A Minnesota Arby’s cooked up some controversy when it recently posted a sign on its door saying “only well-behaved children” were welcome, according to reports.
Christine Hemsworth visited the sandwich chain in Elk River with three of her kids — one of whom is a toddler — Oct. 6 when she spotted the offensive sign, she told TODAY Food on Monday.
“Only well-behaved children who can keep their food on their trays and their bottoms on their seats are welcome,” the sign read. “If you can’t do this, you will be asked to leave.”
Hemsworth immediately worried that her own toddler wouldn’t be able to sit still for long but walked in for a meal anyway.
“I was like, ‘Oh gosh,’ ” she told local station KARE 11. ” ‘I’ve got a 2-year-old with me, and he doesn’t always keep his fries on the tray or his bottom on the seat. He sometimes stands up.’ ”
She said dinner with her kids went smoothly, but she told the station she still felt “uncomfortable” during her time there.
“I wasn’t sure if [the sign] was because they didn’t want to clean up messes,” Hemsworth said. “I always clean up my children’s mess anyways, but it was an uncomfortable and stressful meal.”
Arby’s told the station in a statement that the sign was taken down.
“We recognize the language on this sign was insensitive,” the chain said. “We removed it quickly and have disciplined the manager and team working at the restaurant. It does not reflect our company values and the family-friendly environment we aim to provide in all of our restaurants.”
KARE 11 posted its story about the sign to Facebook — where several commenters sided with the restaurant, arguing that little ones shouldn’t be allowed to run amok.
“I think this should be the norm,” one commenter said. “People have expectations and one of them is to eat in a non-chaotic environment. I love children but am not too crazy about parents that don’t educate [them] concerning proper behavior. I understand children can act out, [and] have meltdowns, [but] that is when the adults take control and take the child or children out of the place so others can have their meal in peace.”
But another poked fun at the fact that it was an Arby’s that posted the sign.
“Yep, when I want to have a pleasant and quiet sit down meal with my family, I immediately consider Arby’s,” the commenter said.
Hemsworth said she had visited the Elk River location several times before and never seen such a message.
“I was shocked to find a sign like that,” she said. “It is a fast-food restaurant, it’s not something with white tablecloths. It’s supposed to be family-oriented, as far as I knew.”
