Closure of Shook, a Plant-Based Kosher Food Chain
This month, Shook, a plant-based kosher food stall chain based in Washington, D.C., shut down its last location. This decision partly stems from ongoing protests and boycotts led by anti-Israel activists.
At one point, Shook operated five stores and even garnered attention from the Food Network and Washington Post for its Shuk Burger. However, the past two years have seen business disruptions due to protests related to the Gaza conflict.
The boycott efforts were spearheaded by a local group known as DC for Palestine, which argued that the restaurant’s falafel and other offerings “appropriate” Palestinian cuisine while also labeling the owners as “complicit in Israeli apartheid.”
Co-owner Dennis Friedman, a Jewish American, co-founded the original Shuk location with Israeli partner Ran Nussbacher over a decade ago. He has firmly rejected the accusations, asserting that Shook’s purpose was to foster community.
Friedman explained, “I disagree because Mr. Schork’s intentions were pure and good. When my business partner approached me, the goal wasn’t to specifically replicate Israeli food, but rather to create plant-based dishes that reminded him of his childhood and homeland. That was the foundation for our recipes.” He emphasized that their mission was cultural inclusivity, stating that they featured both Arabic and Hebrew in their branding to signal a welcoming environment.
Friedman described Shook as “a place where people of all races, colors, and creeds come together to enjoy food,” which he believes benefits both customers and the environment.
The Georgetown location initially became a target for protests, largely due to its closeness to Georgetown University and, according to Friedman, a sizable Muslim community in the vicinity.
He mentioned that before October 7, business had been thriving, but the protests quickly began to take a toll on sales.
Friedman also noted that he had reached out to local businesses and even hired security in response to what he called a “scary and disturbing” experience with aggressive protestors over the last couple of years.
According to him, the protests often involved young children entering the restaurant during busy hours, shouting “Liberate Palestine” while their parents captured the moment for social media. Friedman characterized these protests as part of a “very organized” campaign by BDS to disrupt Shook.
He described various forms of harassment, including posters depicting deceased Palestinian children being placed in the restaurant’s windows, remarking on a range of negative actions that included vandalism and threats.
Reflecting on his 12 years with the chain, Friedman expressed gratitude for what he called an “amazing experience” and highlighted his connection to Shook as “near and dear to his heart.” He also explained that he and Nussbacher had made strong efforts to support their employees during the closure.
“Most of our staff have been with us since we began,” he noted. “Our turnover was low because we prioritized ethical and fair operation, which made our employees feel like family.”
The final store’s closure coincided with a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
In response, DC for Palestine proclaimed the closure a victory for the BDS movement, urging supporters to persist in boycotting American businesses that sell Israeli products.
