A popular Cape Cod restaurant has been inundated by online threats and harassment, even a hoax 911 call resulting in a massive emergency response, in retaliation for hosting a fundraiser for two Massachusetts Republican political candidates.
Montano’s Restaurant hosted Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue and a GOP congressional candidate last week for a fundraising event as the November general election draws closer.
“We’ve been getting all kinds of hate mail, and I mean hate. A lot of responses on social media saying, ‘hope your building burns down,’ and other threats directed at me. It’s ridiculous,” Montano’s owner Ed Medeiros told the Herald over the phone.
“I don’t understand it, these people down here, you know? I tolerate a lot of outbursts at the restaurant from different people and everybody who comes in. My restaurant is welcome to everyone. I don’t discriminate. I don’t do any of that. And for this to [happen], it just shows that it’s (society) become if you don’t share my opinion then you need to go,” he said.
The harassment began almost immediately, with a hoax 911 call being placed just two days later reporting a pregnant woman in labor lost in the woods behind the restaurant. The subsequent law enforcement response saw scores of emergency vehicles and even a Massachusetts State Police helicopter respond to search for the supposed victim.
Medeiros tells the Herald he was at his home in Seekonk when the head chef at Montano’s called to inform him of the massive emergency response. It was at 3:30 p.m., just a half hour before the restaurant opens.
“So we lost probably maybe $1,500, $2,000 (in business), or who knows how many people didn’t come because of that,” Medeiros said.
The online harassment began even sooner. Just one day following the political fundraiser, Montano’s responded to a flurry of derogatory or flat-out threatening comments on a its Facebook post promoting the event.
“Montano’s rents our private event spaces to many different groups and members of our community. We believe in being welcoming and accepting of all, and we do not discriminate based on personal beliefs, sexual orientation, political views, or other differences. Hosting a private event is not an endorsement of the views or beliefs of the individuals or organizations who reserve our space,” Medeiros wrote in a comment on the original post.
But he says the more he tried to respond, the worse it got.
“If I don’t agree with you, it means that you want my restaurant destroyed? You want to show up at my restaurant to see me? I’m there all the time. You can’t threaten me and bully me into not hosting people. It’s not going to work,” he said.
The flyer posted to Facebook by Montano’s Restaurant promoting a fundraiser for Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue and GOP congressional candidate Tyler MacAllister earlier this month. Screenshot: Facebook/Montano’s Restaurant
Some comments were blatantly hostile while others were more subtle.
“I have been here many times but I won’t be back. I would think you would be more careful considering your location. You can rent to who ever you want, but choices have consequences,” commented one user to the Facebook post.
“The new management might as well have burned that place down.. Most of this community will not respect supporting a Trump acolyte.. What a truly unwise and arrogant decision to take this position,” said a different user.
Others chimed in with calls to boycott the restaurant and express their desire to see the business shut down as a result.
“Google reviews, people! Yelp! Make sure that all visitors know about these MAGA-scum little pigs!” commented one user.
“Love that you chose to publicize your event with a blue wave! Your place was a frequent summer stop for us, but no more,” another user wrote.
“Bs you only believe in straight white national christian people. Hope you lose all your business and close,” added yet another user.
The derogatory comments didn’t stop there, with locals continuing to harass the restaurant on unrelated posts to its Facebook page promoting newly-available menu items.
“I’ll never go there since they gave refuge to a vile millionaire who supports 1930’s Germany style government policies here in America in 2026,” said one commenter.
“Whoever decided to do what they did needs to be fired. Either way the place is going to go down the tubes,” said another commenter.
Minogue tells the Herald that this type of outrage over opposing political views, a growing trend, is the result of establishment politicians seeking to divide voters.
“In Massachusetts, this is not who we are. This is a result of the politicians wanting us to hate each other. Our opponents have chosen division. We are choosing to come together to solve problems. We are neighbors, not political enemies,” Minogue said.
MacAllister, during an appearance on the Howie Carr Show, said he and Minogue even reached out to other restaurants in town to host the event, but were turned away.
“And one of them in particular, and I’m not going to name them, but they said, ‘no, we don’t hold political events.’ But actually, in August of last year, they held a very large political event for the sitting state senator,” MacAllister said. “It was actually open to anybody that wanted to sign up. So, it’s not like we were not inviting other people to come.”
Police have not yet been able to track down the source of the hoax 911 call.
Dining and Cooking