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 McGuires’s Irish Pub.
It takes some careful attention to the fine print to end up in right bathroom, but it’s all in good fun, said General Manager Billy Martin.
“We’re not trying to be malicious,” Martin said. “It’s an Irish joke kind of thing.”
For those who haven’t seen them, the gist is the men’s room sign has large print that reads “Ladies” and smaller text clarifying they shouldn’t go in there because it’s the men’s 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 McGuire’s 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.
“We’re not doing it because we want to, it’s what we’re 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 people’s 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 McGuire’s isn’t 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 doesn’t know if it will change anything.
“This is just something we’re going to try and do,” he said. “Our hands our tied right now.”
If true, that's a legitimate complaint.
From what I've heard women are absolute pigs in public restrooms.
“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.”
We have a saying in Texas about bureaucrats:
There goes another nameless, faceless
tax suckin’, job perpetuatin’ bureaucrat!
I guess “Setters” and “Pointers”, as well as “John Deeres” and “Allis-Chalmers” will be similarly verboten. Heil Minority Rule!
Get Bob “Mad Man” Mulcahey to write a song about it — that should fire up the patrons.
;-)
If you were standing on the bridge, west of McGuires, looking north, you’d see it right behind the little marina.
Best way to get to it: If you’re going through Destin to the west, just beyond McGuires, take the very last right hand turn before you go onto the bridge. Go down that road about 100 feet and look for a LITTLE SIGN that says “Dewey Destin” on your left. It looks like an old fish processing station there...you actually have to to through that drive that takes you through the old fish processing place to get to Dewey Destin.
IM me if you have trouble and I’ll try to help more.
Liberalism has so infected this nation that we've lost our sense of humor.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Cool! Thank you! I will definitely try it when we get down there again, I can’t wait! Your directions sound very precise, I am sure I’ll be able to find it. If not, you’ll be hearing from me for more!
Be my guest. If McGuire’s owner wishes to frame the quote behind the bar, he is also welcome - just ask that my FReep name be used. (It would be cool to see if I ever visit!)
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