Here is the picture yesterday:
Three of my friend and myself are walking into an mall-based entertainment establishment (the new iPic Entertainment Center) that offers bowling, a bar/restaurant, and theaters. We are clean shaven and dressed in a manor befitting young professionals out for a fun night.
Two days prior I visited this establishment with a group of friends and were allowed to bowl without any problems. We enjoyed ourselves and were pleasant to the staff and other patrons around us. In fact, we spent some time talking with the young adults in the lane next to us who seemed to be acting a bit more immature than we were (although I would hardly claim that we were ‘bowling professionally’, we were reasonably civil and obviously having a fun time like all others bowling that night.)
As we walk in and past the ‘guest services’ desk we are asked for our ID’s. We assume this is to prove that we are over 18 and thus not violating any mall and municipal policies. We happy hand over our identification. Only to find out that ‘after 9PM our establishment is exclusively for those over 21′
Over 21?
Now I understand an establishment’s desire to keep an ‘upscale’ atmosphere for its patrons but with our group’s dress and demeanor we gave no impression that such an atmosphere would change with our attendance. I also understand an establishment’s desire to serve alcohol, but the bowling area is nowhere near a bar and serving our group alcohol was not likely in the least.
Asking further into their policy, it turns out that their theaters are for the exclusive use of those over 21, with children allowed before 6PM only if escorted by an adult. I understand the desire to prevent younger children from ‘ruining’ the movie experience, but having been to more than enough ‘high class’ movie theaters it was not people under 21 who were making the distracting noise.
I was shocked. Two days ago we were allowed in, and for some reason tonight we were not.
I asked to see the manager. ‘He will tell you the same thing.’ Fine, but I don’t want to hear this from some peon employee.
The manager was paged as my friends went back into the main mall hallway and I checked my BlackBerry for messages. When the manager came back I shook his hand and introduced myself as Nick Catalano. I stated that my friends and I were simply there to bowl, were over 18, and had been to the establishment two days ago at approximately 10:30. His response confirmed that after 9:00 the bowling area is for exclusive use of those over the age of 21. He also established that the employees allowing me in after 9:00 did so against policy.
Obviously I ‘wasted’ your employee’s time, so here is my apology to the owners/managers/investors of iPic Entertainment:
I am sorry that for some reason you feel that those under 21 are unable to act mature and have a good time. Perhaps you have had a bad experience with someone under 21 in an atmosphere similar to yours? Of course as someone under 21 I am a representative of all young adults under the age of 21, and in that role I must give my heartfelt apology.
Nevertheless, here is a hint: Add a dress code. Add a policy about conduct within your establishment. Do things that would maintain the same level of ‘maturity’ that obviously you believe those under 21 (but over 18) cannot display. If it means that I have to wear a collared shirt to bowl after 9PM I will put on a collared shirt. If it means that I cannot go up to your bar, well that makes perfect sense.
But if your establishment feels on keeping this ageist attitude I’m afraid that I will not only be avoiding your establishment when I DO turn 21, I will make sure to mention my dislike whenever I discuss your establishment. Shame on you.
