Save on Meats’ new sign sticks it to anarchist thieves

A Downtown Eastside diner targeted by anti-gentrification protesters is one-upping their masked foes with a new sign and a new community outreach.

Save On Meats has created a new sandwich-board sign — complete with a face cut-out — to replace the one stolen last month by an anti-gentrification group. The new sign is designed to imitate a photo sent to owner Mark Brand, showing two individuals wearing black balaclavas posing with the snatched sign.

“The act was meant to let the gentrifiers know that they have entered an area with a long history of class warfare,” the protesters had initially posted to an anarchist news forum after the theft.

The incident immediately sparked a strong wave of support for Save On Meats, with many calling the protesters misguided in their efforts to target gentrification.

While the new sign is a replacement, it also plays a role in the diner’s new community food program.

For every photo posted to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook of people posing with the sign, the diner has promised to donate a breakfast to a resident at the “recently underfunded” Rainier Hotel nearby.

“This piece of plywood was shaped to feed the community we love,” reads a post to the diner’s Facebook page.

“Yes, this is meant to spread the word and leverage media. It’s meant to show people that we will not be intimidated or bullied, nor have we ever been in the dozens of attacks in our 26+ months here.

“Save On Meats — 1, Jackasses — 0.”

The new initiative is in addition to the restaurant’s current token program. The popular program allows people to purchase plastic chips to hand out in lieu of spare change that can be exchanged for free sandwiches at the diner.

The new sign can be found outside the diner at 43 West Hastings St., near Abbott Street. Photos uploaded online should be tagged with the diner’s handle.