Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

My wife and I went to the Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grill in Leesburg last night for dinner. We had been seated for about 20 minutes or so. Appetizer was finished and I was about halfway through my Reuben sandwich. Very pleasant so far and our serving staff was very friendly.

As I was taking another bite of my sandwich, a man approached us and knelt beside our table. He asked how our meal was and how we were, the usual pleasantries made by a manager. He then told me that "we don't allow the carrying of firearms". He said it was policy. He didn't ask me to leave or, "run out to your car" and disarm, but to enjoy our meal. "In the future, we'd ask you not" to carry.

Points for him being so friendly and discreet about it and for not just tossing us out. I wish the store would have posted a sign so I would have at least been prepared to disarm. (I don't like that idea, but with my wife along, I wasn't in the "activism" mood.)

Our waiter and his trainee came along shortly after and the usual conversation of, "we just figured you to be a police officer." I said that Virginia does not prohibit open carry, and that any law-abiding citizen can do so. I continued by saying that private property owners have a right to ask people to not come armed. I did mention that I don't agree with a disarm policy at all, but respect an owners right to chose.

This whole incident took only about 3-4 minutes of our 35 minute dinner. Not unpleasant, but certainly disappointing.

I found this news article after we returned home.

Greene Turtle robber gets jail time

I also discovered that the Greene Turtle is based in Maryland. I can't imagine this has anything to do with their policy. It's interesting, though, that now we can't even protect ourselves from their own employees.

you were OC'ing, no sign abour cc'ing ? although I guess till july 1st you can't do that. . I live in leesburg that's one place I won't be visting. I wonder if they do in fact have a policy... I bet the mgr spoke only cause of a complaint

Ate at the Green Turtle in Fredericksburg last Friday, I saw no signs posted. My guess is the mgr is making it up as he goes along. No big loss though. The place has slow service, mediocre food, and a piss-poor beer selection. I wasn't planning on going back even before I read this.

I was weighing the pros and cons of going back and making a case for lawful carry. Never done it before so, if anyone has suggestions (even if that suggestion is "don't bother"), I'm all ears.

well the first question I would of asked is "where is that posted for the public?" and if he said it wasn't but was in a company memo I would of asked to see a copy of the memo...I bet his company doesn't have a policy , I bet a another dinner complained. Now if there is no company policy on it what he did was wrong... you could try to get the number of the regional mgr or home office. It is a MD based company so I bet they have no policy on it I mean you can't OC in md and almost noone there has a CCW permit so I'd be surprised to hear they have a company policy on it but who knows... I think it was just a kneejerk reaction by a mgr dealing w/ either another dinner or employee's complaint

I just visited their website they have a "contact us" button so I asked the question what is your policy on this iisue...will post when I have a answer

jaywade wrote:well the first question I would of asked is "where is that posted for the public?" and if he said it wasn't but was in a company memo I would of asked to see a copy of the memo ...<snip>... I think it was just a kneejerk reaction by a mgr dealing w/ either another dinner or employee's complaint

The idea of asking just that did occur to me, but given he wasn't going to toss me (and my wife) out on the spot made me more reserved than I might have been otherwise.

It'll be interesting to read the company's position on this. Fingers crossed that they're fine with this as long as one is legally able to carry in the first place. I'll be happy to keep going there since it's real close to home. With Buffalo Wing Factory only a bit further down the pavement in Ashburn, I'd have trouble going "out of my way" to eat at BWF. I love their wings.

I think the bottom line is its not a matter of policy or the manager making it up as they go. If the manager informs you then you are obliged to comply as they are the legal representative of the owner. My guess is refusal could/would grant you a visit from the local LE and you would lose any subsequent arguement in court. I'm patiently waiting for 1 July so all I have to do is look for a sign on the door. No sign no problem.

Who really, really cares? They don't want my money, I won't give it to them. I just Googled Leesburg restaurants and found that there are several others from which to choose. I think I could win a sure bet that "Green Turtle" is an intentionally deceptive name. The last time I had a green turtle steak was where they are supposed to be had--at the Green Turtle Inn in Islamorada on Matecumbe Key. That was decades ago. The species is classified generally as threatened (endangered in Florida).

Who would want to eat at a place called "The Green Turtle" anyways? Might as well call it "The Blue Oyster", lol.