Restaurant responds after Sanders says she was asked to leave

The owners of a Little Rock restaurant are responding after Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she was asked to leave during a recent visit.Sanders said Wednesday she was dining last week at The Croissanterie with two others while accompanied by members of the Arkansas State Police Executive Protection Detail when the restaurant’s owner approached security and said her presence made employees feel “threatened and uncomfortable.”

According to the governor’s office, the group had been seated for about an hour and 15 minutes and had already paid and tipped staff when they were asked to leave. The office also said the group began to depart and that a man in the restaurant yelled at them and made a crude gesture toward the governor.

Sanders later criticized the incident, saying the restaurant did not reflect Arkansas’ reputation for hospitality.

On Thursday, the owners of The Croissanterie released a statement providing additional details about the encounter:

“When Governor Sanders arrived unannounced, staff served her and her party without interruption.

As her security presence became more visible in the dining room, some employees and guests expressed discomfort. After the party completed their meal, a member of the security detail was quietly asked to help conclude the visit in line with our standard 90-minute table policy.

The request was not immediately received, and the party remained for an additional period before departing without incident once communication was established.

We want to be clear: there was no disruption in the restaurant. Claims that an employee made an inappropriate gesture are incorrect—it was a customer, and the situation has been addressed.

This was not a decision made lightly. We chose to prioritize the comfort of our staff and guests while continuing to provide service respectfully and without escalation.”

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