By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(March 19, 2026) A policy at an Arby’s restaurant across the street from Stephen Decatur High School permits students to order food but does not allow them to eat inside the establishment, one mom says.

According to Shannon Jones, the parent of a senior at Decatur, her daughter was asked to leave the Arby’s after identifying herself as a student at the nearby high school.

Jones noted that the incident occurred on March 11, a little after school was dismissed. The mother said she told her daughter – whose car was having issues and therefore needed a ride home – to head over to Arby’s and grab food until she could be picked up.

The Arby’s is situated along Ocean Gateway, directly across from Stephen Decatur.

After ordering her meal and sitting down, an employee approached the student and asked her if she attended SDHS, to which she replied that she did. Jones’ daughter was then asked to leave because of a policy prohibiting Decatur students from eating their food inside the restaurant.

“She went inside, ordered a meal from Arby’s,” Jones said of her child’s experience. “As she proceeded to sit down to eat, she said a female employee approached her and asked her if she was a student at Stephen Decatur High School. She replied honestly and said yes. She thought that the employee was having small talk.

“The employee then proceeded to tell her that she had to ask her to leave, that her manager had instructed them to tell Decatur students that they needed to leave, that they could not sit down and eat the food that they had purchased at that establishment.”

Jones maintained that her daughter was alone when the incident took place.

“My daughter was there by herself. She had a backpack on, she was with no group of people, she wasn’t rowdy, she wasn’t loud,” the mother added. “There was no indication that she would have been a problem sitting and eating her food at that location.”

When the child’s parents arrived, a conversation with a manager revealed that no students from SDHS are allowed to dine in at the fast food location, per a policy to limit disruption, an issue prevalent when large groups of kids congregate at the spot.

“They made it very specific to Stephen Decatur High School,” Jones said.

She maintained that the crux of her issue is that the Arby’s location lacks any signage indicating the policy. Jones added that she’s sensitive to the fact that ownership and management are responsible for safeguarding their workers and structures, but that this type of information must be displayed or communicated.

“I get it, every establishment needs to protect its employees,” she said. “They need to set some rules and boundaries. I am all for that. But it needs to be public and stated for everyone. And I don’t think discriminating against students is necessary.”

When asked about the incident by this publication, the Berlin Arby’s declined to comment.

However, Jordan Black, the location’s general manager, left a comment on Jones’ Facebook post regarding the situation.

“Yes, you are correct, none of the employees should ever approach anyone saying get out,” he wrote. “I will definitely take care of that matter. I saw the complaint you had submitted to Arby’s [corporate] … I do apologize to anyone who upset your daughter. You and your family are always welcome to sit, relax, and enjoy your food.”

Royal Farms, located next to Arby’s, has a similar method to keep student rowdiness and disruption to a minimum. A sign posted on the window mandates that backpacks be left outside and that no more than two unaccompanied children may enter.

“Royal Farms had no problem posting signs about no book bags inside. They did what they needed to do,” Jones said.

As of this week, Arby’s has no signage indicating its no-student policy.

“I would presume a lot of students wouldn’t purchase food there if they were told [the policy] before they spent their hard-earned money there,” Jones said.