Chick-fil-A Location Prohibiting Unchaperoned Customers Under 16
We’ve heard about malls and theme parks not allowing unattended minors, but fast food restaurants? This is a new one. A Chick-fil-A in Pennsylvania is prohibiting unchaperoned customers under the age of 16 from dining in the restaurant. They announced this change on Facebook last week and said that it was a hard decision to reach. They say that they love being a pillar in the community where groups enjoy coming and spending time, but attributed the rule to the following issues:
- Volume. They go on to write that the kids are “loud” and often use “explicit language”. The Facebook post reads, “we are a family-friendly restaurant where this is not tolerated.”
- Mistreatment of property. Chick-fil-A states that “food and trash are often thrown around and left on the tables, chairs, and on the floor.” They also say that tables and restrooms have been vandalized and decorations stolen.
- Disrespect of employees. According to the post, the kids laugh at and make fun of employees in addition to disrespecting them. The go on to write that their workers “are cursed at and ignored when they ask the children and teens to either change their behavior or leave.”
- Unsafe behaviors also were stated as a reason for this decision. This includes the kids and teens walking through the parking lot and drive-thru lanes.
As teenagers, we often went to shopping centers and walked around, saw a movie, and grabbed lunch. I do think that these experiences and time away from parents are generally good. But parents also need to raise their kids in a way that they know this type of behavior is wrong. If these claims are true the restaurant has every right to ban the kids from their establishment. They are making it so that the kids can purchase to-go food, they just are unable to dine in the restaurant. Here is the statement they made:
As a result, to dine in our restaurant, anyone under the age of 16 is required to be accompanied by an adult. If not accompanied by an adult, they may come in to purchase food, but must take it to go.
They go on to say they don’t blame the parents, though, in my opinion, they should shoulder some of the responsibility but not all. And end the statement by thanking customers for their support. Chick-fil-A franchises are independently owned so as of now prohibiting customers under 16 is limited to this location. It will be interesting to see if any local restaurants follow their lead.
7 Fast Food Restaurants We Wish Would Come To North Carolina
We do have some good fast food here in North Carolina. I know I personally could not live without Chick-fil-a. No matter how long the line is I seem to end up there at least once a week. And North Carolina’s own Bojangles and Cookout is a southern staple. Of course, we have all the heavy hitter chains like Mcdonalds’, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc. But just like Bojangles and Cookout are North Carolina institutions there are chains local to other parts of the country that we (unfortunately) don’t have here. If you’ve traveled outside of the state chances are you’ve had the chance to dine at a fast food restaurant that we don’t have in North Carolina. And some of them leave you begging for them to open one up here.
When Shake Shack opened its first Charlotte location the line was wrapped around the building for weeks with people desperate to try it. Chains are going more national now, I think Chick-fil-a has finally made it to California. With that in mind, I created this list of 7 fast food restaurants I wish would come to North Carolina. Some that could be a possibility as they have started coming closer to this area. A few only have locations in southern California making a North Carolina expansion highly unlikely. A girl can dream though. I’m planning a trip next month to Arizona where I’ll get to try some of these for the first time. Cannot wait! Have you tried any of these restaurants or know of any others you’d like to see here? Let us know!
Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.
