Posted on 05/18/2007 7:11:44 AM PDT by Cagey
DESTIN Like the dollar bills hanging from the ceiling or the signature drink the Irish Wake, the craftily worded signs on the bathroom doors are part of the charm of McGuiress Irish Pub.
It takes some careful attention to the fine print to end up in right bathroom, but its all in good fun, said General Manager Billy Martin.
Were not trying to be malicious, Martin said. Its an Irish joke kind of thing.
For those who havent seen them, the gist is the mens room sign has large print that reads Ladies and smaller text clarifying they shouldnt go in there because its the mens room vice-versa for the other bathroom.
But not everyone sees the humor, and the signs have been removed by order of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The agency threatened McGuires with closure for a six-word violation Lack of signage properly designating bathrooms.
The signs have been up for 10 years without a problem and for 30 years in the Pensacola restaurant, but a complaint filed last month forced them down in Destin.
Were not doing it because we want to, its what were required to do, Martin said.
The signs are still up in Pensacola, but they might also have to come down, Martin said.
The complaint came from a father who said a college-age man walked in on his 15-year-old daughter.
The man said in his complaint that his daughter was embarrassed and left the restaurant crying.
I personally cannot sit back and let this happen to other peoples children and wives any longer, the complaint read.
The man lists his address as a condominium in Destin, but he was unable to be reached because the unit is rented out this week. Because he could not be reached for comment and the matter involves his 15-year-old child, the Daily News did not identify him.
Martin pointed out that if people choose the wrong door, there are clear signs on the inside wall directing patrons to the right restroom.
Faced with closure, there was no choice but to take the signs down.
But McGuires isnt giving up. Petitions to bring the signs back now hang on the doors and other petitions circulate around the restaurant.
So far, there are more than 3,000 names, but Martin doesnt know if it will change anything.
This is just something were going to try and do, he said. Our hands our tied right now.
Next to visit this Pub will be the Ministry of Silly Walks. I've seen a lot of unauthorized silly walking going on in Irish Pubs.
Gay bar?
There’s nothing as foolish and destructive as a dumb a$$ bureaucrat with too much time on his/her hands.
What's the legal drinking age in Florida. What is a 15 year old girl doing in a bar bathroom?
It’s like going to a boxing match and being upset to see grown men fighting.
It’s a pub. If bawdy behavior bothers you, then don’t enter.
Not a gay bar. Great food and micro brewery. The best entertainment is getting a table in the room accross from the rest rooms (seperated by glass) and watch the reactions. Will the state now make them put it in spanishican?
I once walked into the ladies room in an office complex because I wasn’t wearing my glasses.
It’s completely different world in there.
No wonder they’re always leaving the table at the restaurant.
I caught myself, luckilly, before I took a leak on the wall.
The plush carpet and perfumed air freshener should have been dead giveaways.
The Florida Department For Killing Every Bit of Fun would have hated the signs from a bar near a local college. One sign was “Pointers” and the other was “Setters”. It’s a lot of fun when you’re sober, but try figuring it out after a few beers (for large values of “a few”).
Maybe she was frustrated at her repeated failed attempts to use the urinal?
The “pub” is also a restaurant, which is true of many Irish pubs in the US.
I walked into the Womens' restroom at an airport several years ago. I saw the janitor coming out and thought it was the Mens' restroom and just walked in after he had gone down the asile toward the actual Mens' room. I saw the "WET FLOOR" sign and noticed there were no urinals, just stalls. I did an about face and a very quick exit.
Probably a friggin’ snowbird or timeshare turista...don’t like where they live so the SOBs come down here and try to make it as much like the liberal ruled hell holes they left.
Not only do the signs tell you which bathroom is which (if you read closely), my last visit the waitress even asked if we needed an explanation for the restrooms (which seemed foolish when ordering, but after a few beers, I understood why).
Behind the pasty face of every bureaucrat is a petty little tyrant itching for the chance to control those who would otherwise contently ignore him.
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