Business is booming for a small restaurant outside of Pittsburgh despite the fact that the owner decided to ban a large portion of the population from his establishment. Mike Vuick, owner of McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center in Monroeville, Pennsylvania decided to ban children under the age of six after receiving several complaints from customers who claimed pint-size patrons were disrupting meals. The ban is sparking much discussion-- giving Vuick a pile of free publicity which may also be impacting his bottom line.
Other restaurants may be tempted to follow Vuick's baby ban, so we decided to take a look at the financial impact of kicking kids out of certain establishments. We asked you for input as well and here is some of the feedback we received:
Restaurants and Rug Rats Don't Mix
Vuick told the Wall Street Journal that he's received thousands of emails in response to his decision and he says they're currently running 11-to-1 in favor of him. The Wall Street Journal reported that business was up at least 20% at the establishment. Couples were coming from as far away as Cleveland to show their support for Vuick's move.
Some people say it's up to the restaurant to make the kid call. "The market will adjust itself accordingly. Just like all other policies (cash only, mandatory gratuity, payment plans, etc.) the customers will act in four different ways: cease buying, keep buying, increase buying, or any one of the above, while complaining about the new policy," says legal assistant David Haskins.
Kids Deserve to Dine
The Wall Street Journal talked to one regular patron, Stephanie Kelley, who was upset by the ban. She's the mother of a 13 month old who would no longer be allowed inside. Kelley told the newspaper she had planned to bring 20 relatives there for a meal, but opted for an outdoor picnic instead. And the ban has her creating her own boycott. "All children do not have meltdowns, and I don't feel I should have to suffer the repercussions," she told The Wall Street Journal.
Moms like Gwendolyn Shafer wonder how she'll be able to teach her daughter how to act in a nice restaurant if she's not allowed to take her to one until she's six. "We don't eat at fast food restaurants or other "family oriented" eateries like Chuck E Cheese or places like that. I think the food is disgusting and I don't enjoy the atmosphere," says Shafer, of Kansas. "My husband and I are foodies and we want to pass that love on to our daughter (who is currently 15 months old). I see no reason why she can't start developing her palate now at nicer establishments."
Business is Business
Adults-only restaurants are nothing new, and the trend isn't growing according to officials with the National Restaurant Association. “The majority of restaurants welcome families, but if a particular establishment has a more mature clientele, it would make sense to cater to their wants and preferences,” Annika Stensson, spokeswoman for the NRA told The Tennessean. She says there are about one million adults-only restaurants in the US.
But the ban isn't just impacting restaurants. Malaysia Air also recently announced a ban on babies in their first class cabin. The restrictions were developed after passengers complained of paying top dollar for first class perks only to be kept awake by crying babies. Whether you think the baby bans are discriminatory or delightful, it's up to businesses to do what they believe is right for their bottom line. South Carolina school teacher Jack Knipe says, "In free market economies business owners should do what satisfies clientele and makes profit." After all, what's right for Build-A-Bear may not be best for a bar.
