A Home Depot store in Dearborn, Michigan, is gaining attention online for the signage displayed inside the building. A video recorded by a customer showed several overhead signs bearing both English and Arabic text that guided shoppers through different sections of the store.
Each department, including plumbing, power tools, paint, bath and moving supplies, had its own bilingual aisle marker.
Although the Arabic text is not new and has appeared in the store as far back as 2022, the customer’s video renewed public interest. Some netizens reacting to the video, which was shared on TikTok, said they thought having Arabic alongside English was inappropriate for an American retailer.
One person called it “a slap in the face to Americans.” Another commented, “That is terrible. Shame on #HomeDepot.” A third wrote, “Horrible!!!!! Have we forgotten 9/11,” while a fourth added, “How sad companies selling out for profit. That is ultimately going to be the downfall of America greed.”
Some people also said they would stop shopping at the retailer. “English is our language. Will NEVER go to Home Depot for anything,” one commenter said. Another remarked, “I would not shop in that store or any other store that does that.” Someone else even commented that they wanted it “to be shut down.”
At the same time, there were people who defended the store’s decision to include both languages. They argued that the business was simply trying to serve the local community. “Dearborn has a giant Arab population lmao I don’t see the issue,” one supporter wrote. Another shared, “I love this!! America is the land of the immigrants!! Don’t forget it!” A third chimed in, “It’s America bro, deal with it already.”
Dearborn is home to the largest Arab American population in the United States. According to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data, about 54% of the city’s residents identified as Middle Eastern or North African.
