Burger King Kicks Out Baby for Not Wearing Shoes

A Mother and Her Six-Month-Old Baby Were Asked to Leave a Missouri Burger King when Baby Wasn't Wearing Shoes

Ryan Christopher DeVault
A baby was kicked out of Burger King in Missouri. Not only was the baby kicked out, but so was her mother, who had not put shoes on the infant yet. Enacting the "no shoes, no shirt, no service" policy, a Missouri Burger King manager told the mother that they would have to leave the restaurant because the baby wasn't wearing any shoes. The mother put socks on the baby to try and adhere to the policy, what was then threatened by the manager that he would call the police. The baby doesn't walk, and can't even crawl yet, but the manager didn't want "baby germs" getting in the way of his business.

The whole incident took place at the Sunset Hills Burger King at 10734 Sunset Hills Plaza in Missouri. Jennifer Frederich went into the Burger King with her baby, her mother, and about 25 other people from a church youth group. Her mother and the baby were the first two to walk through the door, where they were approached by the restaurant manager who cited health concerns as a reason that the baby needed to have shoes placed on her. The manager told her that she could order "to go" but would have to leave if the baby doesn't have shoes on. At sixth months of age, the baby didn't even have shoes, and the mother saw no need, as her feet never touched the ground.

Trying to adhere to the managers odd demands to put shoes on the baby, Frederich placed socks on the baby's feet, but then the manger threatened to call police if they did not leave. The group rushed through the food that they had ordered, and everyone left the restaurant, probably never to return to that particular Burger King. It's an odd way for a restaurant to try and enforce a policy such as this, and it is also quite obvious that when the "no shoes, no service" policy was put in place, it didn't apply to infants of only 6-months of age. Frederich hasn't been shy about sharing her experience with other people, and why should she, because this Burger King has made it clear that they are not willing to allow babies into the store if they aren't wearing shoes.

Most parents are well aware that a baby doesn't wear shoes, and that most of the time they don't even come out of their strollers, car seats, or carriers when the family travels to a restaurant. Most aren't even graduated to solid foods yet, can't crawl, and certainly can't walk at that point, putting them in the category of not needing to wear shoes. When it is cold, many parents will place socks on a baby's feet, but that is about the extent of what will occur. That's not good enough according to this Sunset Hills Burger King in Missouri. The FOX affiliate in the area also tried to contact the Burger King, but they refused comment, and told them to contact the corporate offices. The corporate offices have yet to respond as well, even after several calls. It sounds very much like they regret kicking a mother and her baby out of one of their restaurants.

Source: FOX News

Published by Ryan Christopher DeVault

Born in Seattle, Washington, I am a 31 year old college graduate working in the field of Education and Research. I am also a professional freelance writer and news content provider. I can be reached at...  View profile

78 Comments

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  • Guest Jo9/18/2010

    Um not to mention that it is recommended that babies not wear shoes until they are walking because it can actually impede their development.

  • Eddie 10/12/2009

    A woman can breast feed her baby just about anywhere, but gets kicked out of one of the nastiest places in the world due to an infant not having shoes on?

    Just goes to show what a messed up world we live in now! Anyone notice that the races of the manager and the mother were left out? I can promise you if this had been a white manager and a black mother the proverbial poopoo would have hit the fan by now!

  • Time for a Nationwide Shoe-less Baby Sit In. 9/12/2009

    Perhaps it is time to organize a sit in for babies with no shoes (and their moms).

    Burger King appears to be anti family, and if this issue isn't addressed, my family will not spend our money there again. We love the veggie burgers there, and it would be sad to stop patronizing Burger King.

  • Trina S.8/20/2009

    This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! Babies don't wear shoes! That manager needs to be fired. I guess I'll think twice about taking my new baby to Burger King.

  • Tamara L. Waters8/10/2009

    Wow! That's just unbelievable!

  • Linda StCyr8/10/2009

    This is very sad and I hope the corporate office's of BK issue an apology to the mother of the baby. Very ridiculous scenario. Most babies kick off their shoes anyway, I know mine could never keep them on their feet.

  • Mr. B8/9/2009

    What a dumbass. makes me want to stop at a burder KING.

  • big daddy8/9/2009

    Manager needs to either lose his job or at least be demoted. No common sense.

    To mamma Ks, Sunset Hills is in the St. Louis metro area. Actually only about 25 miles from where I live.

  • What?8/9/2009

    Where did tipping come into all this? I read the article and nowhere did I see the word "tip". And what's up with %2C,%27s, %28, %29.? Anyway, the manager is a complete idiot.

  • MB8/9/2009

    This is clearly a case of the manager having no common sense. Hopefully BK leadership is dealing with the individual so they can grow and learn from their mistake. I am sure this manager now feels pretty silly about this.

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