My step daughter is tormented by Chronic Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis & Gluten allergy attacks, so her diet is limited. She tonight was ordered out of Bare Bones Gastropub, and when I objected, the hostess ordered us all to never return.
Some background... we went plant based vegan after Cancer affected our family and in support of our daughter. My step daughter was visiting from Tennessee to care for her natural father who is at end-stage kidney failure.
We told her we'd take her to a specialty restaurant we frequent. When she walked in without wearing a mask, she was stopped by the waiter and reminded the local ordinance requires a mask (https://laporteco.in.gov/face-covering-mandate-and-covid-faq/)
As you can imagine this is not an uncommon Covid-19 experience. But soon is where events turn.
The hostess interrupts so my daughter re-explained she has a Medical Doctor-signed Release from masks as her degenerative MS produces a medical condition called TN or Trigeminal Neuralgia in which wearing a 'constricting' strapped mask can trigger excruciating facial nerve pain.
So with less than ten physical steps to a table while maintaining six feet away from everyone was do-able without warranting the MS/TN medical risk (those with TMJ can appreciate the severity "Patients with TN could be misdiagnosed as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Unlike TMJ, attacks of TN are... sharp and can occur without any jaw movement"
Again challenged in public-view, Kim offered to go back to her car and bring her doctor-signed medical release. The Hostess did not care - 'no mask, no entrance, period'. She said she wasn't going to risk the business being closed over a face mask violation.
To comply with the Hostess' wishes so she could walk the mere ten steps to a table (every patron was eating 6 ft apart) she next covered her face by her loose Turtleneck as a neck gaiter. "No" said the Hostess.
Next, our kind male waiter graciously gave Kim a disposable paper facemask and she held it up against her face in compliance. But... the Hostess said "NO! if you are not going to wear it you must leave" https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/i-don-t-want-to-wear-a-mask-part-2-how-69707/
Kim tries to explain her disorder & its medical reasons from her doctor release but the Hostess cuts her off & now orders our daughter to leave.
Really? To not realize some of the public you're serving are not all defiant but rather have legitimate medical reasons, It can implicate Gastropub in the 'American with Disabilities Act as in Kim's case https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/ada-implications-i-don-t-want-to-wear-a-91357/
But apparently not with Bare Bones Gatstropub's Hostess. She might also familiarize herself with https://coronavirus.nautil.us/medical-reasons-mask/
Now I had been standing back of the group. I watched and I listened and, to this point, observed silently.
This is had reached enough now for me to speak up. Our Hostess again interrupting now me without practical knowledge of ADA or CDC modifications for children, seniors, breathing difficulties, TN as well as other health-medical limitations
But this lady has decided. While her back was to the other patrons, I truly wish others could see her pinched fiery eyes, her curled lip as well as her uncompromising orders. I am afraid all they saw was two, then three people clash, not understanding ADA legal nor health implications.
This truly stirred my "step-dad's" family defenses over her narrow mindedness. So, you can imagine when I speak up now she orders the entire party to leave and never return.
Though I regret turning around and giving her a piece of my mind, I'd rather have just left silently to never return. My sole regret
We enjoyed amazing vegan meals at Fresco New Buffalo some twelve minutes later.
Previously we found the owner extremely nice & gifted & he made a large limited desert for a special event for my employee. We've brought others to Bare Bones Gastropub. But really we never care to see this tall Amazon hostess' flaring nostrils, curled lip or distorted face, nor hear her voice again. It appears time the owner review with staff ADA & CDC guidelines and take people aside, not content in public. Hence the links.
To those who unfamiliar with TN or Trigeminal Neuralgia, see the Mask Article regarding TN at (https://medium.com/beingwell/exceptions-to-the-rule-is-it-ever-unsafe-to-wear-a-mask-b09710056613) "...in their article, Dorfman and Raz identify a few specific diagnoses likely to warrant mask exceptions such as... Those with... pain syndromes of the face like trigeminal neuralgia also have self-evident reasons to be exempt".
As a vegan couple, we've eaten in this local small restaurant virtually every week when home - but no longer by Hostess' edict! So we will spend our $100-to-$300 each week with Fiddleheads, Fresco, Lucrezia, TigerLillyCafe or Panera, even Impossible burgers at BK - anywhere else! read more
