To the editor:

On March 28, at approximately 6 p.m., my husband and I attempted to dine at a local restaurant. While the establishment was busy, we noticed a number of half-empty tables or groups of tables. We were told by the hostess that we weren’t guaranteed to get a table before the KU game. With a start time of 8:40 p.m.! This is absurd!

As we waited for our table, we noticed people entering were sitting down in the empty chairs, skipping ahead of the people that were waiting. After 45 minutes, my husband and I left only to have the same thing happen at another establishment. What craziness!

We have recently relocated from Columbus, Ohio, a city which contains a major university. The rule in Columbus is that if you want a table for 14 people, you had better walk into the restaurant with 13 others. Otherwise, everyone waits in the lobby until the last person arrives and a table is available.

Guess Lawrence establishments don’t feel that nonsports fans deserve any consideration, but what about their wait staff? Long sitters are not going to tip as much as a fluid turnover.

Maybe it is time for the restaurateurs to look at the big picture. There are people in this town that like to go to dinner and just eat, not watch a ball game.

It will be a long time before we visit either of the establishments again. Our money wasn’t good enough on a game night; it won’t be offered to them any other evening.

April Parfitt,
Lawrence