- John Lazarou is director of The Coffee Club
- He shared his concerns on immigration in an article on Sunday
- Angry customers claim they will now boycott the cafe
Aussies have vowed to boycott The Coffee Club after its director called for tougher immigration policies, despite being the son of Greek migrants.
John Lazarou, who started at the popular cafe in 1989 as a duty manager, shared the comments on Sunday.
The Coffee Club was established in Brisbane and operates in 13 countries, with at least 200 stores across Australia.
Mr Lazarou said he no longer sees Australia as ‘a harmonious nation’ and said ‘unrest and racial tensions are getting worse’.
‘We have to look at what kind of people we’re letting in and stop opening the door to just anybody,’ Mr Lazarou told the Courier Mail.
The 63-year-old said he is in support of raising the standards for entry into Australia, however he drew a line at blacklisting immigrants from high-risk countries.
He said he had seen how much of an influence One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has had on regional Australia.
‘They love Pauline in the country, and a lot of people are saying, “Give her a go, she can’t do any more damage than has already been done,”‘ he said.
John Lazarou, director of The Coffee Club, believes Australia should ‘stop opening the door to just anybody’
The Coffee Club has over 200 stores across Australia, some of them franchised
‘I think with the disastrous government we’ve had, I would welcome a change personally.’
Despite being raised in the multicultural hub of Brisbane’s West End, Mr Lazarou said people shouldn’t be a ‘nation of tribes’ but should ‘become one.’
‘The moment my parents arrived in the late 1950s they learned quickly what the Australian way was and adopted the lifestyle here,’ he said.
‘Language was a barrier but they assimilated.
‘And that’s what’s different about the immigrants coming in today. They want to live the life they were living (in their former country).’
Dozens of angry Aussies took to social media to vow they would boycott any of Mr Lazarou’s stores.
‘More places that I won’t be frequenting. Got it,’ one said.
‘These people are going to find out pretty soon that we won’t tolerate that kind of hypocritical nonsense.’
Mr Lazarou with his wife Maria – they share four children and nine grandchildren
Another said: ‘Boycott them. Start supporting the small businesses, coffee cart business owners etc.’
Others also referenced Mr Lazarou’s immigrant background, with some slamming him as ‘hypocritical’.
A person said: ‘It irks me when I see children of immigrants who grow up and put the latest immigrants through the same c*** they copped.’
‘He needs to look at who is buying his franchises. Many of them are immigrants or children of immigrants,’ a woman added.
Another said: ‘What a lot of rubbish from that man. I have been to several of these over the past few years that are being run by/staffed with immigrants.
‘Absolutely over this blame game.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Mr Lazarou and The Coffee Club for comment.
