TGI Friday's not carry friendly

[KLB]

The Valpo TGIF has a sign, but it is hard to see. The window is tinted, which hides it pretty well.

 

[kisa77]

TGI Fridays

I thought all along that it was simply this manager. I don't know if he was the GM or just a shift manager perhaps. Either way, it's bugged me how I let it end and didn't get to educate him at all. I've been thinking about either going back or calling. I think calling would probably be more appropriate to refrain from causing another issue in front of their customers. If the GM is an intelligent guy like you suggest perhaps I can offer a day to take his "team" to the range and spark their interest.

I don't want to doubt what anyone is saying here about what the policy of TGI Fridays is, but I am a bit skeptical, the reason I say this is I was recently in Tennessee, and I am from Georgia, and their laws are close, Georgia is a bit more relaxed on the gun laws than Tennessee. But before I went to Tennessee, I researched the laws and the law states and I quote from the law itself. "Eating establishments such as Applebee's or Fridays that serve alcohol bud produce most of their income from the sale of food" ...."Joes Corner bar, that serves pizza and pretzels and is primarily a "watering-hole" .... "recognized permittees can carry in restaurants concealed loaded handguns if they do not consume alcohol." That is the law. We were in Chattanooga, and we got hungry, and did not want to sample the local cuisine, so we decided to eat at Fridays, well they had a sign that was posted that stated it was a misdemeanor in Tennessee to possess a firearm in a restaurant that served alcohol, I immediately asked for the manager, I was told that the followed that sign, and I told them that it must have been an old law because recent laws allowed otherwise, and that a new law prevented me from leaving it in my car unless I owned the vehicle, we had a rental, he then told me that they do not serve people other than law enforcement that have firearms. I then left and went to another establishment.

That to me sounds as if they are not gun friendly, they sound as if they don't want to make a policy so they will use old state laws to hide behind. I will not spend money in a place that is like that.

 

[Yup!]

Cliff's notes: Went into TGI Friday's in Avon OCing with my wife and an out of town relative we were on our way to drop off at the airport. Sat down, ordered food, gotten our drinks everything was hunky dory before the manager requested we take our sidearms to our vehicles. We declined and informed him we'll take our business elsewhere. He was at least friendly though.

Typically, I post experiences of positive OC carrying and educating citizens. Tonight I was unable to turn the experience into a positive educational experience because of time constraints mostly. Anyhow, my wife and I decided to take our visiting relative to TGI Friday's in Avon before dropping him off to catch his flight back home. Obviously, we were on somewhat of a time crunch. We walked in, greeted and escorted to our seat. Everyone was friendly and seemed to pay NO attention to the fact that both my wife and I were OCing. We ordered our food and had already received our drinks when the manager walks up to our table.

At this point I could already tell what this was going to be about, but I figured I'd listen to what he had to say since we already had ordered. He was obviously nervous when proceeding to ask "Miss can I ask you to take your....g...g..gun to your vehicle. We have a policy against that." My wife looked at me as she began to answer before I could even say anything and so I proceeded to pick up my hat and put it back on because I knew what her answer was going to be anyhow. She politely asked if he would like us to pay for the drinks which we had already received. He responded, "I'll cover their cost, but we really don't want you to leave."

At this point, again my wife had been the one jumping on the conversation and I didn't want to interrupt BUT I REALLY wanted to jump in to inquire about the policy and possibly educate the man a little. I refrained from doing so since it was my wife who he initiated contact with and from his perspective he could only see her carrying, not me.

My wife simply replied, "We'd rather not do business with places which do not honor our rights." I was satisfied with that response, especially since we were in a little of a rush. I could have swore that I've OC'ed in Friday's before, but not that specific one. I really don't care if it's simply that store's policy, their corporate policy, etc. That makes no difference to me honestly because I don't agree with it no matter who created it. I simply do not give business to places with such policies and advocate that anyone else who takes their rights seriously follow suit.

Anyhow, I just thought I would share this experience with everyone here in case they do as I do and boycott such businesses. This is honestly the first time I've ever been asked to disarm by an employee of a place which was not obviously a no-go facility. I really wanted to go back and talk to the manager, but it's pretty much a moot point now I guess. Regardless, I will be adding this TGI Friday's to my online map of go/no-go gun locations for reference.

SWEET! I'm going to CC there, order drinks and appetizers, then untuck my shirt and get asked to leave BEFORE the bill comes! Free food!

 

[Lectric102002]

I've OC'd and CC'd both in the Avon Applebee's and Friday's. Never an issue. Either they didn't see it or didn't care. Or both.

 

[Yup!]

That Gun Is Frightening! - TGIF

 

[CathyInBlue]

Had dinner at the local TGIF. Was way more expensive than I expected. Just today, I had lunch at the new Bagger Dave's and it was tremendous and reasonably prices. Definitely plan on going back again. Anyone know what BD's corporate policy is on personal protection sidearms?

 

[Bill of Rights]

Actually, that's part of the reason I wanted to jump in. Wish I had brought that up. I REALLY wished I had one of the "no guns=no $$" cards to hand him, but I haven't printed any yet.

Actually, I had a thought to. If there are any mods reading, why not create a "guns= $$$" card to give to managers of businesses who openly welcome carriers such as The Tilted Kilt downtown Indy.?? I started on such cards, but so many irons in the fire I was never able to finish it.

I was going to point you to the thread where I made some of those cards a couple of years ago, but....

My apologies. I got busy and never did call them. I will be sure to give it another shot though in the next couple weeks, but also armed with some of INGO's "no guns=no $$" cards. The next time I will answer and engage the conversation.

I see you found them.

I don't want to doubt what anyone is saying here about what the policy of TGI Fridays is, but I am a bit skeptical, the reason I say this is I was recently in Tennessee, and I am from Georgia, and their laws are close, Georgia is a bit more relaxed on the gun laws than Tennessee. But before I went to Tennessee, I researched the laws and the law states and I quote from the law itself. "Eating establishments such as Applebee's or Fridays that serve alcohol bud produce most of their income from the sale of food" ...."Joes Corner bar, that serves pizza and pretzels and is primarily a "watering-hole" .... "recognized permittees can carry in restaurants concealed loaded handguns if they do not consume alcohol." That is the law. We were in Chattanooga, and we got hungry, and did not want to sample the local cuisine, so we decided to eat at Fridays, well they had a sign that was posted that stated it was a misdemeanor in Tennessee to possess a firearm in a restaurant that served alcohol, I immediately asked for the manager, I was told that the followed that sign, and I told them that it must have been an old law because recent laws allowed otherwise, and that a new law prevented me from leaving it in my car unless I owned the vehicle, we had a rental, he then told me that they do not serve people other than law enforcement that have firearms. I then left and went to another establishment.

That to me sounds as if they are not gun friendly, they sound as if they don't want to make a policy so they will use old state laws to hide behind. I will not spend money in a place that is like that.

First, kisa77, to !
Second... You'll see a post in here soon from one Kirk Freeman, one of our members who is an attorney. He will likely quote to you Kirk's First Law of the Internet, that being, "If it's legal in Texas, it's legal everywhere." or something similar. That phrase is not true, BTW, and your post illustrates the problem. We're only discussing Indiana law here, and while TN or GA may have laws in re: carry and percentage of business from alcohol sales, etc., IN has no such laws, and oddly enough, fewer problems with the same.

I'm of the opinion that we have fewer problems because we haven't set some arbitrary and capricious number as a point at which an unrelated activity becomes lawful or unlawful.

The point of my post, though, is that you seem to be unaware that the laws of the jurisdiction you're in supersede those of your permitting state, if the two differ. By example, Kentucky and several other states do not restrict the open carry of a handgun on one's person by means of a license or permit as IN does, yet if a KY resident were to come here to visit and carry his handgun in that manner without some license or permit allowing him to do so, he would be violating our laws and be subject to arrest. I don't like that law, I don't agree with that law, and I want to see that law change, but for now, it is still the law. Please forgive me if this sounds like I'm patronizing you, I don't mean to. I don't know your experience level, familiarity with these issues, or much of anything about you. You might be very knowledgeable or you might be brand new to this, but most likely somewhere in the middle. Regardless, this board is here for us to help each other.

I am hopeful that this helps you and maybe a few others as well.

(And Kirk, no, Rhino does not owe you another case of .45ACP based on a member's misunderstanding! )

Blessings,
Bill