Ageism at Chip Shop
Today at lunch I witnessed a small group of young guys - three or four, who all looked about 16 years old - get refused service at Chip Shop for being under 18. They were turned away before they could even sit down. What's up with that? Is that even legal? It's especially weird considering that the place displays press clippings in their window about how "kid-friendly" they are.
Comments
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Some restaurants will not serve or allow people under 18 in their establishments during school hours due to truancy. that might be the case here, they might not have realized that it was a snow day and schools were closed.
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Errr.. also Chipshop sells beer so maybe they were turned down for that, as kids.
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LongTimeSloper wrote: Some restaurants will not serve or allow people under 18 in their establishments during school hours due to truancy.
i didnt realize there is such thing. is that a law or it is up to the establishments to decide?
what about kids that are home schooled? -
The waiter told the guys it was "policy." Afterwards some other patrons questioned the waiter & the thrust of the waiter's explanation was that young people are bad tippers. It just didn't sit well with me; that's not a satisfactory reason.
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I know that up on 7th Ave, there are several places with signs that students are not allowed in until after 5:00 p.m. I didn't think 5th Ave was so strict about it, but they may be getting more so. However, the waiter sounds like he is not terribly concerned about truancy. This is a shame.
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Zebra wrote: The waiter told the guys it was "policy." Afterwards some other patrons questioned the waiter & the thrust of the waiter's explanation was that young people are bad tippers. It just didn't sit well with me; that's not a satisfactory reason.
It's a tough situation. More often than not larger groups of teens tend to be a bit rambunctious at eating establishments which would be at least slightly tolerable if they spent a little more than the average teen budget allows and didn't sit for an inordinate amount of time which I have seen happen as well. Its not enough to justify denying service (especially based on what is essentially a stereotype) but I'm pretty sure those patrons who were inquiring about why they were denied service would be looking to management to take control. -
ljnd wrote: I know that up on 7th Ave, there are several places with signs that students are not allowed in until after 5:00 p.m. I didn't think 5th Ave was so strict about it, but they may be getting more so. However, the waiter sounds like he is not terribly concerned about truancy. This is a shame.
Store owners are more concerned with theft than with truancy. Groups of kids are LOUD and badly behaved. Boys and girls, every race. There have been reports about kids running out without paying, too. That money comes out of the waiter's pocket.
I know this is also true on Smith and Court Streets. There is a large police presence there during the day, and store owners lock up in droves between 2:30 and 5. -
teenagers are kinda lame.
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Zebra wrote: The waiter told the guys it was "policy." Afterwards some other patrons questioned the waiter & the thrust of the waiter's explanation was that young people are bad tippers. It just didn't sit well with me; that's not a satisfactory reason.
Oh, boo hoo, the 16 year olds will have to have their $15 lunch elsewhere. I will try to find sympathy for them.
Here's an idea: Let them go to a pizzeria or a diner like the rest of the teenagers in this country who aren't from Park Slope. -
ljnd wrote: I know that up on 7th Ave, there are several places with signs that students are not allowed in until after 5:00 p.m. I didn't think 5th Ave was so strict about it, but they may be getting more so. However, the waiter sounds like he is not terribly concerned about truancy. This is a shame.
I can tell you the reasons why they're not welcome: (1) They don't spend any money; (2) They use the place just to hang out; (3) Once one group comes, they get on the cell phones and another half-dozen will show up.
Not to mention, there's the alcohol issue (which if I'm not mistaken means that anyone under the age of 21 (18?) is not supposed to be in a place serving alcohol without a chaperone). -
Obamanut wrote:
so two 20 year olds can't go to any restaurant that serves alcohol? there is no way that's the law.
Not to mention, there's the alcohol issue (which if I'm not mistaken means that anyone under the age of 21 (18?) is not supposed to be in a place serving alcohol without a chaperone). -
Obamanut wrote: [quote=ljnd]I know that up on 7th Ave, there are several places with signs that students are not allowed in until after 5:00 p.m. I didn't think 5th Ave was so strict about it, but they may be getting more so. However, the waiter sounds like he is not terribly concerned about truancy. This is a shame.
I can tell you the reasons why they're not welcome: (1) They don't spend any money; (2) They use the place just to hang out; (3) Once one group comes, they get on the cell phones and another half-dozen will show up.
Not to mention, there's the alcohol issue (which if I'm not mistaken means that anyone under the age of 21 (18?) is not supposed to be in a place serving alcohol without a chaperone).
Ya that issue with the alcohol can't possibly be right. By that rule a 17 year old couldn't go to Olive Garden without a parent. -
when i worked as a waitress, a group of teens coming in was a nightmare. they'd order little, stay for hours, throw around sugar packets and straws, and never leave any sort of tip.
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brooklynpotter wrote: [quote=Obamanut]
so two 20 year olds can't go to any restaurant that serves alcohol? there is no way that's the law.
Not to mention, there's the alcohol issue (which if I'm not mistaken means that anyone under the age of 21 (18?) is not supposed to be in a place serving alcohol without a chaperone).
It has nothing to do with liquor law, my oldest used to take his girlfriend out to restaurants that served liquor all the time. They were by themselves (he was 20, she was 19), and places served them. it has to do with everything else that has been said here. not spending money, making a mess, dining and ditching, noise levels, it being a school day, etc.. -
To be fair though, if this had happened to me when I was 16 I would have been pretty pissed off. The idea of a specific group of people being loud/non-tippers/demanding parons, etc can be applied to a number of groups of people and I can only imagine how people would be responding if this was perceived to be a race or ethnic discrimination instead of age.
Additionally, a party with young children can be very loud and extremely messy and don't always tip well...if a two moms with 4 toddlers had been denied service would everyone still be defending the restaurant? What if it was a NANNY with two toddlers? -
The waiter's actions seem wrong to me. I'm not defending rambunctious teenage behavior, but it seems like it would be a more decent idea to kick out anyone who can't behave, but to serve anyone there to get something to eat.
If the waiter refused to serve a group that could be described by a feature other than youth (sex, race, type of dress) we would be incensed. -
carmen, i've sat next to groups of mom with tons of kids, just like you mentioned, and the place was wrecked after they left. and they spent the whole time playing with sugar packets and straws--see a theme here?--and running around the table like maniacs.
we had a hang-out growing up and i'm sure the waitresses hated us. but it was a small town and after a few times there they knew us, and on several instances said that if we continued to act like crazy people we couldn't come back. -
I guess I also don't really see the problem with people (teens, adults, whatever) "hanging out" in a non-packed restaurant as long as they're being civil and not causing a ruckus. I live near chipshop and haven't seen that place anywhere close to full in the last 6 months at any time of the day- I guess I assume they're money is as green as anyones and a bill for 4 kids eating $25 worth of food is better than no bill at all (and any tip is better than no tip.) As long as they're not sitting on a table that other people are waiting for and aren't disturbing other patrons, what's the problem? I've been known to camp out with girlfriends at dinner for a few hours when we're having a good conversation and no one is waiting...
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do you guys play sugar-packet football?
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brooklynpotter wrote: do you guys play sugar-packet football?
Sometimes
Kidding
I didn't play sugar packet football when I was 16 though either. Or 12. Or 8. I mean if those kids had been in there before and were not served because they have a history of causing problems thats one thing, but to just assume that they cant eat like big kids because of their age seems unfair. Especially when so many businesses are struggling right now..turning away patrons based on age seems pretty petty and like not such a great business move (and mouthing off about it [as a waiter] seems extra stupid.) -
i know there has to be a way to keep kids out without being rude... i'd lay $$ that if it were 4 nerdy girls they'd have been let right in.
and many can't eat like big kids -
Carmen wrote: To be fair though, if this had happened to me when I was 16 I would have been pretty pissed off. The idea of a specific group of people being loud/non-tippers/demanding parons, etc can be applied to a number of groups of people and I can only imagine how people would be responding if this was perceived to be a race or ethnic discrimination instead of age.
Exactly my point, only you put it better than I did. Remember when Union Hall tried to restrict strollers inside, stating that they impeded circulation in the restaurant?
Additionally, a party with young children can be very loud and extremely messy and don't always tip well...if a two moms with 4 toddlers had been denied service would everyone still be defending the restaurant? What if it was a NANNY with two toddlers? -
I suspect that if teens are allowed to linger and loudly socialize there is the great danger that this place will start to resemble an actual English chip shop.
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Zebra wrote: I suspect that if teens are allowed to linger and loudly socialize there is the great danger that this place will start to resemble an actual English chip shop.
And they might actually have some business. OH THE HORROR! -
Carmen wrote: I've been known to camp out with girlfriends at dinner for a few hours when we're having a good conversation and no one is waiting...
As a former waiter, I can say that this can still be a problem. There might be other tables in the restaurant that are turning over so there's not a wait at the door, but you're sitting in my section, at my table, and if I can't turn it over to a new customer I'm not going to make any money except for what you leave me. Now, if I have other tables open in my section then it shouldn't be a problem.
-anthony -
"Zebra" wrote: The waiter told the guys it was "policy." Afterwards some other patrons questioned the waiter & the thrust of the waiter's explanation was that young people are bad tippers. It just didn't sit well with me; that's not a satisfactory reason.
You know who struggles with the tip concept? Europeans. -
anthonycm wrote: [quote=Carmen] I've been known to camp out with girlfriends at dinner for a few hours when we're having a good conversation and no one is waiting...
As a former waiter, I can say that this can still be a problem. There might be other tables in the restaurant that are turning over so there's not a wait at the door, but you're sitting in my section, at my table, and if I can't turn it over to a new customer I'm not going to make any money except for what you leave me. Now, if I have other tables open in my section then it shouldn't be a problem.
-anthony
I've been a waitress and worked in many, many service industry jobs (both tipped and non-tipped) and honestly, yeah it can be a pain in the ass if a table is being difficult but I always let my tables sit as long as they wanted...because it resulted in people being happier and leaving a bigger tip usually (and lots of times resulted in people specifically asking for my section.) -
I remember being in junior high school and we would all tromp over to the diner at the corner of the block afterschool where we would order 1 large fries (.85 cents) that six of us would split. The owner would come over and try to urge us along, but usually his afternoon customers were limited to kids and college students so he never got to the point of kicking us out.
I don't blame the Chip Shop folk, and can fully understand where they are coming from. Frankly if someone didn't want to serve me, I wouldn't fight to give them my money. -
also, if i was going to chip shop & i showed up and saw a large group of teenagers - i'd probably choose to go elsewhere. sorry....
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KhuntienNang wrote: what about kids that are home schooled?
they are already punished
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