Restaurant Owner Adopts "Speak English" Policy

[struggle4progress]

Patrick Walters, Associated Press
June 8, 2006, 8:15 PM PDT

... Of course, it's not as if native Philadelphians speak the King's English either. A Philadelphian might order a cheesesteak by saying something like, "Yo, gimme a cheesesteak wit, will youse?" ("Wit," or "with," means with fried onions.) To which the counterman might reply: "Youse want fries widdat?" ...

But the policy has "really upset a lot of a people," said Brad Baldia of Day Without An Immigrant, a coalition of immigrant groups. "For some people, I think we're just going to say, `Le gusta Pat's."' ...

Tony Luke's issued a statement saying it welcomes all customers "whether or not they speak a `wit' of English."

And a manager at Pat's, Kathy Smith, said of ...'s English-only policy: "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life. I'd rather listen to the Spanish than the foul language of the college students."

http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-englishonlyrestaurant,0,2504427.story?coll=ktla-news-1

[DBoon]

1. a good businessman adopts a "speak money" policy

you can have English speaking customers, or you can have Spanish speaking customers.

The ones that matter are the ones that buy.

[lonehalf]

2. English only.

I go to a small Italian restaurant. The owner says he's going to require "Italian only".

But I only speak two languages, Southern english and Gullah.

Onus - Southern definition:

"We just work for him, he don't onus".

[olkaz]

3. smart guy

Seems like a nice publicity stunt to me.

And as the owner of a business, is he really legally required to offer multilingual menus and staff?

[myrdred]

4. I was denied service

there when I visited Philly. I didn't order my sammich using the proper lingo and was denied service. The guy just said "get out of here if you can't order right. Next!" I went somewhere else. I wasn't going to waste my time and give my money to a business that refuses service to someone who doesn't know their secret ordering lingo.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.