One year later, McDain's no-kids policy still gets reactions

Until last year, it was a good bet that few people had heard of McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center outside of Western Pennsylvania.

That changed when owner Mike Vuick, tired of terrible toddlers, banned children ages 6 and younger from his restaurant.

"There were customers who would leave their own children at home with a baby sitter and assumed they were coming to an obvious adult venue, going to have their meal disturbed by someone else's child," he said.

So, after consulting with some of his loyal customers, he initiated the ban last July.

Vuick soon learned he lit the wick on an emotional debate that prompted thousands of people to weigh in all over the Internet after the news was linked, re-linked, rewritten and repackaged by news websites and blogs by the hundreds.

It took Vuick by complete surprise.

"I inadvertently struck a nerve internationally among people who were tired of having their meals disrupted by loud children," he said.

"The hubbub was of a positive nature. It wasn't the least bit controversial."

Talking to The Times Express last weekend about the one-year anniversary of the ban was his 95th interview on the subject.

He's done talk shows all around the world.

He said he still receives emails and letters from people who are compelled to thank him.

He estimates that 95 percent of the letters are positive.

Vuick said it's a matter of civility - or lack thereof - as the reason why so many people responded to this story.

"I think this is just one issue. Many people said, ‘Maybe next we should work on airlines or noisy children in supermarkets,' and so forth," he said.

"I think it's just part of a much bigger picture, for all forms of civility in our society."

Business is slightly up since the announcement, Vuick said.

The policy isn't hurting McDain's any.

Thanks to the echo of the Internet, not to mention the nature of the news cycle, the letters, phone calls and emails still come in day after day a year later.

And, he said, those giving him the biggest thumbs up are mothers.

"Many of the responses came from mothers who told me stories about how they raised their children and how when their children were infants and could not be controlled, they just did not take them to restaurants," Vuick said.

"And they did not take them until they were properly trained to behave and to be considerate of others. And many of the mothers told me if their children acted up, they'd immediately remove them so as not to disturb other people."

So the ban remains.