Yum Brands, parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, have created a new restaurant, the "Banh Shop," which had received ill reviews because of its questionable 'communist' logo.
The poularity of Vietnamese sandwich aptly called "Banh Mi" pushed Yum Brands to give birth to its newest restaurant ventures- "Banh Shop."
Yum Brands tested out the waters with the new brand, thus, the first Banh Shop was opened in Dallas last week.
Early reviews of the restaurant have been positive, until the sudden backfire regarding the brand's logo went up and about.
The issue was reportedly Banh Shop's logo, which was a five-pointed red star.
The five-pointed red star is often used a symbol of communism.
Vietnam experienced a communist regime in 1975, where Saigon, its capital, fell to the Communist troops from North Vietnam, forcing thousands of Vietnamese to flee the country. Some of those refugees reportedly ended up in Dallas.
The issue barred potential clients in Dallas. This has been especially a fragile topic in Dallas, the fourth largest Vietnamese population of any city in the U.S.
The restaurant's controversial logo sparks a debate and uproar on social media sites.
People in Dallas apparently want the logo to be taken out.
"We are hurt and offended by your chosen logo, a red star, which is a symbol of communism and will offend thousands of South Vietnamese refugees in my community," as written on an online petition by Thanh Cung, president of the Vietnamese-American Community of Greater Dallas.
Yum Brands issued an apology to the Vietnamese community in Dallas and reveal plans of replace the restaurant's logo.
The apology letter sent via email to Cung stated that Yum brands did not want to offend anyone, and admitted their shortcoming, Jonathan Blum, Yum Brands senior vice president.
"Therefore, and effective immediately, we are changing the logo and removing the red star from all materials and signage at the restauarant," Blum reiterates.
Yum Brands remain optimistic to jump back from its fall, and hopes its current critics like Cung will turn into future advisors and patrons of the restaurant.
