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The dispute escalated when Valentine targeted Rabbi Avremi Zippel, operator of a kosher food truck and a local Chabad leader, who had criticized the ban online.
By Shula Rosen
A Salt Lake City bar that maintained an open ban on Zionists has been forced to close its doors after a year of opposition.
Michael Valentine announced this week that he was closing his Weathered Waves, which changed its name to Apparition, and complained of “relentless harassment” for refusing to serve people who supported Israel.
He said in a video message that “12 months of relentless harassment, systematic sabotage, and coordinated interference” had achieved the goal of his critics.
“Unfortunately, we cannot maintain operations at our current location any longer and must permanently shut down,” he said.
The controversy began in March 2024 when Valentine posted an Instagram notice declaring “No Zionists Allowed” at his establishments, framing the policy as solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war.
Jewish groups, elected officials, and civil-rights advocates condemned the move as antisemitic, noting that most American Jews identify with or support Israel.
Complaints were filed with Utah regulators, and the state attorney general reviewed the matter, ultimately concluding that while the policy was “inadvisable,” it did not violate existing anti-discrimination statutes.
The dispute escalated when Valentine targeted Rabbi Avremi Zippel, operator of a kosher food truck and a local Chabad leader, who had criticized the ban online.
Valentine accused Zippel of “anti-Palestinian” rhetoric, while Zippel countered that the bar’s policy effectively excluded the majority of Jewish patrons.
Supporters of the rabbi organized public campaigns, and some filed civil rights complaints.
Despite avoiding legal penalties, Valentine faced sustained community pressure, negative publicity, and organized boycotts.
Online activists celebrated news of the closure, calling it a rejection of “hatred within Utah’s borders.” Valentine responded by posting inflammatory accusations against specific Jewish activists, describing them as “Nazis and murderers” and hinting at future litigation.
Valentine, a former independent mayoral candidate and longtime activist, has insisted his stance was political, not religious discrimination. However, his critics argue that the ban blurred or erased that distinction.
“This business fought desperately to survive,” Valentine said in announcing the closure, “but that’s precisely what they intended.”
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