A St. Petersburg bar owner exercised his right to choose programming for his establishment, only to face coordinated online attacks when a customer disagreed with the decision.

Customer Confrontation Goes Viral

The Zoo Club in St. Petersburg became the target of an internet mob after customer Julio Santiago filmed himself confronting the bar manager. Santiago demanded to know why the establishment was not showing the Super Bowl halftime performance, instead airing a Turning Point USA event featuring Kid Rock and country singers. The manager calmly explained that he had chosen to show the alternative programming on his televisions.

Santiago, who identified himself as a transplant from New York City, argued he should not pay for his visit because he came for the full experience. When the manager maintained his position, Santiago threatened to post the video online. The manager welcomed the publicity, suggesting it might bring new customers. Santiago then accused the establishment of potential racism, to which the manager responded that they would see what happened.

Coordinated Review Bombing Campaign

After Santiago posted his video, supporters launched attacks on the bar’s online reviews. Within hours, the establishment’s ratings dropped significantly across multiple platforms. Social media users bragged about their efforts to damage the business’s reputation. One supporter boasted about reducing ratings to 2.6, while another celebrated dropping reviews to 1.4 on restaurant review sites.

Property Rights Under Attack

This incident highlights the growing tension between business owners’ rights to operate their establishments as they see fit and customer expectations in an increasingly divided society. The Zoo Club’s manager exercised his fundamental right to choose what content to display on his property’s televisions. The coordinated online campaign represents a troubling trend where disagreement leads to economic warfare rather than simply taking business elsewhere. The situation demonstrates how quickly personal disputes can escalate into mob tactics designed to harm American small businesses.