Boston’s Bar Decor Sparks Controversy Over Mobster Imagery
The Savin Bar + Kitchen in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood is currently at the center of a heated debate. The controversy isn’t about food or service, but about the bar’s choice of decor—specifically, the prominent display of mugshots featuring infamous Boston mobsters, James “Whitey” Bulger and Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi.
As customers enter Savin Bar + Kitchen, they are greeted by a large framed mugshot of Bulger, a notorious figure known for murder, bank robbery, and drug dealing. Co-owner Kenneth Osherow notes, “Funny enough, a lot of people have said, ‘Oh, he’s very good looking.'” However, not everyone shares this sentiment.
Local patrons and family members of Bulger’s victims express outrage, perceiving the images as romanticizing a dark chapter in Boston’s history. Teddy Ryan, a frequent visitor, questions, “Why would you promote the people who are thugs and murderers and everything else?” He adds that it’s especially offensive considering the bar’s history as a former business owned by Eddie Connors, a victim of Bulger and Flemmi.
Timmy Connors, Eddie’s son, passionately demands, “Take that f****** thing down,” expressing the pain of seeing his father’s murderer prominently displayed.
The decor faced minimal criticism when first installed last spring, but complaints have surged recently, leading to threats and confrontations. Server Josh Garner recounts an encounter with an irate customer who warned, “[The pictures] better be down by Tuesday. We’re coming back.”
Despite the backlash, Savin’s owners have resisted removing the images, asserting they serve as a reflection of the neighborhood’s gritty history, not as a glorification of its criminal figures. Osherow insists, “People are definitely overreacting,” emphasizing that the decor choice was made for them by the restaurant makeover show Secret Service, led by Gordon Ramsay.
Ramsay’s show aimed to provide the bar with a distinct identity, as he admired the transformation, stating, “It’s got that old 1970 mobster feel.” However, the intended positive impact has taken an unexpected turn.
Some compare the Savin Bar’s situation to the debate over Confederate monuments, but Osherow disagrees, clarifying, “Our pictures were not put up to say that these people were good people or that they were heroes.”
To further clarify their intentions, Osherow attached a notice to Bulger’s photo declaring, “We display this photo not to celebrate [these mobsters] but to acknowledge a chapter in the complex, gritty history of our neighborhood.”
Angelique Johnson, the bar’s general manager, supports this stance, arguing that history shouldn’t be erased. “It’s all very painful, but that is how we learn. That’s how we make sure it doesn’t get repeated,” she states.
Boston’s mobster lore continues to captivate, evident in the popularity of related merchandise and tours, such as “Lobsters and Mobsters.” Yet, within Savin Bar, opinions remain divided. “What’s wrong with them? I think it looks nice,” comments Sheree Hagler, a patron.
Amid the ongoing controversy, Savin’s owners are contemplating changes, potentially replacing the mobster photos with images of notable local figures. Ramsay’s team has offered to assist in the redecorating effort, hoping to resolve the dispute.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
