No Small Fries: Restaurant Bans Kids Under Six Years Old

[garbon]

http://news.yahoo.com/no-small-fries-restaurant-bans-kids-under-six-172003848.html

One Pennsylvania restaurateur has pulled the car over and told the kids to just get out.

A local ABC affiliate reported that Mike Vuick, owner of McDain's in Monroeville, Pa., sent this email to his customers letting them know that kidlets would soon be non grata:

"Beginning July 16, 2011, McDain's Restaurant will no longer admit children under six years of age. We feel that McDain's is not a place for young children. Their volume can't be controlled and many, many times, they have disturbed other customers."

When there is a loud child in any enclosed space - restaurants, airplanes, chapels - two groups of people emerge. There are those with boundless love for small children - and boundless sympathy for parents - who will abide any amount of noise in the presence of those cherubic little faces. And then there are those who experience the equivalent of road rage when parents don't remove said loud child from said enclosed space. (These impasses can be particularly tense at 30,000 feet).

When interviewed, Vuick defended his position. "I think it's the height of being impolite and selfish," he said. "And therefore, I instituted a policy." He also delivered an "oh snap!" quip in response to angry parents: "You know, their child - maybe as it should be - is the center of their universe. But they don't realize it's not the center of the universe." And to clarify, McDain's touts itself as a destination for "cocktails and fine casual dining" that is adjacent to a golf course, so the restaurant may be used to older clientele.

Vuick is by no means the first person to issue a blanket ban on the kiddies. In the 1970s, one Florida city banned families with children under 14 from living in certain "adult community" parts of town; the city council even imposed a jail term and fine on anyone who sold or rented a house to such a family. In the 1980s, a Canadian human rights' commission said a ban similar to Vuick's did not violate the law; while a mother who was refused service felt she was discriminated against, the restaurant owner said "she and her husband were merely ending discrimination against customers who did not like to eat pasta while children whined and cried around them." And, in more recent years, the number of children banned from schools has even been on the rise in some parts of the world.

He sounds like a bitch. Wonder if his business will thrive.

[HVC]

And, in more recent years, the number of children banned from schools has even been on the rise in some parts of the world.

Huh?

As for McDain (read that as McDonalds at first ), it's his choice.

[The Brain]

I've been to many places with age requirements. BFD.

[Grey Fox]

No children no more families! Just Teenagers. He isn't going to enjoy this decision.

[Eddie Teach]

I've been to many places with age requirements. BFD.

Seniors bowling league?

[The Brain]

I've been to many places with age requirements. BFD.

Seniors bowling league?

Si.

[derspiess]

When there is a loud child in any enclosed space - restaurants, airplanes, chapels - two groups of people emerge. There are those with boundless love for small children - and boundless sympathy for parents - who will abide any amount of noise in the presence of those cherubic little faces. And then there are those who experience the equivalent of road rage when parents don't remove said loud child from said enclosed space. (These impasses can be particularly tense at 30,000 feet).

I'm leaning a little towards the 'road rage' faction, though it depends on the venue.  I go to great lengths to ensure that my kid isn't disruptive in restaurants, planes, etc. and it pisses me off when I see some kid going apeshit and his parents don't even seem to bothered or embarrassed by it.  When in doubt, leave your kid with a sitter or just don't take the trip

That having been said, it's hard for me to picture this McDain's as being anything but a wanna-be McDonald's, like the McDowell's in Coming to America.

[Malthus]

Meh, his place, his rules. Though the guy sounds like a bit of an asshole.

[Martinus]

More power to this guy. If you are too irresponsible to wear a condom, hire an au pair you egotistical whores.

[Drakken]

More power to this guy. If you are too irresponsible to wear a condom, hire an au pair you egotistical whores.

Ah, the joys of not being a breeder...

[Darth Wagtaros]

It'll stop anymore people from changing the diapers on the table in the middle of the restaurant I'm all for it.

[The Brain]

It'll stop anymore people from changing the diapers on the table in the middle of the restaurant I'm all for it.

It's an age requirement, not a non-fetish requirement.

[Barrister]

More power to this guy. If you are too irresponsible to wear a condom, hire an au pair you egotistical whores.

The flip side is if a restaurant doesn't want my families business, all they have to do is say so.

We don't go out for food very often with the little guy, but we have a few times.  Restaurants are pretty good about it really - they'll have high chairs, will put us in a section with other children, seem very understanding all in all.  But we also make a point to try to go to restaurants that will in fact be child friendly.  It's no fun for us, the restaurant, or our child to be in a place where the baby isn't welcome.

[Malthus]

It'll stop anymore people from changing the diapers on the table in the middle of the restaurant I'm all for it.

This sounds like an old folk's restaurant. I bet gramps with alzheimers can do stuff on the table with his Depends that would make a toddler blush. 

[garbon]

More power to this guy. If you are too irresponsible to wear a condom, hire an au pair you egotistical whores.

It isn't like parents want their children to be causing a fuss. Sometimes children just do that as that's what children do.