, to keep the staff safe. We don't want people coming in and using that to create more anger against the staff.

"Up until now we've been fighting lockdown and now we're fighting these absolute extremists out there, full of absolute hate towards the business."

He said the sign was purely designed to be a 'lighthearted protest' against the lockdown restrictions that have kept small businesses like Franz's closed.

Franz hopes the vitriol against him and his cafe will calm down and hopes to be able to stop fretting about the business.

Topics: News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie