Outback Steakhouse in Fairfax does NOT want our money

K

KONY

New member
Hey there folks,

Just thought I'd report on my "attempted dinner" tonight at Outback Steakhouse in Fairfax. I sat down with the wife and "tried" to have a meal only to be approached by "Joey the owner" and told that "we can't allow guns here. would you mind leaving it in your car?" ... I responded, "oh I am sorry. I didn't see your sign" (because they don't have one). We got up and start on our way towards the exit and he calls over and asks me, "would you like me to have an appetizer waiting for you at the table?" ... I turn around half-amazed and half-annoyed and say, "oh, we aren't coming back, thank you". We ended up taking a nice drive over to Lone Star Grill and had a great meal at a gun-friendly establishment. I have no idea if this is corporate policy or just this location but it is quite obvious that they do not want our business. Oh well, they're not the only steak in town ... I just hope they have enough business acumen realize this.
 
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Were you concealed? I assume no is that answer? Why not, unless you can't be concealed? I don't like anyone having a clue that I am packing. This way nobody is nervous or has issues about the BIG SCARY GUN. You got to remember that those who don't carry or know about the laws and so on tend to be fed by the media. We know how good they are at informing :barf: all that don't for numerous reasons know.

This manager might have had a complaint or two.........He might not have an issue but if he didn't ask you to remove it he could fear 10 other tables might leave. I hear your side and follow you. I can sorta understand his request too. I'm glad the Lone Star didn't take issue. Sounds like the Lone Star would be my new steak spot as well........ Sounds like you handled it as I would have..... Well done and hope your steak was great..... darn now I'm hungry....... ;)
 
Yikes, sorry guys ... in VA, you can't be conealed in any place that carries a license to serve alcohol.
 
Right - he's got to carry open or not at all. There is much debate going on in the state house over this flaw in Virginia's otherwise reasonable gun laws.
 
Yes, I was in VA over the summer and read the laws. Anyone can carry openly, but you need a permit to carry concealed. But in an establishment that serves liquor you must carry openly.
I guess that is why VA has the highest number of gun murders in bar fights, right???
 
Good job. Glad you chose lone star, it's much better .....mmmmmmmmmmmmm ribeye steak cooked medium rare. Man, I need me a steak!

People need to think once in a while! Oh no, he has a gun holstered on his hip, he is not acting violent, he is calmly having dinner......HE'S GONNA SHOOT ME!!!! :barf: :barf: :barf: THINK PEOPLE!

And what's more, if they think they are in danger, why would they simply complain to the manager? If they thought they were in danger of being shot, they would leave (or at least I hope they would) Probably just don't want to be "bothered" by the sight of an evil......*gasp* gun.
 
Hey, Kony,

I'm assuming you mean the Outback on Route 50 near Rebel Run, and that you landed at the Lone Star on 50 across from Patriot Harley.

You were a half mile from my house at that point. :)

Nicely done, by the way.

Have you gotten in touch with Outback corporate?

How about NRA?

How about the Virginia Citizen's Defense League?

They all need to know about this, obviously Outback from the standpoint that by denying you a legal activity they lost your money, and that you're sharing this information with a LOT of your shooting friends in Northern Virginia.

I've eaten at that Outback many times, and am going to write and inform them that I won't be spending any more money there until they change their UNADVERTISED policies.

I suggest that everyone else in Northern Virginia do the same.
 
Interesting. I've never had a problem at any of the northern-Virginia Outbacks. Granted, I tend to wear all-black, and my Beretta's black, so it doesn't stand out, but it's as open as the law requires.

I've been to the Fairfax, Clifton, and Woodbridge ones on a fairly regular basis, and never been challenged.

Only place in NoVA that I've had a problem at is Logan's Roadhouse, in Manassas.

-BP
 
I always send a note to the corporate office when the food is bad for the price or service sucks. The only one who has not been too interested has been McDonalds. I always save the reciept to give them a time and date .

Most corporate office have responded back in a positive manner. Logans has went overboard for me IMO... they gave me free meals two times but the store still sucked and I told them not to send me any more I wasnt going to return to the store until some changes were made.

I also give compliments for good service also and folks who went overboard in serving me.

If more folks did this I am sure if the same problem was thier after the owner realized he was losing that many customers he might change his mind.
 
I'm assuming you mean the Outback on Route 50 near Rebel Run, and that you landed at the Lone Star on 50 across from Patriot Harley.
Click to expand...

Yup! Mike, I live near the Bombay Bistro. I sent a note over to VCDL. I think most folks that go to these places get pegged as cops so don't get hassled ... however, my 4" .357 magnum doesn't get the same "cop effect". ;)
 
Kony, you did the right thing.
Eghad, that is good advise. Sending letters is better than calling.
Sending letters to companies for any reason, good or bad is worth your time.
I have not done it in awhile, but I should.

At least you guys have the option to carry in an establishment that serves alcohol.
Arizona is a good state for carrying firearms, but state law prohibits firearms in alcohol serving establishments, even if you are not going to consume alcohol.
If you are the owner, management or given permission by the owner or management you can carry a firearm as long as you do not consume alcohol.
Recently in Arizona they tried to change this, you can carry if you don't drink.
Well it was shot down. The problem IMO is the allowance to carry in bars also.
I do not think you should carry a firearm into a bar if you are a customer.
I know I could handle it, but some people just cant.
It really bugs me though that state law prohibits me from carrying my pistol into pretty much any restaurant. :mad:
 
Wasn't Bombay Bistro torn down recently? I was through the 50/123 intersection just a few days ago and it looked as if it was gone.

You know, Kony, I have to admire you for not ordering the two most expensive appetizers on the menu then getting in your car and driving away...

I probably would have ordered a cuple of mixed bar drinks, too. :)
 
Letter I'm going to send to Outback...

Dear Sirs:

On Thursday, July 28, 2005, a friend of mine entered the Outback Steakhouse on Route 50 in Fairfax, Virginia, intending to have dinner with his wife.

To comply with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, he was wearing his personal protection handgun fully exposed in a hip holster. The owner approached him, stated that no firearms were allowed on the premises, and asked him to put it in his car. At that point my friend and his wife left and had dinner at the Lone Star Steakhouse, where he was not asked to remove his legally carried handgun.

I’m a long-time customer of this particular Outback Steakhouse, dining there one to two times a month for the past several years. But I’m an even longer time law-abiding firearms owner, and care more about my personal safety and my rights than I do about which chain restaurant serves me my meal.

It is time that Outback recognizes that legally carried firearms and their owners are not a security or safety threat, and they are in fact among the safest, most law abiding citizens in the Commonwealth.

Until that time, my money will be going to the Lone Star Steakhouse. I have also been in touch with many fellow firearms owners, urging them to take their business, and money, to an establishment that respects them and their rights.

Sincerely,
 
In Texas the have to have a 51% sign posted which means that 51% or more of your business comes from alcohol sales.
 
KONY, sure they want your money. They don't want your guns. It is that simple. They are more than happy to have you. It is you that interpret things that they don't want your money as obviously you won't be separated from your gun.

They see guns as a bad thing, like a dress code. If you went in bare chested and they asked you to put on a shirt, would you still claim they didn't want your money because you didn't want to put on a shirt?
 
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