Tokyo Joe’s apologizes for sign saying restrooms are for restaurant’s “addicts only” at Denver location

The Colorado-based Japanese, fast-casual chain Tokyo Joe’s is apologizing for a sign posted on a bathroom door at a Denver location saying the “restrooms are for Tokyo Joe’s addicts only.”
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State Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, took issue with the sign Wednesday, posting a photo on Twitter with the caption “#addiction is no laughing matter.”

He added: “We had a bill to help stop overdose deaths in bathrooms. @TokyoJoes can do better.”

​The chain said it agreed that the sign was inappropriate and was only meant to ensure paying guests were using the restrooms.
“We agree this was 100% inappropriate and inconsistent with our brand values. We would never make light of the opioid epidemic,” the restaurant said on its Twitter account. “We apologize for letting our fans down. We will be addressing this internally first thing (Thursday) a.m. We can and will do better.”

Tokyo Joe’s loyalty program is called the “Addict Club.”

The Denver Post reached out to a representative from the restaurant chain Thursday but didn’t immediately hear back.

The situation comes amid heightened scrutiny of late involving other signs and marketing materials from Colorado restaurants.
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Boulder-based Hapa Sushi’s ad campaign in downtown Denver was pulled last month after concerns were raised about a message pairing a tweet from President Donald Trump with the restaurant’s logo and a message that read, “Eat well before it all ends.”