To a lot of people, Mike Vuick of Monroeville, Pennsylvania could be considered something of a cult hero. A hero in an almost IMPOSSIBLE battle: Convincing parents that their precious little angels AREN'T necessarily precious little angels.
--Mike owns McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center in Monroeville. And he recently announced a new policy: As of this Saturday, all children under the age of six are BANNED FROM THE RESTAURANT.
--In an email to his regulars, he wrote, quote, "We feel that McDain's is not a place for young children. Their volume can't be controlled and many, many times, they have disturbed other customers."
--When some parents freaked out and told a local TV station, Mike took an even stronger stance against young kids in the restaurant. Quote, "I think it's the height of being impolite and selfish, and therefore, I instituted a policy."
--And then, his best line of all: Quote, "You know, their child, maybe as it should be, is the center of their universe. But they don't realize it's not the center of THE universe."
--What Mike is doing here IS legal. Restaurants aren't allowed to ban people of different races or handicaps or senior citizens because they're protected under the law . . . but there's no law that keeps someone from denying service to children.
(--The number for McDain's is 412-373-3335.)