Chili's 51%????????? What the heck?

[Doug.38PR]

I was just in Chili's location at Hwy 6 and Westheimer in Houston (a little north of westheimer) and looked across the room at the front intrance to see two signs with the a big 51% on it. Didn't go out of my way to go across the place to read it (since I was carrying, but not dining in) but was pretty sure that's what it was.

As modern teenagers are so fond of saying: WHAT IS UP WITH THIS?!!! Chili's is a restaurant that's primary function is serving food. Does this now apply to all Chili's locations or just individual locations? Does it have to do with the percentage of income that particular location makes in alchohol sales? In other words if it's primary function is food, but 75 out of 100 customers come there to get boozed up, then that automatically makes the restaurant an illegal place to carry a gun?

Won't be dining in at that Chili's again

[dpatterson]

I highly doubt its 51%. They, Management, probably dont understand the premise for having a 51% sign.

If a chilis was making over have their rev's on alcohol I dont think they would be in business long.

[Roger Howard]

I seriously doubt a chili's does more than 25% alcohol sales much less 51%. Report it to TABC
http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/enforce/CompInv.htm
That sign will get taken down. The proper sign should be the unlicensed carry sign.

[Doug.38PR]

I just sent an E mail to that website, thanks. I just hope a 30.06 sign doesn't replace it because the management's intent was to ban all guns from the property

[Mike1951]

If Chili's has anything other than the 'unlicensed possession' sign, it's a mistake.

I've been thru it with Chili's corporate before. All they are supposed to have is the 'unlicensed possession' sign in the bar area.

[Roger Howard]

I just sent an E mail to that website, thanks. I just hope a 30.06 sign doesn't replace it because the management's intent was to ban all guns from the property

I doubt they will post 30.06 More likely it was some young manager that put up the sign from a packet sent from their corp. office. Those packets are generic and contain every sign under the sun.

Unlike Taco Cabana (which post 30.06 on a regular basis) I don't think chili's has a policy against CC for their patrons. I have never seen a 30.06 at Chili's. I personally have only ever seen one proper 30.06 and it was at a chemical plant. I wish I could remember which one.

[lrb111]

I just sent an E mail to that website, thanks. I just hope a 30.06 sign doesn't replace it because the management's intent was to ban all guns from the property

I doubt they will post 30.06 More likely it was some young manager that put up the sign from a packet sent from their corp. office. Those packets are generic and contain every sign under the sun.

Unlike Taco Cabana (which post 30.06 on a regular basis) I don't think chili's has a policy against CC for their patrons. I have never seen a 30.06 at Chili's. I personally have only ever seen one proper 30.06 and it was at a chemical plant. I wish I could remember which one.

Our local Chili's wasn't posted, but it's been a couple months since we've been in there. I've never "unloaded" before going in there.

[MrDrummy]

Been to many a Chili's, and I've only seen the "unlicensed possession" sign, and never the other ones.

Let's hope that the corporate offices haven't changed their minds. Let us know what happens with this!

[GlockenHammer]

I believe (no proof) that some businesses use the 51% to discourage CHL without the ugly 30.06 sign. There is no repercussion to posting a 51% sign when they are not (that I know of) but they know that the CHL-ers are trained to recognize that as a no-carry place.

But I could be wrong.

[Mike1951]

My interaction was with Bill Heine, then Director of Security for Chili's.

That was in June 2003. I was trying to get a definitive answer on Chili's policy.

That came about because I hadn't eaten at Chili's for 7 years because Chili's DID post in 1996 in the pre-30.06 days. Back then there were a lot of knee-jerk postings as everyone believed the 'blood in the streets' hype.

I never knew when Chili's changed their policy, since I never ate there.

But by 2003, Mr. Heine assured me that Chili's did not post against CHL and that the only proper sign should be the 'unlicensed possession' one.

I have found that to be true in every Chili's I have eaten in since.

[kw5kw]

My wife and I have eaten in many different Chili's in many different locals and not one of them have been posted.

Russ

[casselthief]

The Soutwest EggRolls are the bombdiggity.

've never seen a 3 double 0 6 sign in'em.

[txinvestigator]

Chili's is a restaurant that's primary function is serving food. Does this now apply to all Chili's locations or just individual locations? Does it have to do with the percentage of income that particular location makes in alchohol sales? In other words if it's primary function is food, but 75 out of 100 customers come there to get boozed up, then that automatically makes the restaurant an illegal place to carry a gun?

The 51% refers to percentage of total revenue from alcohol sales. It has nothing to do with percentage of customers who drink.


Texas Penal Code

§46.035. Unlawful carrying of handgun by license holder.


(b) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun under the
authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, regardless
of whether the handgun is concealed, on or about the license holder's
person:

(1) on the premises of a business that has a permit or
license issued under Chapter 25, 28, 32, 69, or 74, Alcoholic
Beverage Code, if the business derives 51 percent or more of its
income from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for on-premises
consumption, as determined by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Commission under Section 104.06, Alcoholic Beverage Code;

[Doug.38PR]

glad to hear this is all wrong. I eat at chili's A LOT and all over the place. Huntsville, Nacogdoches, Beltway 8 and I-10, Carillion and Westhiemer, Longview, Shreveport LA, Monroe LA, Lufkin, Tyler. NEVER until last night have I seen either a 51% or a 30.06

[HankB]

I suspect the Chili's "51%" sign is a mistake - chains usually don't pull stuff like this.

A couple of years ago, the Applebee's restaurants owned by a local company in San Antonio tried banning guns - Applebee's corporate got so many complaints (from as far away as Ohio!) that the local Applebee's head not only took down the signs, but sent emails apologizing to everyone who'd complained and let them know that licensed concealed carry was OK. (I figure he was spanked - hard! - by Corporate. )

I expect the Chili's "51%" signs will come down right after TABC contacts them.

I haven't eaten in a Chili's for a while - the nearest one to me (Bee Cave, just west of Austin) usually has poor service, is too hot in summer/too cold in winter, and has very inconsistent food quality.