Mark Furstenberg, middle

The following apology was posted to numerous neighborhood listservs yesterday:

“I write to apologize to Ms. Rubin for telling her to leave my bakery, Bread Furst, because she had a dog. Although Ms. Rubin explained to me that her dog, who was small and well behaved, was a service dog, and she pointed out that her dog was wearing a service vest as well as service dog photo ID, I asked her to leave. I had a previous bad experience with a dog who was very disruptive to my customers, and I was reacting to that. It has always been a dream of mine to own a small, neighborhood bakery that people find welcoming. I failed to behave that way when Ms. Rubin and her service dog came to the bakery, so I apologize. At the bakery, we have placed signs on our door to make our policy clear that service dogs are welcome. I hope that Ms. Rubin will return.

Mark Furstenberg”