Religious Beliefs And Conservative Shirts Cost Restaurant Owner A "Sonny's" Franchise

The Tifton Gazette ^ | 12/1/09 | Angie Thompson

[Borneo1]

TIFTON — Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q on U.S. Highway 82 West is now The Smokehouse Restaurant because local franchise owner Bill Davis refused to sell beer, wine or liquor in the “family restaurant.” Also, the Sonny’s corporation didn’t believe it was appropriate for employees there to wear “I Pledge...I Pray” T-shirts at work.

[Mr. Silverback]

Yeah, what this guy did was right, but it wasn’t heroic, and it looks to me like Sonny’s was reasonable and so was he.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the mention. He should probably use the option you mentioned here. Sounds like an out for him.

[napscoordinator]

It was because of the alcohol. I don’t blame them...alcohol produces a lot of revenue. If you are looking at it from a business, then it makes sense to find someone who would rather sell alcohol.

[chris_bdba]

I agree, A francise comes with running things the way corporate wants not marching to your own drummer. Follow their rules or forfiet your francise.

[Salvation]

I was hoping people realize that I meant the franchise owner. Thanks.

So what about the exercise of Free Speech. It is being attacked more and more.

[Graybeard58]

Or, he could open a Chik-Fil-A - they’re a good Christian franchise company and worth supporting, I might add.

I believe that's the one I read about in Forbe's a couple of issues ago, where the company owner, a "devout Baptist", refused to let his restaurants open on Sundays.

Forbe's mentioned how much revenue he was losing by doing that, it was in the many millions.

Many things are more important than money.

[buccaneer81]

So what about the exercise of Free Speech. It is being attacked more and more.

Quite true, but that doesn't apply to private businesses. If I walk into my job (a Big Pharma company) wearing a shirt that says, "Fight the evil drug companies," I'm toast, and rightly so. I have violated the conditions of my employment.

Free speech protection under the first amendment is meant to reign in the government.

[buccaneer81]

I think that wine is more upscale. I picture the fancy waiter coming over with the wine in hand and the towel on his hand and saying “How does this do sha?” (notice it is pronounced “sha” and not sir) and the waiter pours the wine in glasses and it is drank that way. Now from a beer bottle as some do. I think that does not look classy. I want an “elegant” look in a restaurant.

It's a rib joint, not Tavern On The Green.

[hoosierham]

As a private owner he can follow his beliefs in ways that would bring up lawsuits for lost revenue if there were stockholders.

[timm22]

I think that wine is more upscale ... I want an “elegant” look in a restaurant.

That makes sense. But it would be kind of an unexpected atmosphere for a Southern BBQ restaurant!

[AppyPappy]

“They also cited servers wearing apparel promoting a specific religion,”

What religion? I didn’t see a specific religion in the article.

[TexasRepublic]

“owner Bill Davis refused to sell beer, wine or liquor in the family restaurant.”

I can see his point about hard liquor, but maybe Bill never read in his Bible that Jesus conjured up some very fine wine for a wedding in Cana. By that very act of creating wine for the guests, Jesus was sanctioning at least a temperate use of it. The Baptists will never convince me it was only grape juice!!!

[Littlejon]

From the article:

“Davis also takes issue with Sonny’s disapproval of employees wearing clothing with American flags and Christian logos on them and with such items in the restaurant.

One paragraph in the letter reads, “Team members at the Tifton Sonny’s Store #92 were wearing white T-shirts with an American flag that stated on the front, ‘I Pledge...I Pray.’ There was also a ‘Jesus’ memento/trinket on the shelf at the cash register. The T-shirts are not an approved uniform along and the ‘Jesus’ memento/trinket are not within Sonny’s System Standards, which states as follows: Politics and Religion: Where we realize you are individual business owners with your own view on politics and religion, the Sonny’s brand must remain non-partisan. No political or religious signage is allowed on the property where a Sonny’s is located. This includes non-partisan races such as city and county government as well as holding religious services inside the restaurant. Any cash and food donations are at your discretion.”

It really doesn’t sound like they have a problem with “a specific” religion, which isn’t what I was saying, rather promoting ANY religion in a franchised establishment. In other words, they don’t want franchisees to promote their own religions beliefs or give the impression that any one religion is being promoted at a restaurant with their name on it.

[AppyPappy]

The “I pledge...I pray” doesn’t promote a specific religion. It sounds like Sonny’s is just anti-religion.

[lonevoice]

As it stands, they are correct- it is THEIR name he wants to use, but he does not want to follow all their rules...I hope he starts his own franchise and makes a million, though

I agree with you in both instances. It's always interesting to see how many people are willing to grant someone special rights or protected class status as long as the grantee is of ideological similarity.

And, yeah, if Bill Davis wants to start his own family values restaurant with employees wearing prayer t-shirts, I'll make a reservation whenever I'm in his town.

[Littlejon]

Could be, but it probably stems from some pointy-headed lawyer telling them they shouldn’t have employees even think about religion at work or they risk being sued.

[Graybeard58]

If it’s the same one I read about, he’s the only owner.