Raimondi: Update on Seating Arrangements for Disabled and Elderly at Harford County Restaurants

From Peter S. Raimondi:

What so many of us take for granted when we visit restaurants is the ease with which we can easily sit and rise from chairs that are furnished by these establishments. Yet for the disabled and elderly this is a major problem. We need the assistance of chairs with arms so that we can easily get up from a seated position by pushing down on the arms to help us to stand up.

I would say not only in Maryland but perhaps in the entire country close to 100% of restaurants do not furnish chairs with arms. Sometimes, these are called “Captain’s Chairs”. You can bet that most owners of restaurants don’t know that there is this law which is covered by public accommodations

In the last several years I have gotten restaurants in Harford County to furnish this type of chair.

The restaurants that have done so are as follows:

Bone Fish Grill
Double “T” Diner
Bob Evans
Red Lobster
Panera Bread
Open Door Cafe
Box Hill Pizza
Tropical Treat “N” Such
Boston Markets
Bertucci’s
Basta Pasta (2) Locations
Famous Dave’s
Denny’s (Balto County)
Liberatore Ristorante & Catering

We ask that the public patronize these restaurants. If you visit a restaurant that does not furnish this type of chair, please e-mail me at the address below and I will visit them and make sure that they are aware of this law.

By the end of June of this year the list of restaurants that will be furnishing this type of chair will have grown to about 30 establishments.
They include McDonald’s , Burger King, (8) Dennys, Chip Stix, Apple Bees,Wendy’s and Pizza Hut.

Support those restaurants that furnish the chairs with arms. And ask the ones that do not, why not?

Peter Raimondi
Bel Air
Peteraimondi@verizon.net