Applebees in Santa Fe, NM
 

Apparently, a NM National Guard soldier went to Applebees in Santa Fe, NM this weekend and was refused service because he was in uniform. Santa Fe is an extremely liberal place. I imagine it had more to do with being in Santa Fe than Applbees policy. I plan on looking into this further. :mad:

After you check out the story for its truth...please post the results of exactly what happened.

If in your fact finding you get an email address or phone number of a regional exec at applebees, please post it in this thread. We can pepper him with complaints and responses. He might be surprised to hear from soldiers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc from all over the country. Let them know it won't be just one applebees that is affected by this action (if true).

If it's true, there is no excuse for that crap in this country.

Many bases do not allow soldiers to eat anywhere off-post in BDUs where alcohol is served, and almost all restrict the hours in which you may dine off-post in BDUs.

Would love to see the rest of this story.

TR

Class A's, or BDU's?

This really sucks!

Terry

:munchin

BDU's, but in the guard it is not uncommon for soldiers to go eat in BDU's. I am not aware of any directive against wearing BDU's to a restaurant here. I am trying to locate the soldier it happened to. Then I will call the restaurant and ask them what happened.

Santa Fe is no where near a real Army post, so I doubt the restaurant had any guidance from the military. If there was a policy on such things then Sharkbait and I would be aware of it. All the locals there know about the Army is "those are the baby-killers we protest against while we sing songs and smoke pot".

My wife is a manager for Applebees and we also happen to live in the same town and have constant contact with corporate. I will be taking this up to the district manager ASAP and will see what we can do.

Does you know if it is a franchise or a corporate store this happened in? If it is a francise we may be SOL but if it is a corporate store I will make sure someone feels me.

Edited:

I should also let you know that Applebees does indeed support the soldiers and through my wifes store and several other corporate stores they have donated supplies to several organizations/individuals putting care packages together for troops deployed.

I was retired in 1980...back then "fatigues" were not authorized wear, off post. There were a few exceptions ie you could pump gas into your vehicle on your way to and from work, but restaurants were out, bars were out, grocery stores were out, etc, etc.

I don't think that ancient policy has anything to with what happened to this soldier. Santa Fe is full of Holistic, Dip Shit, Peacenik, Crystal gazing/wearing, hippie types, and he ought to sue em.

If he were dnied service for any other reason, ie the color of his skin, his religion, his sexual preference (that's for Matchanu), if he were denied service for ANYTHING AT ALL, other than for wearing his country's uniform. The ACLU would be all over it.

Terry

It was still the same way when I left AD in 94 and the NG in 97. BDU's were a duty uniform and not "casual wear." Exceptions were made for things like a quick stop for gas, milk or other essentials but not dining out. What sucks is that in my wifes store I see soldiers in BDU's all the time and it was the same thing in the pub.

It's not a big deal here. If a soldier is on his drill weekend and wants to eat at a restaurant, that's fine. Most units in NM don't have mess facilities. The units will still provide food, but some people still go elsewhere to eat.

The soldier in this case is a recruiter and apparently isn't interested in making a big stink about this. I heard about it from a young PFC in our Recruit Holding Company. The recruiter told them that the store has the right to refuse service to anyone, which is true, of course. But they can answer for there decisions, too. This PFC does not want to upset the recruiter (SFC), so I don't plan on calling him. I figured I would call the restaurant and ask the manager what his policy is and take it from there. I will keep you all informed.

Hey CPTAUSRET,

Is there just that one Applebees that's on Cerrillos, or are there more in Suckta Fe?

Dave,

I did a search and it looks like there is only one Applebees in SF:

(505) 473-7551
4246 Cerrillos Rd
Santa Fe, NM 87505


Rich

Ok thanks. And before everyone starts calling them, let me do more checking.

My wife checked the corporate directory and there is only one in the city and it is a franchise.