Restaurant Bans Children Under Age Six

[Family Ties Forever!]

link

Noise Prompts Monroeville Restaurant To Ban Young Kids
McDain's Owner Says 'Volume Can't Be Controlled' Under Age 6

Posted: 1:24 pm EDT July 8, 2011
Updated: 6:36 pm EDT July 8, 2011

Monroeville, Pa. -- Stephanie Kelley, of Trafford, has been a weekly customer of McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center. Not any more. The eatery on Broadway Boulevard in Monroeville has decided to stop admitting young children, and she's the mother of a toddler. "I can't believe this. I am offended. This is just an ignorant policy," Kelley told Team 4 investigator Jim Parsons.

In an email sent to loyal McDain's customers, owner Mike Vuick wrote, "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." Vuick explained his reasoning to Team 4 on Friday, saying, "I think it's the height of being impolite and selfish, and therefore, I instituted a policy."

The owner said he won't make exceptions with the new rule. "Nothing wrong with babies, but the fact is you can't control their volume," Vuick said. "There may be restaurants that prefer to cater to such things. Not here." Kelley's son, Jameson, is 13 months old. She had planned a July 16 dinner outing at McDain's with a group of 20 visiting family members from North Carolina, but Vuick told her he would not take the reservation if she plans to bring young Jameson.

"We really enjoy eating at McDain's, and Jameson is very well-behaved," Kelley said. "If they're so concerned about noise, what do they plan to do about the loud people at the bar?" Customers who spoke with Parsons on Friday said children in the restaurant don't bother them, but they support Vuick's right to deny service. "It's up to him. If he thinks they're a problem under 6, then I think the patrons should abide by that," Suzanne Swigart said. "Out they go," Paul Swigart said. "if that's his determination, out they go."

Vuick said he's confident that a majority of his customers will support the new policy. "We've had the place here for 22 years, and the restaurant for nine, and I've noticed in those nine years there are certain parents who can't leave their children at home," Vuick said. "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." Restaurants cannot ban senior citizens, because they're in a protected class under the law, but there is no law that protects children from being denied service.

Copyright 2011 by WTAE. All rights reserved.

[Mr. Television]

Parents just don't control their children anymore. I know you really can't control babies but little kids running around wild is ridiculous. I was at a restaurant a few weeks ago and this kid was just running around everywhere and his father did nothing about it. How can anyone enjoy their meal when that's going on? That's not the first time that I've seen it at a restaurant either. Downtown one of the stores now has a sign that says that small children must stay by their parents while in the store. I've seen them go wild down there too.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Parents just don't control their children anymore. I know you really can't control babies but little kids running around wild is ridiculous. I was at a restaurant a few weeks ago and this kid was just running around everywhere and his father did nothing about it. How can anyone enjoy their meal when that's going on? That's not the first time that I've seen it at a restaurant either. Downtown one of the stores now has a sign that says that small children must stay by their parents while in the store. I've seen them go wild down there too.

Amen. It's frustrating how out of control little kids are anymore. When I was young, obviously I wasn't perfect but when I was out in public my folks actually WATCHED me, and part of that entailed sometimes telling me to quiet down or behave. I was a quiet kid anyway, but the point is that this responsibility seems to be fading away, at least in many parent's minds. I don't know if it's that they are so tired from working 100 hour weeks on multiple jobs that they don't have the energy to discipline kids, or if they think their kids are so perfect that they are above being corrected, or if it's just plain laziness, but whatever it is it's a real social problem. At movie theaters, grocery stores, restaurants, public sporting events, and on and on, kids just do whatever they please and if your good time is being affected you have two choices: A) sit there and take it silently, and let your night be spoiled by some unruly brat or B) actually make a comment to the kid or the parent, and risk a loud ugly fight with an outraged parent, or worse yet, a lawsuit about harassing their kid.

It's terrible. I'm actually getting to the point that where I see a bunch of kids in a public venue I tend to assume it'll be a problem and I leave.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Amen. It's frustrating how out of control little kids are anymore. When I was young, obviously I wasn't perfect but when I was out in public my folks actually WATCHED me, and part of that entailed sometimes telling me to quiet down or behave. I was a quiet kid anyway, but the point is that this responsibility seems to be fading away, at least in many parent's minds. I don't know if it's that they are so tired from working 100 hour weeks on multiple jobs that they don't have the energy to discipline kids, or if they think their kids are so perfect that they are above being corrected, or if it's just plain laziness, but whatever it is it's a real social problem. At movie theaters, grocery stores, restaurants, public sporting events, and on and on, kids just do whatever they please and if your good time is being affected you have two choices: A) sit there and take it silently, and let your night be spoiled by some unruly brat or B) actually make a comment to the kid or the parent, and risk a loud ugly fight with an outraged parent, or worse yet, a lawsuit about harassing their kid.

It's terrible. I'm actually getting to the point that where I see a bunch of kids in a public venue I tend to assume it'll be a problem and I leave.

I know what you mean. When I was a kid, I would have got smacked if I was running around like that.Nowadays I think it's the kids who are running the households. I think that store downtown also says that kids of a certain age can't come in without their parents. I'll have to check and see what age it is. I know when I was a kid I would ride my bike up the corner to the store to get this month's comic books. I loved doing that. Kids back then though had manners. I don't particularly like rules banning kids like that restaurant did but I understand it. It's too bad that the good parents have to suffer because the bad ones can't control their children.

[robyrob]

maybe some restaurants should just be adults only, there are plenty of places that allow kids and people can always just go somewhere else if they don't like it.

on the other side, i think that if bars and restaurants want to have a smoking policy or section that should be their right too. (although hopefully smoking in general dies out enough that this becomes unnecessary eventually)

[Miss Lisa]

I actually think this is a good idea. We have tried taking my little cousins out to dinner before, and it always turns out to be a bad idea. I was never perfect, and neither was my sister, but we always seemed to fall asleep. I think my parents did that on purpose, they would take us out to eat around our bedtime. They're okay when their dad comes with us because he's not afraid to be stern with them, but their mom, well, she's more afraid of drawing attention. My grandma always told her to spank them, but I think she's afraid she'll hurt them. I hate to say it, but I have had to spank them in a restaruant before. I didn't do it right there, I took him into the bathroom and did it. I didn't do it hard though, but just enough to get a four year old boy to sit down and eat instead of trying to jump on the chair.

Come to think of it, why would parents want to take little kids out to dinenr anyways? Its not like they could actually enjoy themselves.

[shotzette]

Awesome! Few things are more irritating than having an evening of fine dining (I'm totally fine with kids being kids in a fast food restaurant) interrupted with kids who are usually misbehaving because they are overtired or bored. I remember hating when my parents took me out to fancy restaurants because there was nothing to do! The food isn't appealing to kids, the meal lasts too long, and it's just not a kid-friendly event. Why torture everyone?

There are also these wonderful things called "babysitters" out there. I know today's paranoid, helicopter parents can't bear the thought of their little precious being around a stranger--read: honors high school student down the block who's itching to make a few bucks-- for 3 hours, but these are also the same couples who wonder why they have grown apart and can't seem to carry on an adult conversation with anyone.

[Miss Lisa]

Originally Posted by shotzette

There are also these wonderful things called "babysitters" out there. I know today's paranoid, helicopter parents can't bear the thought of their little precious being around a stranger--read: honors high school student down the block who's itching to make a few bucks-- for 3 hours, but these are also the same couples who wonder why they have grown apart and can't seem to carry on an adult conversation with anyone.

That's how my aunt is, she only leaves the kids with relatives, and only if she absolutely has to. I live a little over an hour away from her, so when I have to babysit, I usually go out and stay the night. I don't think I have personally ever had a babysitter, but my dad was always working and my mom was worn out from a few medical problems when I was little and by the time that she had gotten over them, my little sister was born and then a couple years after that I was old enough to just watch her for free.

[Waterston_Fan]

I like the idea but it's too bad they will lose that reservation of a birthday party.

[Janice]

I love it. It seems whenever my husband and I go for dinner, a crying kid is always seated next to us, or well within earshot. I even say as they're being seated, "Right on cue". I've always felt that restaurants should have a kid-free section, behind sound-proof walls/glass. Parents just let their kids act up. If Sandals Resort can ban children, and they do, then three cheers for this place.

[PZelda]

Now, if they would just desginate a kids area on planes, that would be AWESOME. I've been that unlucky exhausted passenger who got the seat in front of a screaming, kicking toddler on the plane. Luckily the last time that this happened (I think) was in 2004. Still, it's the principle of the thing. NOBODY wants to sit in front of an out of control toddler on the plane. Especially if said passenger has already been traveling internationally.

[Liza]

Originally Posted by PZelda

Now, if they would just desginate a kids area on planes, that would be AWESOME. I've been that unlucky exhausted passenger who got the seat in front of a screaming, kicking toddler on the plane. Luckily the last time that this happened (I think) was in 2004. Still, it's the principle of the thing. NOBODY wants to sit in front of an out of control toddler on the plane. Especially if said passenger has already been traveling internationally.

I agree with that. I have always thought there should be kid free flights, just because it's torture for everyone. However, I will share that my last flight - London to Washington DC this year, I was seated next to a two year old. I was very nervous when I sat down, but he was perfect. His mother introduced him and asked for my name, he shook my hand. He had a bite or two of dinner and didn't make a sound. He later fell asleep for a good 5 hours. Apparently he woke up when I was in the bathroom and he asked where I was. He was so cute. When the flight was over I complimented his mother on his excellent behavior. He was a joy to sit next to, and I know parents with kids that small take a lot of grief for it. I'm sorry to say that a kid with such great behavior is the exception nowadays, not the rule.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Janice

I love it. It seems whenever my husband and I go for dinner, a crying kid is always seated next to us, or well within earshot. I even say as they're being seated, "Right on cue". I've always felt that restaurants should have a kid-free section, behind sound-proof walls/glass. Parents just let their kids act up. If Sandals Resort can ban children, and they do, then three cheers for this place.

I like your idea of a kid-free sound-proofed section. Sounds like a diplomatic way to appease both sides. Other possibilities might be designated nights or a sign saying that anyone (including children) disturbing the peace will first be asked,or their guardians, to politely keep it down - and the next time asked to leave (though this sol'n isn't as good as the others-just thinking out loud that some kind of allowance should be made for well-behaved kids although sadly, the term does sound more and more like an oxymoron as I repeat it)

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by Janice

I love it. It seems whenever my husband and I go for dinner, a crying kid is always seated next to us, or well within earshot. I even say as they're being seated, "Right on cue". I've always felt that restaurants should have a kid-free section, behind sound-proof walls/glass. Parents just let their kids act up. If Sandals Resort can ban children, and they do, then three cheers for this place.

Maybe you or someone else can verify but I heard that some religious places of worship, like churches, have done this for children.

They have a section in the back that's behind sound-proof glass so that the mother can attend to the crying/loud child without disrupting the service.

How common is this in churches today?

[Miss Lisa]

Originally Posted by JamesG

Maybe you or someone else can verify but I heard that some religious places of worship, like churches, have done this for children.

They have a section in the back that's behind sound-proof glass so that the mother can attend to the crying/loud child without disrupting the service.

How common is this in churches today?

I have been to one church that has this. Out towards Cleveland, St. Thomas church in Sheffield Lake. The only time I was there was for my grandma's funeral and my sister and I took the younger kids back there.