Business Booms At 'English Only' Eatery
Owner Of Local Diner Says Publicity Has Been Great For Bottom Line

POSTED: 1:37 pm EDT May 5, 2011
UPDATED: 2:25 pm EDT May 5, 2011

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DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. -- The owner of a Lexington diner who made waves in March after posting a sign banning customers who don't speak English said Thursday that business at his restaurant has never been better.

So good, in fact, he's reposted the sign and is handing out copies to anyone who asks. By noon Thursday, the Reedy Creek Family Diner off Highway 150 was filled with customers.

Owner Greg Simons said an exchange between a Latino customer who couldn't speak English and the staff made his employees feel uncomfortable.

After it happened a second time, he put up a sign on the door warning guests that the staff is only prepared to converse with those who speak "American."

Simons took down the sign after WXII broke the story.

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But support surged. Simons said he got letters from all over the world. He appeared on several national conservative talk shows. People mailed him money. A national organization that advocates English as the national language offered to pony up legal fees if Simons gets sued.

He says 99 percent of those who have contacted him have agreed with his message.

He's even posted a second sign containing a quote from President Teddy Roosevelt in 2007.

"We have but room for one language here and this is the English language," the sign quotes Roosevelt as saying.

Simons claims the signs have nothing to do with race. His message seems to have resonated with many.

"Now if every other business would do this in the USA, it will be all good!" Michael Barton posted on a Facebook page set up to support Simons.

"This is America. Speak English!" Michael Olah posted on the same page.

Opponents to Simons' message haven't been nearly as vocal.

"I'm seriously disgusted I even ate here before. I hope your business goes under. Spanish and English aren't that different. If you listen, you at least get the gist of what one's saying," tamaramhill posted on WXII12.com.

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Previous Stories:

March 15, 2011: Sign At Local Eatery: No English, No Service


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