Ongoing issues with the behavior of some students have prompted two Wildwood restaurants to ban students during school hours.
On Nov. 6, the management of Fish Taco and Piccoli Piatti Pizzeria announced that students wouldn’t be allowed to enter either establishment during school hours starting the next week. The school was informed of the decision through an email.
“We are still willing to sit down and have a conversation,” Principal Nicole Morgan said, “We were very surprised to get [the email]”
The email stated that large groups of students have been disrupting other customers, damaging property and bringing their own food into the restaurant, which violates county health codes. Additionally, several unnamed students have “displayed unruly, argumentative and disrespectful behavior.”
Morgan had not received any formal prior notice that either Fish Taco or Piccoli Patti Pizzeria was struggling with students.
“If students are really that chaotic, they have the right to ban them,” senior Leam Lyons said. “To ban that many potential customers, it must have been pretty severe.”
The two establishments announced that they would begin issuing trespassing charges to students who attempt to enter the restaurants, although none have been issued so far.
Morgan said that she is committed to open lunch, as she doesn’t believe WJ is big enough to hold all students during lunch hours; however, she would reconsider open lunch if law enforcement became involved in the situation.
When approached for comment, the manager of Fish Taco declined to respond and referred all questions to a corporate email address.
“We try to work with the establishments because we’re a community,” Morgan said.
Fish Taco and Piccoli Piatti Pizzeria have been popular with students, many of whom walk the half-mile to Wildwood specifically to order from the restaurants. Despite the pay-and-go system WJ has set up, many of these students stay and eat in the restaurants or outside at the surrounding tables.
“They’re a private business, they’re allowed to refuse service,” law teacher Toby Meirers said, “Preventing students from entering holds up legally speaking.”
Conflicts between students and businesses have emerged in the past, particularly with Giant. However, when Giant threatened to ban students, Morgan was able to negotiate with management, leading to the limited passes that are given out at the doorway which allow students to enter.
Students will still be allowed to go after school or on a weekend, but many are still disappointed.
“Their food is so good and the staff are the sweetest people ever,” junior Averi Gauthier-Skinner said while carrying a Fish Taco bag back to WJ.
