Cracker Barrel has apologized after one of its Maryland stores refused service to a group of local students with special needs.
The chain claimed it was unable to accommodate the student's large party for reasons unrelated to disability, but acknowledged the situation was “unfortunate”.
“Our failure last week was disappointing but had nothing to do with the caliber of our students,” Cracker Barrel said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch on Monday.
“We encountered unexpected staffing issues and were unable to accommodate our party of 18 who arrived at a time when we were partially closing our second dining room.”
He also pointed out that Waldorf Restaurant's initial response was inadequate due to pitfalls in the team's protocols.
“The failure to follow specific operational protocols, combined with a lack of communication on our part, resulted in misunderstandings and misunderstandings,” it said in a statement.
Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Navarro said, open letter Eleven students and seven faculty members participated in the field trip as part of a community-based instruction course designed to “generalize skills learned in local classrooms.”
The CBI program frequently visits local retailers and restaurants, and Cracker Barrel is on the list of approved dining establishments, the letter said.
Navarro wrote that program leaders contacted the restaurant ahead of time and were told that reservations were not required, but their attitude changed.
Cracker Barrel Incident. Facebook / Dustin Reed
When the group arrived, they were unable to be seated due to capacity and staffing issues mentioned in Cracker Barrel's apology and were instead offered takeout, according to the letter.
The group offered to split up to sit at separate tables, but they still refused that spot, the teacher wrote in an email to parents in the district.
“No one should have to experience the alleged treatment of CCPS students and staff at Cracker Barrel. However, district managers said the company intends to work with CCPS to achieve better performance. It is reassuring to know that,” Navarro wrote in the letter.
Protest against Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, Maryland. Facebook / Dustin Reed
Following the group's rejection, other local institutions have stepped in and offered to accept students in the program in the future. Frustrated parents took to social media to slam the biscuit and gravy chain, with some planning further action.
A local father, Dustin Reed, who was out with his nonverbal daughter, was organizing a protest at a Maryland venue on Dec. 15, a source said. facebook post.
“It just got pushed to the side, it wasn't even noticed. All they wanted to do was go there and eat the food and enjoy their time there and learn from it,” Reed said. . NBC Washington.
