York-based Stonewall Kitchen gets a rough reception at Boston cafe opening - Mainebiz

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Stonewall Kitchen, a York-based producer of specialty foods, last Friday opened its 10th company store — and second cafe — next-door to the Boston Children’s Museum in South Boston.

But the opening has been marred by criticism from parents worried that the eatery, dubbed the PB&J Cafe, poses a health risk for children with peanut allergies.

The 3,000-square-foot cafe indeed serves a namesake peanut-butter and jelly sandwich, for $6. There's even a "build-your-own" peanut butter sandwich. But there are also soups, baked goods, yogurt cups and other light fare.

Still, the risk of accidental, potentially life-threatening exposure for an allergic child has been enough to provoke hundreds of comments on Facebook.

“This is the dumbest decision ever,’’ one parent wrote. “Guess we’ll be visiting the children’s museum in Providence instead. Completely short-sighted decision.’’

The museum responded to the concern on social media by saying that Stonewall is an independent company operating outside of the exhibit halls — although in space leased from the museum.

That post incited more backlash against the museum, which is one of the world's largest such cultural institutions for children, with 600,000 visitors a year.

One of the responses read: "You just uninvited a whole community and are trying to make excuses for it. There is nothing you could say that would make us feel safe going there. Please fix this. Education on food allergens is great place to start."

For its part, Stonewall posted a statement explaining that visitors to the museum do not have to pass through the cafe area, that allergen warnings are clearly displayed, and that the cafe offers plenty of options for those with nut allergies.

The company also pointed out that the cafe space was previously occupied by two other restaurants, Au Bon Pain and McDonald’s, that both featured numerous allergens in their menus.

Courtesy / Karen Hansen

A view of the Boston Children's Museum, on the Fort Point Channel in South Boston.

In response to questions from Mainebiz, a Stonewall spokeswoman on Thursday provided a statement saying the reaction has “certainly given us pause” and that cafe may add more peanut-butter alternatives to its menu. The eatery may also install additional signage.

Did Stonewall anticipate the negative reaction? The company said in its statement: “No, we weren’t expecting this type of reaction, in part because the café is not inside the museum, and also because the Café isn’t really all about peanut butter.

“We just thought that ‘PB&J Café’ was a cute name, not realizing that some would think that that’s the only item, or even the primary item on the menu. We were certainly not intending to be insensitive to those with allergies.”

Stonewall Kitchen also operates a cafe at its flagship location in York, and offers a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich there for $7.

In addition, the company has stores in Camden, Portland and six other New England locations. Stonewall was founded in 1991 by partners Jonathan King and Jim Stott, who began business by selling jams and jellies at local farmers' markets. Today its product line includes sauces, condiments, crackers and baking mixes.

Courtesy / Stonewall Kitchen

Stonewall Kitchen's new store, next to the Boston Children's Museum, is the specialty food producers 10th retail location.

Stonewall has more than 8,700 wholesale accounts in the U.S. and elsewhere, operates two cooking schools, and also sells through an online and catalog division.

The company was acquired by Boston-based Audax Private Equity in August 2019. 

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York-based Stonewall Kitchen gets a rough reception at Boston cafe opening - Mainebiz
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