Cracker Barrel issued an apology after certainly one of its Maryland places refused to serve a gaggle of native college students with particular wants.
The chain claimed that it was unable to accommodate the massive get together of scholars for causes unrelated to their disabilities however acknowledged that the state of affairs was “unfortunate.”
“Our missteps last week were unfortunate but were unrelated to the students’ capabilities,” Cracker Barrel stated in a press release to CBS MoneyWatch Monday.
“They were due to our inability to accommodate a party of 18 that arrived when we were facing unexpected staffing issues and had partially closed our second dining room.”
It additionally famous that the Waldorf restaurant’s preliminary response was dealt with poorly on account of pitfalls within the crew’s protocols.
“Our failure to follow certain operational protocols combined with poor communication on our part then led to misunderstandings and misperceptions,” the assertion stated.
Charles County Public Faculties Superintendent Maria Navarro penned an open letter addressing the incident on Dec. 5. The sector journey included 11 college students and 7 school a part of its community-based instruction course geared toward “generalizing skills they are learning in the classroom in the community.”
The CBI program typically visits native retail and eating places, with Cracker Barrel on a listing of permitted eating spots, in line with the letter.
Navarro wrote that this system leaders had reached out to the restaurant prematurely and had been advised {that a} reservation wouldn’t be obligatory, however their tune modified.
Cracker Barrel incident. Fb / Dustin Reed
When the group arrived they weren’t in a position to be seated because of the capability and staffing points famous in Cracker Barrel’s apology and had been supplied takeout as an alternative, in line with the letter.
The group had steered splitting as much as sit at separate tables, however the location nonetheless refused, a trainer wrote in an e mail to oldsters within the college district.
“The alleged treatment of CCPS students, and staff, at Cracker Barrel is one that no one should experience. However, it is encouraging to learn that the district manager said the business would be willing to work with CCPS to do better,” Navarro wrote within the letter.
protesting in opposition to the Waldorf, Md., Cracker Barrel. Fb / Dustin Reed
Following the group’s rejection, different native institutions got here to help and supplied to host this system’s college students sooner or later. Pissed off dad and mom took to social media to slam the biscuit-and-gravy chain — with some even planning additional motion.
Dustin Reed, a neighborhood father whose nonverbal daughter was on the outing, is organizing a protest on the Maryland location on Dec. 15, in line with a Fb submit.
“Pushed off to the side, and just not even paid attention to. Only thing they wanted to go in there to do was eat some food and enjoy their time there and learn from it,” Reed advised NBC Washington.
