Minnesota business owner Al Brenycz says he never imagined his support for Donald Trump would result in threats and harassment that could destroy his business.
Brenycz, owner of Big Al’s Bar and Grill in Emily, Minn., says his troubles began when he decided to post a message on his 30-foot LED billboard supporting former President Trump and other local Republican candidates.
“The second I did that, my business dropped off,” Brenycz explained. “It was probably 10% the first week, 20% the second week, and up to 30% by the third week.”
Hoping to raise funds to stay afloat, Brenycz turned to social media, launching a GoFundMe and writing in to Donald Trump Jr.’s ‘Triggered’ podcast.
“I have a digital billboard on the highway in Minnesota,” Brenycz told Trump Jr. in his message. “I need a repost from you for my pinned post. I’ve lost half my business since publicly supporting your father.”
According to Brenycz, that’s when the harassment started.
“I was getting calls from Boston, Seattle, Arizona, South Carolina—people telling me they were going to burn my bar down,” he said. “It got so bad I had to turn off my phone.”
The harassment didn’t stop there, Brenycz said. He says he had to spend hours reporting fake reviews on Google, where his business’s five-star rating began plummeting.
“A high Google review is a big deal. It tells people driving by, ‘Hey, you might want to stop at this place.’ And we get a lot of business that way,” he explained.
Standing by his decision
Despite the threats and the hit to his business, Brenycz stands by his decision.
“If this is the hill I die on, so be it. I’m allowed to have an opinion,” he said. “I truly believe our country is in such a decline under this administration. Under Trump, I wasn’t struggling.”
Gloves are OFF
I AM ALL IN. #MAGA@TaylerJRahm @DanScavino @dbongino @realDonaldTrump @DonaldJTrumpJr @PapiTrumpo @JackPosobiec pic.twitter.com/8cAFQsTzRq— Big Al (@r0tt) September 9, 2024
Like many small business owners, Brenycz says the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a devastating blow. In March 2020, he was gearing up for the biggest event of the year—Crosslake’s St. Patrick’s Day parade—when Gov. Tim Walz ordered the event canceled with less than a day’s notice.
“It was a $20,000 net loss overnight,” Brenycz said. “And then we were closed. All that food and beverage went to waste, and I was left sitting alone in my bar with the lights off.”
To start his business in 2017, Brenycz sold his house, his cabin, and even his 401(k). Brenycz, who invested everything into the business, says he’s now $30,000 in debt.
“The last three and a half years have killed us. If I don’t have $40,000 in the bank to make it through the winter, we won’t make it.”
Despite the personal and financial toll, Brenycz says he has received support.
“In the last two weekends, I’ve had about 100 people come in just to shake my hand,” he said. “A lot of people are scared to have an opinion these days, but I’m not.”
For now, Brenycz is focused on keeping his employees working through Christmas.
“They depend on this job, and they do very well working here,” he said. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we make it.”
As for the threats? Brenycz isn’t backing down.
“I understand the threats are empty, but that doesn’t mean I’m unprepared to protect myself if necessary,” Brenycz said.
Brenycz says he’s used to bullies, but this time, he’s not going down without a fight.
“I’ve been bullied my whole life—was always the fat kid—so I take ‘Big Al’ and I embrace it. It’s how you fight a bully—you take away their ammo.”
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
