Restaurant Bans Kids, Wins Fans

[Dos Equis]

Sounds like an overreaction.  Maybe I've grown tone deaf, but are kids really that bad in restaurants? 

Restaurant Bans Kids, Wins Fans

By KRIS MAHER

The owner of a small restaurant outside Pittsburgh is banning children under the age of 6, saying they regularly disrupted other customers' meals.

The move has touched a nerve and led to television and radio interviews from as far away as New Zealand and Australia for Mike Vuick, owner of McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center in Monroeville, Pa.

It has also sparked strong opinions among those who applaud his decision and those against it. Mr. Vuick said he had received 2,000 emails, running 11-to-1 in favor of his decision.

"I'm doing this on behalf of all the kind, refined people who have emailed me who have had meals ruined," said Mr. Vuick, a former high-school sociology and psychology teacher. "I've decided someone in our society had to dig their heels in on this issue."

One regular patron, Stephanie Kelley, said she was upset her 13-month-old son, Jamison, would no longer be welcome as of Saturday, the day the ban takes effect. She said she emailed Mr. Vuick to suggest he ban kids after a certain hour or partition off a kids-only area, but he said he wouldn't budge. "All children do not have meltdowns, and I don't feel I should have to suffer the repercussions," she said.

Ms. Kelley, who said she has dined at the restaurant weekly for the past three years, was set to bring 20 relatives, including cousins from North Carolina, there on Saturday. Now they plan to have a picnic at her home in Level Green, Pa., and she doesn't plan to eat there again.

She may be the exception. On Tuesday night, receipts at the 60-seat restaurant, which is attached to a golf-training facility with a driving range and putting greens, were up 20%. A couple from Cleveland made a reservation for this coming weekend to show their support.

Mr. Vuick's story spread after he emailed regular customers about the ban last week, and a customer phoned a local TV station.

A poll on the website of a Pittsburgh TV news channel found 64% supported the under-six ban, compared with 26% who said it was a bad idea. About 10% said they didn't care. More than 10,000 people voted.

Industry officials don't expect a stampede of similar bans. "Most restaurants embrace families and appreciate the business they bring in the door," said Patrick Conway, president and chief executive of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, which has 7,000 member restaurants. "I'm sure this policy makes sense for his restaurant."

On Wednesday, the National Restaurant Association, a separate organization, launched a "Kids Live Well" program to offer healthier menu options to children, with 15,000 restaurants participating.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304223804576444393604792386.html

[2ND COMING]

Is that even like..legal?

[Dos Equis]

Is that even like..legal?

I guess we'll find out . . . .

[theheman]

It can't really be age discrimination.  I don't think the kids 6 and under are emotionally effected by this.

[chadstallion]

No shirts
No shoes
No service; and that includes the little brats, too.

[Deicide]

Sounds like an overreaction.  Maybe I've grown tone deaf, but are kids really that bad in restaurants?  

Restaurant Bans Kids, Wins Fans

By KRIS MAHER

The owner of a small restaurant outside Pittsburgh is banning children under the age of 6, saying they regularly disrupted other customers' meals.

The move has touched a nerve and led to television and radio interviews from as far away as New Zealand and Australia for Mike Vuick, owner of McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center in Monroeville, Pa.

It has also sparked strong opinions among those who applaud his decision and those against it. Mr. Vuick said he had received 2,000 emails, running 11-to-1 in favor of his decision.

"I'm doing this on behalf of all the kind, refined people who have emailed me who have had meals ruined," said Mr. Vuick, a former high-school sociology and psychology teacher. "I've decided someone in our society had to dig their heels in on this issue."

One regular patron, Stephanie Kelley, said she was upset her 13-month-old son, Jamison, would no longer be welcome as of Saturday, the day the ban takes effect. She said she emailed Mr. Vuick to suggest he ban kids after a certain hour or partition off a kids-only area, but he said he wouldn't budge. "All children do not have meltdowns, and I don't feel I should have to suffer the repercussions," she said.

Ms. Kelley, who said she has dined at the restaurant weekly for the past three years, was set to bring 20 relatives, including cousins from North Carolina, there on Saturday. Now they plan to have a picnic at her home in Level Green, Pa., and she doesn't plan to eat there again.

She may be the exception. On Tuesday night, receipts at the 60-seat restaurant, which is attached to a golf-training facility with a driving range and putting greens, were up 20%. A couple from Cleveland made a reservation for this coming weekend to show their support.

Mr. Vuick's story spread after he emailed regular customers about the ban last week, and a customer phoned a local TV station.

A poll on the website of a Pittsburgh TV news channel found 64% supported the under-six ban, compared with 26% who said it was a bad idea. About 10% said they didn't care. More than 10,000 people voted.

Industry officials don't expect a stampede of similar bans. "Most restaurants embrace families and appreciate the business they bring in the door," said Patrick Conway, president and chief executive of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, which has 7,000 member restaurants. "I'm sure this policy makes sense for his restaurant."

On Wednesday, the National Restaurant Association, a separate organization, launched a "Kids Live Well" program to offer healthier menu options to children, with 15,000 restaurants participating.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304223804576444393604792386.html

I would go for the tone deaf option. I have seen children wreaking havoc in restaurants and bothering customers as well, rather directly. Seems like a good move.

[loco]

No shirts
No shoes
No service; and that includes the little brats, too.

No dogs
No Jews
No Mexicans

^
|______ Sadly, that's actually how it used to be in the US.

[loco]

I would go for the tone deaf option. I have seen children wrecking havoc in restaurants and bothering customers as well, rather directly. Seems like a good move.

With the way parents allow children to behave in public these days, I too like this move. 

[Deicide]

With the way parents allow children to behave in public these days, I too like this move. 

The parents find it amusing when the kids run about harrassing people; only the people don't find it amusing.

[Roger Bacon]

What's the deal with not renting cars to people under 25.

I can understand, but it doesn't seem legal?

[Agnostic007]

I'd eat there... but I think the age should be 10 and under...but this is a start

[Roger Bacon]

I'd eat there... but I think the age should be 10 and under...but this is a start

good post

[OzmO]

I don't think its right, but a place should be able to ask the people to leave if their kids are disruptive. 

[ksa_triceps]

This guy should own an airline company too/

[Skip8282]

This guy should own an airline company too/

Yeah, you shitbag Saudi's are real good at wanting to exclude people from shit.  Is your spouse "allowed" to drive yet?

[240 is Back]

just raise the prices so much that it's not worth it to feed a 2 year old there.

[Agnostic007]

just raise the prices so much that it's not worth it to feed a 2 year old there.

Except 2 yr olds likely don't eat much, or little suzy is on the bottle but throwing a fit.... nice thinking, but it just won't have the impact the age ban will have

I also move that nightclubs ban men and women OVER the age of 50... it's just sad at that point and ruins it for everyone else. 

[Roger Bacon]

This guy should own an airline company too/

lol

[chadstallion]

This guy should own an airline company too/

I'd fly that !

[Dos Equis]

I would go for the tone deaf option. I have seen children wrecking havoc in restaurants and bothering customers as well, rather directly. Seems like a good move.

I haven't really seen that much.  I've seen/heard crying kids, but not kids wreaking havoc. 

But yeah, I probably tune some of that stuff out. 

[Dos Equis]

This guy should own an airline company too/

lol

[outby43]

the kids are not to blame.  It's the parents fault.  I agree with the ban.  I hate when you have kids that may be at a booth right behind you jumping up and down, poking their head over on your booth, crying and screaming,  that shit sucks.  My wife got a soda spilled on her from one of these little bastards.  So then we thought if we go anywhere then we will sit in the bar area.  Doesn't work.  These inconsiderate "parents" want to have a few drinks I guess so they pile in a big family with screaming kids into the bar taking up 5 tables put together.  If it was my place I would definitely tell them to get the fuck out.  In fact I would raise the ban to 12.  There is a great place by me where you have to be 21 to enter.  Great food, drinks, and it is a goldmine.

[pedro01]

I live in a country where people adore kids.

I come from a country where people treat kids like a social disease.

Where I live - if you walk into a restaurant with a 2 year old kid, chances are a waitress will whisk the kid away for some or all of the duration of your stay.

Where I used to live, if you walk into a restaurant with a child, you hear people complaining the moment you walk in the door.

A lot of the people complaining will have their own kids one day and be taking their 'brats' to a restaurant. How the tables will turn that day.

Fact is - there are a lot of miserable girls in the future third world countries of the US and the UK and there are other 'less developed' countries with pro-kid cultures where you can enjoy a cheap meal in good company where children are understood.

Makes you wonder if the way children are treated like herpes in the UK & the US is part of the reason for the steady demise of those places.

My child - in a restaurant - for you viewing pleasure:

[Dos Equis]

I live in a country where people adore kids.

I come from a country where people treat kids like a social disease.

Where I live - if you walk into a restaurant with a 2 year old kid, chances are a waitress will whisk the kid away for some or all of the duration of your stay.

Where I used to live, if you walk into a restaurant with a child, you hear people complaining the moment you walk in the door.

A lot of the people complaining will have their own kids one day and be taking their 'brats' to a restaurant. How the tables will turn that day.

Fact is - there are a lot of miserable girls in the future third world countries of the US and the UK and there are other 'less developed' countries with pro-kid cultures where you can enjoy a cheap meal in good company where children are understood.

Makes you wonder if the way children are treated like herpes in the UK & the US is part of the reason for the steady demise of those places.

My child - in a restaurant - for you viewing pleasure:

That is one adorable kid.   

[Deicide]

I live in a country where people adore kids.

I come from a country where people treat kids like a social disease.

Where I live - if you walk into a restaurant with a 2 year old kid, chances are a waitress will whisk the kid away for some or all of the duration of your stay.

Where I used to live, if you walk into a restaurant with a child, you hear people complaining the moment you walk in the door.

A lot of the people complaining will have their own kids one day and be taking their 'brats' to a restaurant. How the tables will turn that day.

Fact is - there are a lot of miserable girls in the future third world countries of the US and the UK and there are other 'less developed' countries with pro-kid cultures where you can enjoy a cheap meal in good company where children are understood.

Makes you wonder if the way children are treated like herpes in the UK & the US is part of the reason for the steady demise of those places.

My child - in a restaurant - for you viewing pleasure:

Universal adoration for children is illogical, it only makes sense for parents to adore their children. Why would horribly behaved children of other people be amusing to customers enjoying a meal and a coffee?