Auckland cafe owner says restaurateur threw spaghetti, made racist remarks

An Auckland cafe owner says a dispute with his business neighbour escalated after the man threw spaghetti at his window and made repeated racist remarks, leading to a physical confrontation.

Anderson Mar, who owns The Hideout Espresso Bar on Symonds St, said the confrontation unfolded on Monday when he came in on his day off to do prep work.

Mar told the Herald he received a message from Sashe Sterjov, the owner-operator of Paparazzi Italian Restaurant, about a bin outside the property.

Mar said the bin had previously been stolen and had reappeared without his knowledge and been filled with rubbish.

Video provided to the Herald shows Sterjov knocking on the window of The Hideout and asking Mar to come outside.

When Mar refuses, Sterjov is heard saying he will dump rubbish in front of the cafe.

Moments later, footage shows him returning and throwing spaghetti at the cafe window.

The Hideout Espresso Bar after spaghetti was thrown on the window. Photos / Anderson Mar

“What is wrong with you?” Mar is heard saying.

Sterjov is then heard saying, “F***ing Asian, go back to f***ing China” and “This is a European country”. He repeats similar remarks several times.

Mar is of Chinese descent but was born in Fiji and has lived in New Zealand since he was 10. Sterjov is from North Macedonia.

In the footage, Mar opens the door and Sterjov pushes him. The pair then become involved in a physical confrontation.

Things appear to settle down and Mar returns inside – but Sterjov then runs into the cafe, leading to another scuffle.

“He tried to hit me, so obviously I had to defend myself,” Mar told the Herald.

According to Mar, someone called the police, who arrived and spoke to the two men, and Sterjov reportedly told the police that Mar had broken his finger.

Mar said he has provided police with video footage taken from inside his cafe and wants Sterjov charged.

Police told the Herald they spoke to both parties regarding the behaviour.

The Herald has tried to contact Sterjov by phone, email and social media, but he has not responded.

The two businesses operate at different hours, limiting contact, but Mar said police had advised him not to interact with his neighbour.

Mar said the day after the incident, he was shaky but was supported by the people around him.

“There’ll be days where I feel down about it. But I just need to be strong and try to overcome it,” he said.

“It was a waste of spaghetti. I’m pretty sure that was a whole portion. It was a lot.”