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New Jersey Restaurant Bans Kids and Gets 40,000 Likes
The business case for peace and quiet.
Bars have long been labeled as adult-only spaces, but it’s uncommon for restaurants to ban children — which is exactly what Nettie’s House of Spaghetti did in February. The Italian eatery, located in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, announced its new policy in a viral Facebook post that received nearly 40,000 positive reactions and 11,000 shares.
“We love kids,” wrote the restaurant’s management. “We really, truly, do. But lately, it’s been extremely challenging to accommodate children at Nettie’s. Between noise levels, lack of space for high chairs, cleaning up crazy messes, and the liability of kids running around the restaurant, we have decided that it’s time to take control of the situation.”
The Facebook post acknowledged that some parents would be upset, but it only received 1,000 “angry” emojis and 153 “sad” ones.
That same month, the Movieland theater in Richmond, Virginia, banned all viewers under 17 after 7:30 p.m. “It will be a more enjoyable moviegoing experience for adults so they can enjoy the show without … kids running around,” said the owner, who added, “We think our guests deserve it and they’ve asked for it.”
These establishments might lose business from families, but they could attract new customers looking for some peace and quiet. On the other hand, there’s no guarantee that adults will be on their best behavior.
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