Restaurant bans kids. [Archive] - Sonoma County Moms

howardvm

07-13-2011, 11:08 AM

It doesn't bother me. I think a private business should be allowed to make those decisions for themselves. If they were to realize a material drop in profits do to their policy then they would change.

:yeah Of course if it was my favorite restaurant that I bring my family to all of the time, I might feel differently ;)

brookiesmom

07-13-2011, 11:30 AM

It doesn't bother me. I think a private business should be allowed to make those decisions for themselves. If they were to realize a material drop in profits do to their policy then they would change.

Yeah I agree. Plus to me it sounds more like a bar/restuarant from what he said, I dont know that I would take my kids to something that didnt even have a kids menu. And would probably save that for a date night out or with friends.

spladyhawke

07-13-2011, 11:35 AM

A lot of bars have a no kid policy, so a restaurant who's never had a kids menu and is really geared towards adults could, too, I suppose. It'll be interesting to see if his business drops off. I remember dealing with a lot of customer complaints and being annoyed personally when I waited tables and kids (and sometimes parents) were unruly and had no manners. I at least understand the owner's frustration, even if I doubt I would ever establish the same sort of policy if I owned a restaurant.

surmick

07-13-2011, 12:20 PM

Yeah, but I also remember wanting to ban dumb ass, stupid, customers as well when I waited tables. Too bad you can not ban that.

Especially the ones that don't tip.

ktjo17

07-13-2011, 12:25 PM

Yeah, but I also remember wanting to ban dumb ass, stupid, customers as well when I waited tables. Too bad you can not ban that.

Especially the ones that don't tip.

Seriously! Or the ones who take up a table and order 1 meatball to split between them and the husband takes his newspaper into our bathroom and stinks it up! Plus they were lousy tippers and came in several times a week.

My3sonsplus1

07-13-2011, 12:59 PM

Yeah, but I also remember wanting to ban dumb ass, stupid, customers as well when I waited tables. Too bad you can not ban that.

Especially the ones that don't tip.

don't places now have signs though stating they can tell whoever they want to leave for whatever reason? If resturaunts had the balls to actually kick out unruly patrons of any age I don't think this would have become an issue ykwim??

Stacey

07-13-2011, 01:16 PM

don't places now have signs though stating they can tell whoever they want to leave for whatever reason? If resturaunts had the balls to actually kick out unruly patrons of any age I don't think this would have become an issue ykwim??

Sure, places may have the signs and technically the right to refuse service, but these days a business owner has to be so afraid of outrageous lawsuits. Piss off the wrong bad customer and they could make your life miserable, even if they don't have the legal standing. :(

MamaLaura

07-13-2011, 03:07 PM

I don't think it's a big deal. As it was mentioned above, the restaurant doesn't seem like it's ever been "kid friendly" and I don't see the harm in some restaurants being kid-free zones. Not everyone has children, and not everyone wants to be around them. Even me being a parent, I would still eat at that restaurant on a night or day when I didn't have Kaylyn with me and wanted an adult meal.

As far as restaurants kicking out patrons, I can see why making an overall rule/ban would be easier... Asking customers to leave would create a scene and be unnecessarily embarrassing. I don't think most restaurants want to embarrass their patrons. Having a rule eliminates that problem, and also eliminates the issue of having to set boundaries... What's annoying and too much for one table of guests may still be tolerable for another table. No worries about this now.

tdonoho

07-14-2011, 08:39 AM

I'm fully in favor of certain restaurants declaring themselves "kid-free". When I've gone to the trouble to get a babysitter, get dressed up, and make reservations to have a nice date with my husband I hate to end up seated next to a family with young children. They are often loud and distracting. If I wanted to dine with children I would bring my own. I think there are certain places where kids aren't appropriate, some restaurants and theathers come to mind.

meeg124

07-14-2011, 09:07 AM

Lorah

07-14-2011, 09:20 AM

I say good for them! I think businesses should have the right to do business with whoever they want.

:)

lornabrown

07-14-2011, 09:41 AM

I have mixed feelings. Sure it is frustrating to have your dinner interrupted because of noisy children, especially when you have taken the steps to leave your own kids at home so you can have a date night.
But...if I were to get turned away from a restaurant because of my kids, I'd be upset. My kids actually do really well at restaurants and I don't think punishing all for the behavior of some is appropriate.

It also depends on the restaurant. Fancy 4 and 5 star restaurants just aren't appropriate for kids anyways.

MamaLaura

07-14-2011, 01:22 PM

I don't consider it to be "punishing" others. It's simply one less restaurant that people can visit with their children. If families want the food they serve, they can order it to go and eat it at home or somewhere else, like a park. I think it's a bigger deal to disrupt other people with a noisy child and then to be asked to leave than it is to just not sit down there in the first place. Sure, not all kids will behave poorly, but to have one fewer choice in restaurants isn't a big deal, IMO, and will make things easier on everyone if that restaurant already had a low tolerance for kids. Besides, it only applies to kids 6 and under.

Colleen&Kail

07-15-2011, 12:17 PM

surmick

07-15-2011, 12:51 PM

Okay, to pplay devils advocate.

What if it was a place that you could only go if you had kids? Would that be okay, or would people complaining about equal rights and etc....

tdonoho

07-15-2011, 01:31 PM

Okay, to pplay devils advocate.

What if it was a place that you could only go if you had kids? Would that be okay, or would people complaining about equal rights and etc....

I think they should make places like Funky Monkey, Chuck E Cheese, etc places that you can only go with kids. I would it creepy for an adult to go to one of those places alone...

My3sonsplus1

07-15-2011, 01:41 PM

I think they should make places like Funky Monkey, Chuck E Cheese, etc places that you can only go with kids. I would it creepy for an adult to go to one of those places alone...

:yeahthat except for relatives of a birthday boy/girl or those with mental handicaps (child stuck in adults body) there is no reason I can think of for an adult to be sitting and watching kids unrelated to them eat and play.

MamaLaura

07-15-2011, 01:55 PM

:yeahthat except for relatives of a birthday boy/girl or those with mental handicaps (child stuck in adults body) there is no reason I can think of for an adult to be sitting and watching kids unrelated to them eat and play.

:yeah

Stacey

07-15-2011, 02:09 PM

Okay, to pplay devils advocate.

What if it was a place that you could only go if you had kids? Would that be okay, or would people complaining about equal rights and etc....

I'm sure someone would complain, but not me. Again, I think a business has a right to make those choices and if they don't want my money (assuming I didn't have any kids) then that's fine by me.

lornabrown

07-15-2011, 02:45 PM

I'm sure someone would complain, but not me. Again, I think a business has a right to make those choices and if they don't want my money (assuming I didn't have any kids) then that's fine by me.

Someone will always complain! Businesses can choose how they want to operate as long as it is within the law.

Stacey

07-15-2011, 03:09 PM

Someone will always complain! Businesses can choose how they want to operate as long as it is within the law.

:thumb

erobertson

07-16-2011, 06:59 PM

Some restaurants are not child-friendly. I wouldn't dream of taking Andy to a white table cloth restaurant or a place where the atmosphere is quiet. He's 5.5 months- sometimes he makes a lot of noise. I also look for places where I can make a quick exit if necessary. After age six, parents can make going to a "fancy" restaurant an educational experience with lessons in manners and etiquette. Before that, many kids will have impulse issues (this may even be difficult for the elementary school set).

Lorah

07-17-2011, 05:40 PM

Okay, to pplay devils advocate.

What if it was a place that you could only go if you had kids? Would that be okay, or would people complaining about equal rights and etc....

I heard, but am not possitive, that you cannot even go into Chucky Cheeses unless you are with a child or have an invitation to a child's party there. Someone that I know use to work there, and they supposedly have a door person that stops people at the door. Maybe it was just that specific location, but I am ALL FOR THAT!

I'm sure someone would complain, but not me. Again, I think a business has a right to make those choices and if they don't want my money (assuming I didn't have any kids) then that's fine by me.
:yeah

Someone will always complain! Businesses can choose how they want to operate as long as it is within the law.

:yeah

ktjo17

07-17-2011, 06:11 PM

I heard, but am not possitive, that you cannot even go into Chucky Cheeses unless you are with a child or have an invitation to a child's party there. Someone that I know use to work there, and they supposedly have a door person that stops people at the door. Maybe it was just that specific location, but I am ALL FOR THAT!

I don't think that's true...my parents, sister and her hubby met me at CEC and they got in without an invite, we were not having a party. But they do check when you leave to make sure you are taking a child with the same number as you.

surmick

07-17-2011, 08:39 PM

I heard, but am not possitive, that you cannot even go into Chucky Cheeses unless you are with a child or have an invitation to a child's party there. h

They will let youin they only pay attention to when you leave.

meeg124

07-17-2011, 08:51 PM

They will let youin they only pay attention to when you leave.

And most of the time, they don't pay attention to that.

meeg124

07-27-2011, 07:22 AM

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-no-kids-allowed-movement-is-spreading-2516110/

Just saw this article and thought it was an interesting follow up.

howardvm

07-27-2011, 07:56 AM

Wow. Its going a bit overboard now I think. Banning kids from certain public places outdoors? I am surprised even by Whole Foods...

meeg124

07-27-2011, 08:24 AM

Wow. Its going a bit overboard now I think. Banning kids from certain public places outdoors? I am surprised even by Whole Foods...

I was surprised about the Whole Foods too. But I have to admit that if a local grocery store or Costco had kid free hours, I would take advantage of it. The last time I was in a Costco, there was a family in there with kids that shrieked and hollered the entire time I was shopping. I could hear them all over the freaking store. I noticed the parents just standing there talking to each other, while one of their kids was sitting in the cart, yelling at the top of their lungs. No redirection, not paying attention to them at all. It is that kind of parenting that is giving the rest of us a bad name :giggle

howardvm

07-27-2011, 09:31 AM

I was surprised about the Whole Foods too. But I have to admit that if a local grocery store or Costco had kid free hours, I would take advantage of it. The last time I was in a Costco, there was a family in there with kids that shrieked and hollered the entire time I was shopping. I could hear them all over the freaking store. I noticed the parents just standing there talking to each other, while one of their kids was sitting in the cart, yelling at the top of their lungs. No redirection, not paying attention to them at all. It is that kind of parenting that is giving the rest of us a bad name :giggle

We were at Safeway on Saturday, and this little girl was screaming and having a fit about a dumb balloon. Elijah was just staring at her like "what the heck is her problem?" LOL

But for me, I think I've been able to go grocery shopping once since E was born without either one, and have never gone to Costco by myself. Just so difficult to go anywhere errand-wise for me without kids, so I think putting bans like this in place for grocery stores and whatnot just makes it difficult for parents. Especially those that have 2 full-time working parents that have limited time already to do errands and whatnot. Granted at the same time I don't want to hear other kids screaming like that, makes me wonder if my kids will think its ok to do it too.

Colleen&Kail

07-27-2011, 10:48 AM

We were at Safeway on Saturday, and this little girl was screaming and having a fit about a dumb balloon. Elijah was just staring at her like "what the heck is her problem?" LOL

But for me, I think I've been able to go grocery shopping once since E was born without either one, and have never gone to Costco by myself. Just so difficult to go anywhere errand-wise for me without kids, so I think putting bans like this in place for grocery stores and whatnot just makes it difficult for parents. Especially those that have 2 full-time working parents that have limited time already to do errands and whatnot. Granted at the same time I don't want to hear other kids screaming like that, makes me wonder if my kids will think its ok to do it too.

thats way overboard IMO, everyone has different schedules its not fair to the ppl who only have a small window to grocery shop or for ppl that dont always have daycare available, like single parents.

MamaLaura

07-27-2011, 11:12 AM

There are many grocery stores out there, even some that deliver. One or two making the policy, which isn't restricting kids completely but just for a few hours, isn't going to leave anyone without food. If someone is really bothered by not being able to shop during that window, I don't see them loving the idea of shopping at that particular store anyway.

howardvm

07-27-2011, 11:34 AM

There are many. But I only go to 2. And if either one of them started putting some sort of "no kid" slots out there that interfered with when I usually go, I'd be pretty upset about it.

Colleen&Kail

07-27-2011, 12:00 PM

There are many. But I only go to 2. And if either one of them started putting some sort of "no kid" slots out there that interfered with when I usually go, I'd be pretty upset about it.

:yeah

My3sonsplus1

07-27-2011, 01:01 PM

I wonder if they would make kids vacate the store at the appointed time. Can you imagine hussling to WF after having to search for that missing shoe to find you get there 20 minutes before the appointed kid free time so in reality if say 6-8 pm was kid free time it would be hard to guarantee you could show up after 5:30 (or some times in my case we seem to wander the store for close to an hour somehow) and be sure to get all your shopping done. Traffic jam gets you there at 5:58 and you just need to run in to get a gallon of milk? Tough shit

surmick

07-27-2011, 01:06 PM

The way I read it was that whole foods was offering daycare during that time, not that kids were not allowed. Kind of like ikea.

My3sonsplus1

07-27-2011, 01:09 PM

The way I read it was that whole foods was offering daycare during that time, not that kids were not allowed. Kind of like ikea.
Ah I see you are right Susan. I swear the first time I read the article the WF bit wasn't there, and the second time the clarification was not. mommybrain perhaps?

howardvm

07-27-2011, 01:52 PM

I didn't see the daycare portion either! Strange!

Lynette

07-27-2011, 01:53 PM

Hmm....I don't know they could really enforce this, kind of like when Codding tried putting those "For moms only" parking spots in front of Raley's years ago in RP. I have to think about it more as to why, but the idea of doing that at my grocery store would really piss me off to the point where I would complain rather than slink off to another store.

And if we are looking for times free of troublesome customers, could we have moron-free hours where the people have to pass a courtesy course on how to act in a grocery store like not hog the whole aisle while gabbing on your phone??

howardvm

07-27-2011, 01:55 PM

And if we are looking for times free of troublesome customers, could we have moron-free hours where the people have to pass a courtesy course on how to act in a grocery store like not hog the whole aisle while gabbing on your phone??

Seriously! Like when the stop right in the middle of the aisle while you're trying to get by, but there isn't enough room on either side, and meanwhile they have no idea that you're even there because they are in their own world where only they exist and no one else matters LOL!

My3sonsplus1

07-27-2011, 02:20 PM

I am not nuts! I have the original article opened in a different tab and the WF paragraph copy/pasted and opened a few minutes after Megan first posted reads:
"Even running errands with toddlers may be off limits. This summer Whole Foods stores in Missouri are offering child-free shopping hours and in Florida, a controversy brews over whether kids can be banned from a condominium's outdoor area. That's right, some people don't even want kids outdoors."

but now reads:
"Even running errands with toddlers may be changing. This summer Whole Foods stores in Missouri are offering child-free shopping hours (kids are allowed inside but childcare service is available for parents who want to shop kid-free.) Meanwhile in Florida, a controversy brews over whether kids can be banned from a condominium's outdoor area. That's right, some people don't even want kids outdoors. "

I don't know if it was accidental or purposeful but the first has a lot more shock value and "kid free zone!!!" and the second is actually mentioning a *service* offered (so a bonus to parents who can't go shopping sans kids but would like to. It isn't that kids can't be in the store but a childcare option is offered during a few select hours so they don't have to staff someone at 2am in the childcare). And might I add not a new service in MO (so why mention it except to cause a stir) as the Piggly Wiggly we used to go to when visiting had a childcare area.

MamaLaura

07-27-2011, 03:34 PM

My3sonsplus1

07-27-2011, 03:51 PM

I just don't see how this is different than the restaurant, and I don't see the harm in that at all. The restaurant is completely kid free, and this is a few hours. If you want to take your kids to eat, you'll find a different restaurant. If you want to take your kids to the grocery store, you'll find a different one. It is not the store's fault that people don't want to shop elsewhere. They'll either lose money from the parents or make money from the non-parents. It's their choice, just as it's anyone else's choice to shop there or not.

Well to me a kid free grocery store (and the follow up says it isn't kid free anyway but rather daycare will be available for certain hours... not the same thing at all :eyeroll) would be hard in that it isn't just the kid free hours that would be kid free but the "hour" prior to ensure you were out before the kid free time... though I guess you would just adjust and know that even though they state kid free time is X-Z o'clock the reality is a parent can't have kids in tow 30 minutes (or however long your trips last) prior to the stated times or would have to do a short trip. Not a huge issue for me but I could see it being an annoyance or if you were visiting and didn't know the town and where other stores were and for the love just need a gallon of miiiiiiiilk :tongue.

Lynette

07-27-2011, 06:23 PM

I just don't see how this is different than the restaurant, and I don't see the harm in that at all. The restaurant is completely kid free, and this is a few hours. If you want to take your kids to eat, you'll find a different restaurant. If you want to take your kids to the grocery store, you'll find a different one. It is not the store's fault that people don't want to shop elsewhere. They'll either lose money from the parents or make money from the non-parents. It's their choice, just as it's anyone else's choice to shop there or not.

I think its bugging me because with really nice restaurant you go through the effort of getting a sitter, getting dressed up only to get away from the kids only to get there and have kids running amok is aggravating versus living your daily life and having to keep track of when the kid free hours are at the store (when in reality, school hours or after 8pm pretty much serves the same purpose) even though the store makes a TON of money *just* off our kids via the candy, cereal, popsicles, juice, kid junk food, etc so to exclude them because some uptight yuppy can't handle seeing a kid while they fill up their little basket and run through the express lane seems ridiculous. In reality, it is a form of discrimination so I don't think it would last long anyways.

erobertson

07-28-2011, 12:26 AM

exclude them because some uptight yuppy can't handle seeing a kid while they fill up their little basket and run through the express lane seems ridiculous.

Some people don't think kids should be allowed anywhere. As a mom I've come to judge people based on how they treat my kid. If someone is rude to or ignores my kid, then they are probably someone I don't want to get to know better.

The grocery store thing seems a bit absurd to me because for most of the year there are whole swaths of kid free hours to shop during the day and evening. On a related note, I'd like to compliment IKEA in Emeryville on their Family Parking. We recently went and it made things so much easier to park closer to the store and not have to negotiate the parking garage. My husband and I casually looked at some of the other cars we passed and they either had carseats or obvious kid marking (school stickers, youth soccer stickers, etc.). It didn't look like people were taking advantage. They also have a killer baby/nursing room near the cafe.

Lorah

07-28-2011, 01:27 PM

Some people don't think kids should be allowed anywhere. As a mom I've come to judge people based on how they treat my kid. If someone is rude to or ignores my kid, then they are probably someone I don't want to get to know better.

:clap

MamaLaura

07-28-2011, 03:20 PM

I get the being rude thing, but not the ignoring, depending on the exact situation. Some people are just uncomfortable around babies/small children. They don't know what to do/how to act.

lovesthebaby

08-05-2011, 08:42 PM

This is interesting. I agree with the restaurant, there are certain times/places that are just better without children present. IMO. The grocery store would be fine too, but kind of annoying if it ran into when *I* wanted to shop. LOL! Even with the childcare, I wouldn't go during the kid free hours, because I just wouldn't feel comfortable putting my kids in a daycare at the grocery store. I think it's fine overall and I know I have some friends without kids who would jump on shopping during the kid free hours and eat exclusively at adult only restaurants.