Legion Riders Refused Service At Twin Peaks

[ISP-FL]

My wife read this morning an interesting post from our old Legion where I used to be a member of the Legion Riders. They had a ride over to the Ft Myers Twin Peaks restaurant this week. The restaurant manager came out and told them they were not welcome because they were "wearing colors".

I realize the Outlaws, Hells Angels, Bandidos, and Black Pistons are all active in SW Florida. I've observed a lone rider at my local Harley dealer wearing Outlaw colors before. I guess I would expect a local chain restaurant to not want a group of them coming in. However I also think you have to apply common sense. It is obvious a group of Legion Riders, almost all of which were over 60 years old, are not outlaw bikers.

I will never go to another Twin Peaks restaurant again.

 

[cycle7447]

My wife read this morning an interesting post from our old Legion where I used to be a member of the Legion Riders. They had a ride over to the Ft Myers Twin Peaks restaurant this week. The restaurant manager came out and told them they were not welcome because they were "wearing colors".

I realize the Outlaws, Hells Angels, Bandidos, and Black Pistons are all active in SW Florida. I've observed a lone rider at my local Harley dealer wearing Outlaw colors before. I guess I would expect a local chain restaurant to not want a group of them coming in. However I also think you have to apply common sense. It is obvious a group of Legion Riders, almost all of which were over 60 years old, are not outlaw bikers.

I will never go to another Twin Peaks restaurant again.

I understand your point - would offer the following.

If the restaurant has a policy of no colors, then I might suggest that this rule has to apply to all or none.

 

[Motorcycle Mike]

A rule that excludes some but not others is not enforceable.

 

[paws]

Not for or against the restaurant policy.
You might want to read about the May 17, 2015 biker shootout at Twin Peaks at Waco, Texas.

2015 Waco shootout - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Notgrownup]

Rules are rules but I drink Folgers Black silk or whatever the hotel has if I'm traveling or McDonald’s. Not paying fry fru prices for coffee

 

[HDUSA1]

The American Legion Riders have a strong presence in our area and they all wear colors with rockers. They don’t look much different than any other MC Club, but the other 1%’s give them their space along with the CMA group who also wear colors.

Interesting that the ALR Creed says this in the last sentence:

Riders Manual
Currently, over 118,000 ALR members meet in over a thousand chapters in every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries. True to the Legion, all riders focus on service to veterans and service members, and strive to maintain an American Legion image. The ALR is not a “motorcycle club” (MC) and all riders must avoid creating the perception of being a MC.

 

[DandyDoug]

Sound like a policy gone too far .

 

[pwhoever]

Playing devil's advocate, the average person has no clue about the differences between a MC or a Riders Association. All they see is a group of folks wearing leather and emblems on the rear. They could care less if the group is a bunch of regular folks out to enjoy themselves or a bunch of 1%ers. To them they are the same. Hollywood and other media are mostly to blame for the image of leather wearing bearing emblems motorcycle riders as "Outlaw Bikers".

 

[geol]

Christian Motorcyclist Association wears a cut but it was policy that when I was an active member to not display rockers over or below the CMA patch on the back. Rockers give motorcycle club members the impression that these represent territory and this can lead to "misunderstandings". When riding up/down our little back road, the good folks up the hill are associated with the Bandidos MC and I was stopped and asked me what club I rode for and explained CMA is not an MC and we have no territories and the Cross was the reason for the wearing of that cut while riding.

 

[ISP-FL]

Almost every week Post 69 riders have a ride to some restaurant in central or SW Florida. Many of these members of course have their wives with them. There are even one or two older female members who ride solo.

I find it hard to believe that most of the patrons in a Florida restaurant would see this group and not recognize them as old military veterans. Back when I occasionally wore that vest I lost count of the folks that would come up to me and thank me for my service. There are many restaurants in my area that have designated reserved parking spaces for military veterans. There are even some Home Depot and Lowes stores that do it.

But Motorcycle Mike is correct, if Twin Peaks makes such an unspecific rule as this for all their restaurants, then they should enforce it evenly. I guess what is sad is that they are now excluding veterans, Christian riders, and of course Law Enforcement (Blue Knights, MFC, etc.).

So in my humble opinion, their currently policy wrongly discriminates against anyone who rides in a motorcycle club because what a few have done. Wouldn't this be the same as targeting a certain race of citizens because certain members of that race are known to be in gangs?

 

[MT Jackass]

Almost every week Post 69 riders have a ride to some restaurant in central or SW Florida. Many of these members of course have their wives with them. There are even one or two older female members who ride solo.

I find it hard to believe that most of the patrons in a Florida restaurant would see this group and not recognize them as old military veterans. Back when I occasionally wore that vest I lost count of the folks that would come up to me and thank me for my service. There are many restaurants in my area that have designated reserved parking spaces for military veterans. There are even some Home Depot and Lowes stores that do it.

But Motorcycle Mike is correct, if Twin Peaks makes such an unspecific rule as this for all their restaurants, then they should enforce it evenly. I guess what is sad is that they are now excluding veterans, Christian riders, and of course Law Enforcement (Blue Knights, MFC, etc.).

So in my humble opinion, their currently policy wrongly discriminates against anyone who rides in a motorcycle club because what a few have done. Wouldn't this be the same as targeting a certain race of citizens because certain members of that race are known to be in gangs?

A private business can exclude people based on what they are wearing or not wearing, remember "no shirt, no shoes, no service"? It is a bummer that various groups of riders who are not wearing the diamond find themselves lumped in with them, but if you look close enough you will find that members from each group mentioned has been involved in altercations that drew attention. I am absolutely not condemning any RA, club or members of the above but every group has its assholes.

Back in the day real MC's worn 3 patch cuts and RA's wore 1 piece patch. Made it easier to tell at a distance what was what. IIRC Legion Riders are 1 piece patch, however, nowadays it seems like almost every other group that really is or should be a RA wants to look and act like a MC.

"Wouldn't this be the same as targeting a certain race of citizens because certain members of that race are known to be in gangs?"

Not the same at all. A person cannot take their race off at the door. A cut can be taken off and stashed in a saddlebag. Of course a 1%er would never leave their cut in their saddlebag. lol

Most places that have a "no colors" policy usually have some signage posted. Don't personally know about the restaurant where this happened.

 

[HDUSA1]

I had to look up Twin Peaks as I’d never heard of them before.

It’s a Breastaurant like Hooters, only to the next level. They specialize in scratch made foods and the world’s coldest 29 degree beer it says.

Reading further, they grade their waitresses before shift starts for appearance, give them gym memberships, and coach them on what to eat. They have “Theme” week throughout the year where they wear bikinis and lingerie while serving. There have been reports where some waitresses were arrested for indecent exposure with their derrière’s exposed.

After the shootout at Waco, I imagine the restaurant had a lot of damage that they had to pay for themselves. Knowing our litigious generation, I imagine the families of the deceased probably all sued the restaurant as well and is probably why they don’t serve anyone wearing colors.

 

[DandyDoug]

Many years ago a group that we rode with in FL were at a one of our regular breakfast stops.

When I got up to use the restroom this sweet old lady asked me very quietly if we were that Hells Angles gang. I smiled and said no, we are more like the "Awe Shucks" gang. That got a big laugh from her and her group.

 

[cycle7447]

Folks do ask a variety of questions.

We stopped at a rest area - ife had her bike with the sidecar and I ahd the matching 2-wheeler. Lady cam over- said hey, nice bikes. Do you guys have a car. I said yes - and a house too.

Next lady said, what do you do when it rains. Son said - he has to get in the sidecar - then mom and dad get a little wet. But they have rainsuits - we do not.