‘But it’s art!’
A condition for admittance to the restaurants of a small Texas chain flared into controversy this week, the fuse lit once again by social media.
A policy of denying admission to guests with visible face and neck tattoos was set a month ago by Little Woodrow’s. But it was little noticed until an inked patron sounded off in a video, alleging prejudice because he sported what fans call body art.
Little Woodrow’s is unabashed about the policy, saying it’s part of a dress code. “We don't like to refuse service to anyone, but if somebody comes in and is not dressed appropriately, we will ask them to either change it up a little bit or, in this case with tattoos, cover it up," the chain’s attorney, Philip Brinson, told a KOSA-TV in Odessa.
Tattoos elsewhere, visible or not, are not grounds for turning away customers. Indeed, one party that was denied admission noted that the bouncer at his Little Woodrow’s sported tats up and down his arms.
Little Woodrow’s has restaurants in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Midland and San Antonio.