Panera Apologizes To Family Of Toddler Asked To Leave Restaurant Over Orthopedic Shoes (VIDEO)

[ashling]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/panera-toddler-shoes-emma-duke_n_4595122.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009


Panera Bread has apologized to the family of a 2-year-old girl that was asked to leave a Savannah, Ga., restaurant because the child's special orthopedic shoes were reportedly bothering a customer.

Emma, who has developmental delays that make walking difficult, was at the Panera location with her mother, Catherine Duke, on Jan. 2, when, the parent said, they were approached by an assistant manager who gave them an ultimatum: Take off the shoes, or leave, local station WTOC reports.

Duke said she was shocked and humiliated by the request.

"It was very hurtful, and I left the store crying, not a very good thing for a mom to feel like her child is being discriminated against," she told WTOC.

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Emma's dad, Stephen Duke, explained that the special shoes are required by her doctor.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

1. WTF?

[lpbk2713]

2. They identified the mother.

They really should have identified the stupid asshole customer
who complained about a child's corrective footwear.

[frylock]

13. yep. fuck that heartless asshole.

[Hoyt]

3. Somebody should have kicked the complaining customer out of the store.

Poor kid and parents. Panera Bread should be ashamed.

[arcane1]

5. Agreed.

"If you don't like it, then get the hell out" would be the only appropriate response.

[frazzled]

12. It was probably some idiot 19-year-old employee

who heard the complaint and acted on their own. Or at least I hope.

I can't entirely blame the whole company for the decision of an individual employee or manager. Still, what a horrible thing to do.

[JI7]

4. why would it bother anyone ?

[Brigid]

6. That's what I want to know too.

[silverweb]

7. Because they squeak when she walks.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Kind of a biofeedback thing to let her know when she's walking properly.

[gollygee]

8. These are squeaky shoes

A friend's child needed them. The squeak signals something to the child, but it does make noise.

It isn't like Panera is silent. I don't see why the squeak would be so much louder than people having conversations, talking on their cell phones, etc.

[JI7]

9. lots of shoes make noise , and as you say Panera is not some quiet dining type place

customer is just an asshole.

probably the type that always complains about something .

[Arkansas Granny]

10. Ignorance and intolerance. What a combination.

They should have asked the complaining customer to leave.

[oldandhappy]

11. Orthopedic shoes??!!

Complaining culture wins again. Panera, get a head on your shoulders. Give complaining customers a free ride and a coupon for your competition.

[ashling]

15. They can use thi as an example

[struggle4progress]

14. "First them aliens what built them Nazi subs tooked over the US gummint! And then

I gotta listen to a two-year-old's shoes squeak! I cain't takes it no more!"

[Nevernose]

16. Damned Aquanazis!

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. plus 100

[MagickMuffin]

18. Well, Panera Is Going To Host A Fundraiser To Help Pay Emma's Medical Bills

That says a lot about the company. It was unfortunate that the Duke's had to experience that form of discrimination, but at least something good will come of it.

[WillowTree]

19. I always wonder what the person who does something like this was thinking when he told them to leave

I would have told the complaining customer to leave it was bothering him/her so much, but that's just me.