3 hours ago
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He came, he saw, he sold salad dressing.
A popular Kosher grocer is serving up house-made Caesar dressing adorned with President Trump’s face in the image of the Roman leader — and the owner says the reference to the new president is a hot seller in the deeply blue neighborhood.
Ouri’s Market — with locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn — has been hawking the salty sauce since 2017, but more people then ever have been buying it since the 47th president formally returned to the Oval Office.
“I never did it for political reasons. I do love Trump and I was with him from day one, but I just did it for fun,” said Gil Gilili.
“He’s a business owner like me and he’s been through the nonsense.”
And Gilili says he has a tactic for handling Trump foes who see the bottle.
“I do have customers that don’t like Trump. So then I tell those customers that I’m just making fun of him,” he said.
The 12-ounce bottle — which retails for $8.99 — is the only house made product at Ouri’s Market aisles to feature the face of any individual.
The slender product features a laurel wreath-wearing Trump adorned with a toga in imitation of Julius Cesar — who is not actually the namesake of the delicious and popular salad as many have come to believe.
Gilili brainstormed the unique packaging during Trump’s first administration out of pure admiration for the Republican firebrand.
While the dressing was always a popular seller, the Trump product surged in popularity when the Republican was re-elected last fall and again when he was sworn in this week — likely because they were able to shed their fear of voicing their support for the President, the owner believes.
Although Gilili describes his customers as “conservative,” voters in the neighborhood surrounding Ouri’s Market in the Upper East Side overwhelmingly voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. Just 23% of residents cast their ballots for Trump in the area.
The family market’s original location in Gravesend, however, is surrounded by much more like-minded voters — 85% favored Trump compared to just 14% for Harris.
Some shoppers on Thursday expressed their excitement over the Caesar dressing, which was first reported by Upper East Site.
“I love the Trump, it makes me laugh,” said Ginette Tawil, 26, who routinely buys the product at the Manhattan store and shows it off to all her friends.
“Anyone that came over, I’m like, ‘Did you see this? Did you see this?'”
One customer described the advertising as “pretty clever” and theorized it might bring in extra business to the already busy Manhattan spot: “It’s a good thing, it’s giving him more business.”
“He’s our president,” said Gabrielle S. simply.
When asked whether he’s had any complaints over the product or if he’s lost customers for his clear support for Trump, Gilili said: “You gotta be really weird to do that. I know we live in New York and there are some weirdos out there, but I can’t imagine they really hate him that much.”
Several shoppers, however, would beg to differ.
“This might influence whether I come back here. I don’t like Trump. I don’t think he ought to be supported in any way,” said Amanda.
The longtime Upper East Sider slammed the advertising as “cheap advertising” for a politician.
Another customer, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had never noticed the thick sauce, but would have immediately put it back on the shelf if she had.
“I don’t know. this could change some things. I already dropped the Washington Post and I’m getting ready to drop Facebook. I am one that will do things based on what I think the morally right thing to do.” the customer, 65, explained, adding that she was torn over whether she wanted to return to Ouri’s in the future.
Mark, 75, expressed disappointment with the store’s stance, but admitted he hadn’t noticed the product until The Post pointed it out to him.
“It’s inappropriate. There shouldn’t be politics inside a store,” said Mark, adding that while he historically voted Democratic, he wouldn’t be pleased to see his candidate on his food items.
“This store is representing a politician. Whether they’re selling Trump Bibles or steak, it’s a Trump store.”
English (US)