We’ve all heard stories of when someone feels like they’ve been given poor service at a store or a restaurant because of being heavily modified. I’ve felt like the scene in Pretty Women before where I’m told the store has nothing for me but last night was the first time in a decade that I have ever been refused entry into a restaurant based solely on the fact that we had tattoos.
Last night around 10:30pm, I headed to CityWalk in Universal City, CA with Norm, Charlie and Vanessa Roberts and our friend Jason. We had tickets to see Avatar at 12:10am and wanted to get dinner first. Everything but Subway and Saddle Ranch Chop House were closed. We walked all the way from the movie theatre to Saddle Ranch where Jason and I went in first and got a table. I noticed that Norm was being held at the door. I went back to see what the problem was and found that they were making him remove his clothing to inspect his tattoos. As I asked what the problem was, I was asked to step aside and Norm and I were escorted out of the line to get in, even though I had already been given a table.
Upon further inspection they told us that we had “gang tattoos” and would not be allowed into the restaurant for the safety of the other patrons. Those of you that know us know that we have no gang affiliations, nor do we have any gang tattoos. I’m covered in Flower and faerie tattoos and that’s it. I guess the “Always” on my hand now stands for some gang that I have no idea about? Norm was a gentleman about it but I wanted to talk to the manager even though we had decided we didn’t want to spend our dollars at a businesss that discriminates against tattooed patrons. We left to go to Subway, which by the time we walked all the way back, was closed.
The lesson that we all need to know is that our dollar effects the decisions that corporations make. I’m asking that you do not visit the Saddle Ranch Chop House or their affiliated restaurants.We should come together and boycott them.
If you want to make a difference, email Alex Chavez (Senior Manager) at [email protected] and let them know that you don’t appreciate rampant discrimination by management against customers who have tattoos and that you and your friends will not be visiting their establishment. You can also call them at 818-760-9680 or send your letter via fax to 818-760-9686. Remember to keep your emails/faxes/phone calls polite and well written otherwise they will just cast us off as they already have.
Do we look like “gang members” to you? Nope, didn’t think so. Using an excuse like that to discriminate against tattooed individuals is reckless and irresponsible. We all want to be able to visit a restaurant and be safe but using a fake claim that we had “gang tattoos” to discriminant against us using their “anti gang tattoo policy” because we are visibly tattooed is unacceptable. Help me to rectify this situation by making sure organizations like this don’t use their policies to discriminate against everyone who is visibly tattooed.
Comments
240 responses to “Saddle Ranch Chop House discriminates against customers”
@ 68 Sean: In the original image, it was much more apparent where the “gang member” look came from. It wasn’t the tattoos it was the clothing of choice mixed with the tattoos. The new image makes it seem much more astonishing that they were asked to leave.
@ 68 Sean: In the original image, it was much more apparent where the “gang member” look came from. It wasn’t the tattoos it was the clothing of choice mixed with the tattoos. The new image makes it seem much more astonishing that they were asked to leave.
P.S. The glasses you two are wearing in the new picture are bad ass
P.S. The glasses you two are wearing in the new picture are bad ass
Rachel,
One of the reasons you were let in and your boy friend wasn’t, was because of his T-shirt. It says “Vandels” on it with the Vandels logo of a baseball bat and heavy duty bolt cutters. Anyone that promotes vandelism deserves to be discriminated against. I have over 40 hours of tattooing on me and I would not of let him in and if he thought vandelism was cool, I would of also kicked his ass.
Go back with the proper attire for a 5 star restaurant and one of the top five restaurants in LA and you will not be discriminated against.
Max
Rachel,
One of the reasons you were let in and your boy friend wasn’t, was because of his T-shirt. It says “Vandels” on it with the Vandels logo of a baseball bat and heavy duty bolt cutters. Anyone that promotes vandelism deserves to be discriminated against. I have over 40 hours of tattooing on me and I would not of let him in and if he thought vandelism was cool, I would of also kicked his ass.
Go back with the proper attire for a 5 star restaurant and one of the top five restaurants in LA and you will not be discriminated against.
Max
Sent him an email, hopefully it will help
Sent him an email, hopefully it will help
From reviews i’ve read on one website. it had 2 1/2 stars out of five from the one in city walk… so yeah it must be really terrible. some reviews said that they do search you, food is terrible, drinks are overpriced, people are awful, etc. some reviews said it was the worst place ever and that they would never go there again. i think its stupid that they did that to you two.
From reviews i’ve read on one website. it had 2 1/2 stars out of five from the one in city walk… so yeah it must be really terrible. some reviews said that they do search you, food is terrible, drinks are overpriced, people are awful, etc. some reviews said it was the worst place ever and that they would never go there again. i think its stupid that they did that to you two.
YELP THEM
YELP THEM
I am curious to know if anyone will get a response from any of the emails sent. I sent a fairly well thought out one too them, but Im pretty sure most of them will just end up in the trash.
Maybe going higher up than the SM would be another way to go?
I am curious to know if anyone will get a response from any of the emails sent. I sent a fairly well thought out one too them, but Im pretty sure most of them will just end up in the trash.
Maybe going higher up than the SM would be another way to go?
I just mailed them too.
Here is what I said….
I was recently informed that one of your Saddle Ranch Chop House restaurants denied service to a couple of customer on the basis that they had gang tattoos.
If you read this along with all the other e~mails you have received I’m sure you’ve learned she is the proprietor of a huge web site.
It’s just me but I think this has the potential to hurt your business and image.
I would advise you or your P.R. manager to give a formal apology.
Here is a link to contact her through her site.
[email protected]
I think we got them now….I just think it’s right to give you an apology.
I just mailed them too.
Here is what I said….
I was recently informed that one of your Saddle Ranch Chop House restaurants denied service to a couple of customer on the basis that they had gang tattoos.
If you read this along with all the other e~mails you have received I’m sure you’ve learned she is the proprietor of a huge web site.
It’s just me but I think this has the potential to hurt your business and image.
I would advise you or your P.R. manager to give a formal apology.
Here is a link to contact her through her site.
[email protected]
I think we got them now….I just think it’s right to give you an apology.
I don’t know, there seems to be something else going on. My husband and I both have our hands and neck tattooed and I even have a small facial tattoo. I and my husband dine at that exact restaurant 4 or 5 times a year and neither I or my husband have ever had any problems.
I don’t know, there seems to be something else going on. My husband and I both have our hands and neck tattooed and I even have a small facial tattoo. I and my husband dine at that exact restaurant 4 or 5 times a year and neither I or my husband have ever had any problems.
The first picture I had up was from a show at the CanvasLA gallery. This picture is from out vacation in Hawaii. I don’t seem to have any pictures of us without sunglasses on!!
Norm was not wearing a Vandals hat and tshirt with bolt cutters. He was simply wearing a flannel and jeans and a tshirt. I was wearing the same thing since we both tend to wear flannels.
As far as Norm having any “gang affiliation” that’s a ridiculous claim. MSK is a graffiti crew, not a gang. He also doesn’t have any visible MSK tattoos.
Posting that “Norm looks like a thug” is idiotic and clearly an attempt to undermine what we’re trying to do here which is to out the abuse of an “anti-tattoo” policy.
The first picture I had up was from a show at the CanvasLA gallery. This picture is from out vacation in Hawaii. I don’t seem to have any pictures of us without sunglasses on!!
Norm was not wearing a Vandals hat and tshirt with bolt cutters. He was simply wearing a flannel and jeans and a tshirt. I was wearing the same thing since we both tend to wear flannels.
As far as Norm having any “gang affiliation” that’s a ridiculous claim. MSK is a graffiti crew, not a gang. He also doesn’t have any visible MSK tattoos.
Posting that “Norm looks like a thug” is idiotic and clearly an attempt to undermine what we’re trying to do here which is to out the abuse of an “anti-tattoo” policy.
Oh and if you think this restaurant is 5 star then you’ve clearly never been out to a real 5 star restaurant.
Oh and if you think this restaurant is 5 star then you’ve clearly never been out to a real 5 star restaurant.
Sounds like you guys got kicked out for questioning them as they asked someone else to remove clothing, which is absolutely outrageous. You questioned their authority, and they didn’t want customers that would cause “trouble” for them in their kingdom.
Also, it’s pretty obvious that Rachel is probably a leader in a fairy gang. I hear Tinkerbell is her right hand man (woman?) 😛
Sounds like you guys got kicked out for questioning them as they asked someone else to remove clothing, which is absolutely outrageous. You questioned their authority, and they didn’t want customers that would cause “trouble” for them in their kingdom.
Also, it’s pretty obvious that Rachel is probably a leader in a fairy gang. I hear Tinkerbell is her right hand man (woman?) 😛
I questioned their asking Norm to remove his clothing since he was with me. Once I exited the property and my tattoos were noticed as well, I was not allowed back in.
I questioned their asking Norm to remove his clothing since he was with me. Once I exited the property and my tattoos were noticed as well, I was not allowed back in.
Hahahaha @ Max…
5-stars? Hardly. From what it sounds like on the sites that review this place, it’s more like a bad slutty version of Chili’s, but with a mechanical bull.
5-star restaurants don’t have bad reputations or reviews…THAT’S WHY THEY’RE 5-STAR RESTAURANTS.
Hahahaha @ Max…
5-stars? Hardly. From what it sounds like on the sites that review this place, it’s more like a bad slutty version of Chili’s, but with a mechanical bull.
5-star restaurants don’t have bad reputations or reviews…THAT’S WHY THEY’RE 5-STAR RESTAURANTS.
the picture that was posted last night (which has now been changed for some reason) totally made that dude look like a gang member.
the picture that was posted last night (which has now been changed for some reason) totally made that dude look like a gang member.
manchester n.h. bme patrons are officially bombing this place on every front, like they killed a baby! we live for this shit!
manchester n.h. bme patrons are officially bombing this place on every front, like they killed a baby! we live for this shit!
new englands bme patrons are bombing the phone line right now. we live for this shit.
new englands bme patrons are bombing the phone line right now. we live for this shit.
So I guess I either look like a hipster or a gang member. Make up your mind folks! If wearing a flannel makes you a gang member then I need to go back to my soccer mom look.. Oh wait, the soccer mom store was where I bought my flannel. 🙂
So I guess I either look like a hipster or a gang member. Make up your mind folks! If wearing a flannel makes you a gang member then I need to go back to my soccer mom look.. Oh wait, the soccer mom store was where I bought my flannel. 🙂
“Also, I’m not interested in suing them”
That’s good because you really don’t have a case. I’m willing to bet they have a sign that ‘reserves their right to decline service’ and they obviously exercised that right. Is it correct or moral? No. Is it legal? Yeah.
“Also, I’m not interested in suing them”
That’s good because you really don’t have a case. I’m willing to bet they have a sign that ‘reserves their right to decline service’ and they obviously exercised that right. Is it correct or moral? No. Is it legal? Yeah.
I suppose that doesn’t happen that often because you had to wrote a blog entry.
You should try to live in a country where septum piercing is considered extreme. Where you are being refused to give service on a daily basis. Where you are in a constant fear of getting hurt because of your mods.
I suppose that doesn’t happen that often because you had to wrote a blog entry.
You should try to live in a country where septum piercing is considered extreme. Where you are being refused to give service on a daily basis. Where you are in a constant fear of getting hurt because of your mods.
I am the owner of a pretty well established restaurant in my area. I’m also heavily tattooed, have 1-1/4″ lobes and a 00g medusa.
if someone came into my restaurant and I even thought for a moment that any of their tattoos or patches or t-shirts could in any way be gang or crew related i would not seat them and would have them escorted out of my business.
if people come into my place of business looking like they are the king shits of our area i don’t let them in either. Sometimes it’s not about having the mods, its the way you present yourself with them. Yes, If you have a face tattoo and you look me in the eyes for a little too long (a lot of gangs in our area will stare you down.), I will ask you to leave, even if it is a little flower or a heart or something probably no threaten. I know it’s a shame for one modified person to discriminate against another, but when it comes to my business id rather not take chances.
If you wanna be heavily modified then you can take the heat for being heavily modified.
I have always hated it when people expect the world to be nice to them. Thats not the way things work and it’s kind of a joke to expect it. You cannot force people to accept you, nor should they be expected too.
I am the owner of a pretty well established restaurant in my area. I’m also heavily tattooed, have 1-1/4″ lobes and a 00g medusa.
if someone came into my restaurant and I even thought for a moment that any of their tattoos or patches or t-shirts could in any way be gang or crew related i would not seat them and would have them escorted out of my business.
if people come into my place of business looking like they are the king shits of our area i don’t let them in either. Sometimes it’s not about having the mods, its the way you present yourself with them. Yes, If you have a face tattoo and you look me in the eyes for a little too long (a lot of gangs in our area will stare you down.), I will ask you to leave, even if it is a little flower or a heart or something probably no threaten. I know it’s a shame for one modified person to discriminate against another, but when it comes to my business id rather not take chances.
If you wanna be heavily modified then you can take the heat for being heavily modified.
I have always hated it when people expect the world to be nice to them. Thats not the way things work and it’s kind of a joke to expect it. You cannot force people to accept you, nor should they be expected too.
****even if your tattoo probably isn’t threatening. (sorry, it’s 10:30 and a little bit past my bedtime hahaha )
Im just a firm believer that if you have the choice in doing something (i.e.. being heavily and visibly modified vs. having a condition that you had no choice in whatsoever) you have no right to claim discrimination.
being politically correct is going a little too far in our world.
getting flack comes with the territory. maybe people shouldn’t take their visible mods so lightly.
****even if your tattoo probably isn’t threatening. (sorry, it’s 10:30 and a little bit past my bedtime hahaha )
Im just a firm believer that if you have the choice in doing something (i.e.. being heavily and visibly modified vs. having a condition that you had no choice in whatsoever) you have no right to claim discrimination.
being politically correct is going a little too far in our world.
getting flack comes with the territory. maybe people shouldn’t take their visible mods so lightly.
“So I guess I either look like a hipster or a gang member”. The problem is not what you looked like, because (initially at least) they let you in. The problem is what Norm looked like – or, more accurately – what they THOUGHT Norm looked like. Which is presumably why they asked him to remove some of his clothing to form a better opinion. As inevitably happens in these situations, if one member of a party encounters a problem gaining admission, the others get embroiled in the dispute and effectively get tarred with the same brush which in this case was inaccurate to start off with.
But as has already been pointed out, restaurants and in fact any sort of similar establishment have an implicit right to refuse to admit or serve anyone they choose not to. I would suspect they probably don’t have a blanket ban on visibly tattooed customers although I couldn’t spot any in the gallery on their website. On the other hand, if they see fit to decide on a case-by-case basis that they don’t want to admit someone on the basis of an wrongly identified alleged “gang tattoo” or any other sort of mistakenly sterotyped image for that matter, that’s their prerogative.
Yes, we as a community can reciprocate by deciding we don’t want to give them our custom. But we’re in the minority as far as their customers go and realistically unless their business is in financial trouble, the dent in their profits is going to be pretty insignificant.
The decision they took was wrong, as of course is any sort of discrimination or unreasonable refusal. I hope that anyone who gets a reply to the emails they sent will post it here so we can see how they react.
“So I guess I either look like a hipster or a gang member”. The problem is not what you looked like, because (initially at least) they let you in. The problem is what Norm looked like – or, more accurately – what they THOUGHT Norm looked like. Which is presumably why they asked him to remove some of his clothing to form a better opinion. As inevitably happens in these situations, if one member of a party encounters a problem gaining admission, the others get embroiled in the dispute and effectively get tarred with the same brush which in this case was inaccurate to start off with.
But as has already been pointed out, restaurants and in fact any sort of similar establishment have an implicit right to refuse to admit or serve anyone they choose not to. I would suspect they probably don’t have a blanket ban on visibly tattooed customers although I couldn’t spot any in the gallery on their website. On the other hand, if they see fit to decide on a case-by-case basis that they don’t want to admit someone on the basis of an wrongly identified alleged “gang tattoo” or any other sort of mistakenly sterotyped image for that matter, that’s their prerogative.
Yes, we as a community can reciprocate by deciding we don’t want to give them our custom. But we’re in the minority as far as their customers go and realistically unless their business is in financial trouble, the dent in their profits is going to be pretty insignificant.
The decision they took was wrong, as of course is any sort of discrimination or unreasonable refusal. I hope that anyone who gets a reply to the emails they sent will post it here so we can see how they react.
LOL. If by “gang members” you mean “minorities,” then no, you don’t look like “gang members.” God forbid your voluntary choice to alter your physical appearance causes you to be “discriminated” against. If you didn’t want to stand out, maybe you would have thought twice before getting that killer neck tattoo. Cry me a river.
LOL. If by “gang members” you mean “minorities,” then no, you don’t look like “gang members.” God forbid your voluntary choice to alter your physical appearance causes you to be “discriminated” against. If you didn’t want to stand out, maybe you would have thought twice before getting that killer neck tattoo. Cry me a river.
I’m almost tempted to go with Johannes just to see if we’re let in…. not that we would stay.
If norm wasn’t let in I see no way that Jo would.
I’m almost tempted to go with Johannes just to see if we’re let in…. not that we would stay.
If norm wasn’t let in I see no way that Jo would.