Pizza Hut Charlestown, IN - RANT

Shawn suggested that I go ahead and post on Hotbytes. I had not done so, because it is Charlestown, IN but here goes:
The Charlestown Soccer boys team won their first game 12-0! After the game the team went to Pizza Hut to celebrate. (Not a choice I would make, but this is a bunch of teenagers) As team showed up the server and manager became very nervous. They kept asking, "Exactly how many people is it going to be?" The players were not sure so they said between 10 and 20. The manager said, "You can not take up my whole dining room." (There was no one in the dining room!) The adults started to put the tables together and again she said, "You can't take up the whole dining room." I told her that the team had just won their first game 12-zip and broke the school record. The team then said woo hoo, Charlestown! The server then threatened to call the police!
I asked her, what the deal is? We would only take up half of the dining room. In the chance that someone else would show up at 8:30pm on a Tuesday, only had half of their dining room would be occupied.
They refused to seat the team! The team went to the CPC who welcomed them with open arms. (Shawn and his staff are awesome) The kids were very respectful and had done NOTHING wrong.

The following day I called the GM Joyce. Joyce supported her staff and their treatment of the team, telling me it was our fault for not calling ahead! I was almost speechless. We went back and forth for a few minutes and I told her that the average consumer tells 8 people when they have a bad experience, but I will make sure the word gets out. I have started a fan page on facebook - Boycott Pizza Hut in Charlestown, IN. Feel free to join regardless of where you live.

One last note, the Evening News reported last night that the team had won 13-0!

CPC rocks for more than just the pizza. Although the pizza is most excellent too! I've been following this on FB and having kid-athletes treated this way is NOT acceptable.

The server then threatened to call the police!

That's absolutely fantastic! I wish I had been there and they had actually called the police. I would love to see the look on the poor officer's face when the server explained that you had committed the (obviously felony) acts of wanting to order too much food, sitting down in a restaurant, and (the worst of all ) celebrating.

The Charlestown Soccer boys team won their first game 12-0!

Congratulations!

I have started a fan page on facebook - Boycott Pizza Hut in Charlestown, IN. Feel free to join regardless of where you live.

Viva la Revolucion!

Strange story....why would Pizza Hut basically turn away business....somewhat analogous to our Kroger/Pepsi controversy from a few days ago....business is business and money is money -- take what comes and be glad you're getting it.

You should find out whether that Pizza Hut is corporate or franchised, then contact the district office or franchisee and tell THEM that story....then that GM might have some 'esplainin' to do.

Let me get this straight...in this economy, the MANAGER turned away 10-20 hungry teenage boys at 8:30 pm on a Tuesday?

That was idiotic! If the place wasn't crowded at 8:30 pm, it wasn't going to be getting that way. She turned you guys away because the staff were lazy and tired, not because they couldn't allow you to take up their dining room.

So, because she was too lazy to help you, they lost out on what I'm sure would have been a substantial amount of money, especially with 10-20 hungry teenagers. I guess that particular Pizza Hut is doing SO well, they they didn't need your business, anyway.

Strange story....why would Pizza Hut basically turn away business....somewhat analogous to our Kroger/Pepsi controversy from a few days ago....business is business and money is money -- take what comes and be glad you're getting it.

You should find out whether that Pizza Hut is corporate or franchised, then contact the district office or franchisee and tell THEM that story....then that GM might have some 'esplainin' to do.

As circumstances would have it, I saw David Novak, CEO of YUM brands this morning. I sent him an email after our brief encouter and got a very prompt response. I believe he was genuinely offended at how the team was treated. He email two other officers and asked them to handle it. I will let everyone know how it plays out.

Please do. I'll be interested in hearing how it goes!

just contact Yum Brands corporate office directly. They have a "contact us" link on their home page.

That is really, really odd. Wow, i feel so bad for the children, well teenagers, but in my eyes still children.

What time does that restaurant close? I am guessing that they just didnt want to go through the trouble of a very large party, and the cleanup that would be involved. But jeez, the manager should have been crazy happy at what you all could have brought in (moneywise).

i am glad the team was able to go somewhere else and enjoy themselves and celebrate.

i can just see the team screaming GO CHARLESTOWN! and the manager freaking out......lol

just contact Yum Brands corporate office directly. They have a "contact us" link on their home page.

I did that too, but there was no response.

That is really, really odd. Wow, i feel so bad for the children, well teenagers, but in my eyes still children.

What time does that restaurant close? I am guessing that they just didnt want to go through the trouble of a very large party, and the cleanup that would be involved. But jeez, the manager should have been crazy happy at what you all could have brought in (moneywise).

i am glad the team was able to go somewhere else and enjoy themselves and celebrate.

i can just see the team screaming GO CHARLESTOWN! and the manager freaking out......lol

They closed at 10pm. We could have and would have limited what we ordered. They just didn't want us there.

Obviously the Pizza Hut manager doesn't live in Charlestown. Wow what a story.

Whatever.......either Corporate or Franchised......

This needs to be addressed by a call to Yum Brands!!!!!!!

this is what i call poor business by the manager. in today's economy, if that was my store, i would have welcomed you with open arms.

Just as Charlestown Pizza Company did.
I guess I didn't mention there is another home game tonight. 20 hungry teenagers, not going to the HUT.

Whatever.......either Corporate or Franchised......

This needs to be addressed by a call to Yum Brands!!!!!!!

Thanks Tommy, it was addressed directly with David Novak