Vegan restaurant opening is so popular, police shut it down

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You know people are hungry for vegan restaurants when…

The Local reports that the grand opening of Dandy Diner in the Neukölln neighbourhood in southeast Berlin got so popular, it was shut down by police. After hundreds formed a crowd outside of the vegan restaurant on Saturday, traffic was obstructed and the party was called off.

Dandy Diner serves sandwiches, burgers, salads, sweets and cakes in their brand new space. The team posted a Facebook event offering free burgers and drinks to create buzz around the new restaurant, never anticipating the crowds they’d draw. When police came, only 20 minutes after opening, there were 300 people inside and another 500 not the street out front. Keep in mind, Dandy Diner only boasts 40-seats.

DANDY DINER OPENING #dandydiner @dandydiner A video posted by Dandy Diary (@dandydiary) on Apr 16, 2016 at 1:22pm PDT

Unable to control the hungry vegans, law enforcement told the owners they’d have to end the party immediately, or they would be forced to clear out the shop themselves.

The Local claims vegan restaurants are surprisingly contentious places in the German capital, seen by many as vapid hipster fashion symbols that herald the gentrification of a neighbourhood. The team behind the now infamous eats are in fashion themselves, originally known as Dandy Diary.

Still, some are praising the short-lived event. Fashion blogger Carl Jakob Haupt (one half of the Dandy Diner team) told reporters “I think it’s a shame that the party ended so quickly. But in the end I’m satisfied. It was the best restaurant opening that there’s ever been.”

Honestly, they can’t buy better publicity. The restaurant is now open daily, serving a more reasonable crowd from 12pm-10pm or 12am. If the food is as great as the marketing, they’ll be successful for some time! Here’s hoping their popularity with help influence more Germans to give veganism a shot.

Photo from Morgan Post