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The owner of Kings Liquor store in Swedesboro has been the subject of multiple complaints from residents and customers. (Staff photo by Rebecca Forand | South Jersey Times)

((Staff photo by Rebecca Forand | South Jersey Times))

SWEDESBORO — Gilbert Taylor stopped in to Kings Liquor Store on Kings Highway on Friday to pick up a case of Bud Light, but he says what he got was a lot of frustration — something common for this local business, according to would-be customers.

Taylor, a Salem resident, wanted to pick up the case of beer before heading to his fiancé's house in Swedesboro, according to a report filed with police. He said he noticed a sign on the door before walking in that read "Please refrain from talking to the clerk. The clerk does not want to talk. Thank you." A second sign on the door reads "No cell phones allowed in store."

He said he picked up his case of beer and set it on the right side of the counter. At this time, according to Taylor, the clerk began yelling for him to put the beer on the other side of the counter and then kicked him out of the store.

"I said 'Are you OK?' and he followed me out to my car," Taylor said. "It really messes up the Swedesboro experience."

Taylor filed a complaint with the Woolwich Township Police Department — which also patrols Swedesboro — on Friday afternoon. His account adds to a list of incident reports, complaints and at least one liquor license suspension in the store's history. Multiple customers have reported similar behavior from the store's owner, Mario Falciani, including being refused service because of race.

On Aug. 8 an African American male from Swedesboro, reported that his wife was walking by the store earlier that day when Falciani confronted her with a racial slur against black people. He told her he "did not want (expletive) walking on the sidewalk that he owns/pays taxes for," according to the incident report filed with Woolwich police. During the investigation Falciani told police he "did not want African Americans, Hispanics and 'trashy' Caucasians in his store," according to the report.

A similar report was filed in March by a Hillside, N.J., man. According to an incident report, the man attempted to purchase a soft drink, but the clerk stated "No. It's not for sale," and repeatedly screamed for him to "get out of the store." Falciani then followed him outside, raised the soda in the air and threw it in the trash. The victim reported he felt threatened during the incident and believes the incident to be racially motivated, since he couldn't think of any other reason for the screaming and refusal of service. A white female was in the store at the time and was not refused service, according to the report.

Local police have responded to similar complaints in the past two years and the store has become "an ongoing problem," said Woolwich Township Police Chief Russell Marino. Police said they have continued to document every incident and turned everything over to the borough council for further action.

Swedesboro's borough council sought a 30-day suspension of Kings Liquor's liquor license for violating a New Jersey law against discrimination in June 2013. The action stemmed from an incident in April of that year when Heriberta Winters, president of the NAACP's local chapter, reported the group had received a complaint from an African American female who had attempted to patronize the business, police said.

According to the police report, Falciani denied the woman service and followed her to her car stating "we don't serve your type here." When Winters attempted to follow up on the complaint and purchase alcohol, she reported Falciani locked the door and gestured "no." Meanwhile, a white woman was granted access, according to the report.

The suspension was issued by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

In order to reinstate the license, the owner of the store had to attend diversity training and install a video and audio surveillance system for future complaints to be verified. However, the complaints have continued to accumulate, according to police and a borough official.

"I have no problem saying this guy is a known racist. I want people to know we're embarrassed. We've done everything possible within our rights to put an end to this," Swedesboro Mayor Tom Fromm said. "If you're an ignorant shop owner and drive business away, that's your own stupidity. But when you start getting into the racist side that just drives me nuts. We're not going to tolerate racists, bigots or discrimination in this town."

The borough has spent close to $20,000 in legal fees trying to resolve the situation, Fromm said, but there isn't much the town can do unless underage customers are served or someone is physically assaulted. He's hopeful the business will be sold.

When asked for comment, Falciani refused and directed a South Jersey Times reporter leave the store or he would call the police.

John Falciani, the store owner's brother who serves as the store's attorney, refused comment due to pending investigations.

"It's totally erratic behavior," Fromm said. "We went up to Trenton to the ABC, we talked to the Civil Rights Division. We suspended his license. We hope the sale and turnover of this business happens soon."

Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@southjerseymedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.