Hampton Roads - OC reports

Eventfull two days...

Yesterday on the overpass over 64 on Bland Blvd Someone with a sidearm rescued a Huge Turtle that had gotten on bland. Well Done... (Or was is Soup?)

This morning the Admiral and I went to I-Hop on Warwick BLVD (Down by Luigis and Food lion) we had just ordered coffee, when an Armed security guard came up to the table...

He: Excuse me, I don't mean to disturb you...
me: yes?
He: Will you please take your gun out to your car?
me no.
He: Well the management doesn't like it, they where robbed last month and people are nervous.
me: Well all the more reason I won't stay here un-armed.
He: .....
Me: Did They send you here to talk to me?
he: yes
Me We will just have to leave then...

And we left. Went to Belgan Waffle just South of I-Hop in Denbigh... warm reception and good yummy Pancakes with ChochChips and a big Smiley face drawn by our waitress.

I will fire off a snail mail to the management of that IHOP...

FYI Not posted with no guns signs (I never mention it if this is the case)

11745 Jefferson Avenue Newport News, VA 23606
(757) 591-0388

Ihop Warwick Blvd Debigh followup...

I will fire off a snail mail to the management of that IHOP...


I just called and spoke with the manager, he confirms that it is their policy after all that has gone on that no one except uniformed Police will be armed during the graveyard shift..

I stayed as pleasant as I could while trying to get him to understand...

He apologized but remained firm in his position...

Corporate will be getting a call Monday....

11745 Jefferson Avenue Newport News, VA 23606
(757) 591-0388

Freeflight said:

I will fire off a snail mail to the management of that IHOP...


I just called and spoke with the manager, he confirms that it is their policy after all that has gone on that no one except uniformed Police will be armed during the graveyard shift..

I stayed as pleasant as I could while trying to get him to understand...

He apologized but remained firm in his position...

Corporate will be getting a call Monday....

11745 Jefferson Avenue Newport News, VA 23606
(757) 591-0388

Click to expand...

If I remember correctly that IHOP had been robbed a few times in the past as well. Nothing like a policy to stop a criminal who already doesn't obey formal state law! I have OC-ed at a few IHOPs in the past no issue. It is sad to see more managers going brain-numb and disarming the only people that could help curb the problem. :-(

OC-ed to the picnic last minute. It was a very nice day to OC (as most are)

Re: Open Carry in Hampton Roads

45acpForMe said:

If I remember correctly that IHOP had been robbed a few times in the past as well. Nothing like a policy to stop a criminal who already doesn't obey formal state law! I have OC-ed at a few IHOPs in the past no issue. It is sad to see more managers going brain-numb and disarming the only people that could help curb the problem. :-(

OC-ed to the picnic last minute. It was a very nice day to OC (as most are)

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Suffolk ihop is friendly. Been in there a few times with no problems.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

OC-ed to Cracker Barrel off Lynnhaven with no issues, and to Auto Zone. The only person to comment about my OC was only asking what model/caliber I was carrying, which launched a conversation about the new gun he had recently bought.

During the Cracker Barrel excursion I was meeting a friend for breakfast. I learned that she had been assaulted previously and after she noticed that I was OC she asked me to help her learn to shoot, become comfortable with firearms, and obtain a CHP as her therapist had suggested that as a means of feeling more secure and protected after her experience, and due to the work she does (sex trafficking advocacy). I of course told her I would help her, and I intend to suggest she look in to taking classes with an NRA instuctor. She will be accompanying me to the Virginia Beach gun show in order to get the feel for a few different types of handguns for her future purchase.

Justine said:

OC-ed to Cracker Barrel off Lynnhaven with no issues, and to Auto Zone. The only person to comment about my OC was only asking what model/caliber I was carrying, which launched a conversation about the new gun he had recently bought.

During the Cracker Barrel excursion I was meeting a friend for breakfast. I learned that she had been assaulted previously and after she noticed that I was OC she asked me to help her learn to shoot, become comfortable with firearms, and obtain a CHP as her therapist had suggested that as a means of feeling more secure and protected after her experience, and due to the work she does (sex trafficking advocacy). I of course told her I would help her, and I intend to suggest she look in to taking classes with an NRA instuctor. She will be accompanying me to the Virginia Beach gun show in order to get the feel for a few different types of handguns for her future purchase.

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It is always great to help others learn about firearms and self defense. Part of the reason to OC is educational and if you were CC-ing at the time that conversation and planned training may never have happened.

Also fyi Cracker Barrel went anti-OC a year or two back. Several people have been asked to leave when they were seen OC-ing.

I OC-ed around yesterday, Olive Garden, Japan Samurai, Smitty's, Autozone, Food Lion, Farm Fresh no issues. I discussed firearms and self defense with some of the deli workers at Farm Fresh. They (and others I met there) are very pro-2A. My ex-wife's car broke down at Smitty's so I went to assist and she had her mother with her who is very anti-OC/CC. Funny, anytime they need my assistance she never has a problem with me OC-ing. Sitting stranded in a broken down car in a daylight-only-safe area of town may have helped her appreciate my OC. At autozone (king street) the workers were very pleasant but I did get some looks from the clientelle.

My finger is getting itchy so I may need to go to LGC to practice a bit soon. (and no they don't make a cream for that type of itch) ;-)

45acpForMe said:

It is always great to help others learn about firearms and self defense. Part of the reason to OC is educational and if you were CC-ing at the time that conversation and planned training may never have happened.

Also fyi Cracker Barrel went anti-OC a year or two back. Several people have been asked to leave when they were seen OC-ing.

I OC-ed around yesterday, Olive Garden, Japan Samurai, Smitty's, Autozone, Food Lion, Farm Fresh no issues. I discussed firearms and self defense with some of the deli workers at Farm Fresh. They (and others I met there) are very pro-2A. My ex-wife's car broke down at Smitty's so I went to assist and she had her mother with her who is very anti-OC/CC. Funny, anytime they need my assistance she never has a problem with me OC-ing. Sitting stranded in a broken down car in a daylight-only-safe area of town may have helped her appreciate my OC. At autozone (king street) the workers were very pleasant but I did get some looks from the clientelle.

My finger is getting itchy so I may need to go to LGC to practice a bit soon. (and no they don't make a cream for that type of itch) ;-)

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Hey, thanks! I didn't know that about Cracker Barrel... I didn't see any signs so I assumed it was ok, and no one said anything to me or asked me to leave. But looks like I'll be spending my money elsewhere from now on.

we have been riding our bicycles after dinner thru the nieghbor hood. ... that is until some one evidently was in dire need of my son's 12 inch bike. it went away with it's new owner friday sometime between 8 and 4. they must have been in a rush, because they forgot to leave a thank you-note.

went to the IOW fair sat, and sun. there were more local LEO's than i expected at the entrances and on the fairgrounds. i didn't think there were even that many.
we had a great time and didn't notice ANY stares from ANY of the folks in attendance. what a change of perception/atmosphere from the city!

only i got one challenge from the guy running the merry-go-round.
he wanted me to unholster and unload before i could get on with my kids. i asked him if he thought it safer to just leave it in the holster? he agreed, and i thanked him for understanding.

i gave away my GSL sticker from the OC picnic as we rode the ferris wheel on our way out, and passed out a few of Ed's OC cards to some people who initiated at the fair and one guy at ANNA's pizza in windsor.

a very busy weekend. fun, but busy.

Oh, and last week me and the wife had a lunch "date" at Yo-Yo Sushi. ... nice palce.
i called ahead, and they were OC friendly. i think i'm gettin better at asking places if 'they would allow the lawful open carry of firearms at thier store/shoppe/restaraunt location'

Justine said:

OC-ed to Cracker Barrel off Lynnhaven with no issues, and to Auto Zone. The only person to comment about my OC was only asking what model/caliber I was carrying, which launched a conversation about the new gun he had recently bought.

During the Cracker Barrel excursion I was meeting a friend for breakfast. I learned that she had been assaulted previously and after she noticed that I was OC she asked me to help her learn to shoot, become comfortable with firearms, and obtain a CHP as her therapist had suggested that as a means of feeling more secure and protected after her experience, and due to the work she does (sex trafficking advocacy). I of course told her I would help her, and I intend to suggest she look in to taking classes with an NRA instuctor. She will be accompanying me to the Virginia Beach gun show in order to get the feel for a few different types of handguns for her future purchase.

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it's not the fact that your friend is a sex trafficking advocate (for or against), it's the fact that a therapist told her to start carrying a firearm to feel more secure. two thumbs up for them

nilla said:

Oh, and last week me and the wife had a lunch "date" at Yo-Yo Sushi. ... nice palce.
i called ahead, and they were OC friendly. i think i'm gettin better at asking places if 'they would allow the lawful open carry of firearms at thier store/shoppe/restaraunt location'

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i know that you want to be secure in not getting hassled for carrying. but i recommend not calling ahead. one reason is you don't know whom you are talking to, it could just be a flunky that doesn't know anything. another thing is they may not say anything when you do walk in, just because they don't want to make waves, and of course they will seem you are no threat and will welcome others

no carry in Hampton area, but did carry all over central and SW VA. actually had some good contacts

Have never called ahead and we set up a lot of OC breakfasts (every week) and OC dinners (at least monthly).

If contemplating a new location, one or two of us will "test the water" by stopping by and OCing (which is just normal). During the meal, I'll ask for the manager and let him/her know that we'd like to consider them for a function/meet-up.

If only out of curiosity, I invariably get asked what type of group? Reply is we are an educational and lobby organization promoting 2A rights. We 're made up of people from all walks of life, young, older, blue collar and professionals - some with their children. They're all just friendly folks like me.

Have only once in many, many years of doing this been denied.

OC'd while grocery shopping at the Grafton Farm Fresh today.

Nothing unusual about this except that as we got out of the car, I was approached by a fellow about my age who said he recognized me from the VCDL table at the (Hampton) gun show.

He introduced himself, shook my hand, and said he'd be at the next gun show.

when i call, i usually ask to speak with the manager if i am not allready transfered to him/her. if the manager confirms that they are not carry freindly, i ask them for a reccomendation as to where else (in thier vicinity) i should go and spend my money.
i call ahead because i hate making reservations and showing up to a place only to either sacrafice my sidearm, or to turn around and make new plans on the spot. i especially hate this when i invite people to dinner.

i see your point about slipping in under the radar and making a non-threatening/good impression before they notice that " i'm packin' heat "
but i'm not trying to be sneaky about it (otherwise i'd pocket it). the appeal to a business is that if they turn me away for OCing, they also are turning away my OCing money. i dont want them to allow just ME to OC, just this once, because i look like a nice guy treating my wife and kids to dinner. i want them to change their policy and allow YOU to OC also.

i figure that if i call 4 places and 3 deny me, but one welcomes me; i have effectively visited 4 places, where as i would probaly give up and head home after the second place, if it were in person.
if someone else OC's and gets booted out and then i happen to call that same place and ask if i can show up, maybe they will rethink how much money they are loosing.

just as much as i have the right to openly carry, they have the right not allow me on thier personal property.
the restaraunt reserves the right to refuse service to anyone, including me and my sidearm, and i'm not trying to make a stink and get charged with trespassing over it.

what do you think if everybody would individually visit Cracker barrel today and be turned away by the manager?

the store manager might speak to the disctrict manager and say "Gee, we could have served ____ many more customers if we changed the store policy on OCing"

but we bolth know that noone is gonna visit cracker barrel knowing that they ar gonna get turned around. but a few of us might call, and that few might do the trick. i know, ... it's a long-term, long-shot.

Ask yourselves whether you would interview and hire a new employee over the phone or would you like the courtesy of personal contact. Which is a better way to judge people?

It is almost unheard of to have problems in the Greater Richmond restaurant market. We make a good initial presentation of ourselves and follow through as responsible members of the community, It does work, and well too.

nilla said:

what do you think if everybody would individually visit Cracker barrel today and be turned away by the manager?

the store manager might speak to the disctrict manager and say "Gee, we could have served ____ many more customers if we changed the store policy on OCing"

but we bolth know that noone is gonna visit cracker barrel knowing that they ar gonna get turned around. but a few of us might call, and that few might do the trick. i know, ... it's a long-term, long-shot.

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After meeting at Cracker Barrel for breakfast for many years, the Regional manger called the shot - no OC. The local manager was very apologetic, did not want to loose our business and that CC would be fine. Seems one or two out of staters complained and the regional office knee jerked. Oh well, we haven't missed a meal yet.

my first thread on here was about getting booted from a Dollar General.
it may be that i just have a 'silver tounge', but i never met the store manager or the district manager face to face and we were able to come to an understanding over the phone. in the end: the district manager call me on my cell phone and welcomed me with open arms back in to his area shoppes. the store clerk who created her own policy was 're-trained' and she now understands the established store policy. i see her often and try to smile and make nice despite the palpable tension across the register counter.


i agree that face to face allows for a better judge of charachter.
that being said, i too have been apoligeticly booted. although i'm not entirely sure how sincere it may have been a few of those times ...

on the phone; i am polite and use my manners to paint a picture of a respectable and responsible citizen, but i'm not calling them on the phone solely to allow them to judge my charachter. i'm calling them to ask what thier policy is, if they have one. if they do not, i will show up and provide them with an example and a reason to establish a Pro-2A policy.
but i am NOT trying to have exceptions to an established policy made just for me and my sidearm.

this is my personal opinion on 'calling ahead'.
my intent was not to hijack this thread and de-rail it further. if there is any more to be said about this topic, it might deserve it's own.

nilla said:

--snip--
this is my personal opinion on 'calling ahead'.
my intent was not to hijack this thread and de-rail it further. if there is any more to be said about this topic, it might deserve it's own.

Click to expand...

Appreciate your ideas and the exchange - you seem to have developed a process that works for you.

Don't think we've misdirected the thread, but rather expanded on a sub-topic which is of interest to many and is part of the purpose of this thread. Next time I'll buy the coffee

IHOP Denbigh Follow up

Freeflight said:

I will fire off a snail mail to the management of that IHOP...


I just called and spoke with the manager, he confirms that it is their policy after all that has gone on that no one except uniformed Police will be armed during the graveyard shift..

I stayed as pleasant as I could while trying to get him to understand...

He apologized but remained firm in his position...

Corporate will be getting a call Monday....

11745 Jefferson Avenue Newport News, VA 23606
(757) 591-0388

Click to expand...

A few more items to add...

I did talk with "Corporate" This is a Franchise store...

The Owner of this Location called and we had a nice Long discussion The gist of the discussion follows:

The owner is a Life member of NRA and has a Gun by his bed at home.

OpenCarry is not allowed at this location.
Concealing is okay per the Owner.

The robbers that robbed this location, paraded the employees all around the store. With a gun to the manager's head, so they are gun-shy and frightened by any sort of gun.

(I told him that If I owned the Store My employees would have the ability to defend themselves...)

He says that Corporate rules state that employees may not be armed and they are to do whatever the robbers command them to do... just to get the robbery over as quickly as possible....

Bottom line was he doesn't want to loose my business, if I just conceal his staff won't get all nervous and scared and I can dine again with them.

I thanked him for calling...

OC in hampton roads area

im looking to start open carrying in my area and wanted to get some info from ppl with more recent encounters with open carry. i will mostly be in the newport news and hampton area and want know what kind of places have ppl been where oc is not allowed and what places have been pretty friendly about it. any feedback or any other additional info would be great...thanks