Good Days Restaurant in West Bridgewater
99 South Main Street
West Bridgewater, MA 02379
Phone: 508-584-0077
Sunday morning I went out to Good Days Restaurant in West Bridgewater with my Aunt Nancy and friends. My Aunt Nancy treated us all to a great meal. I know one of the cooks and decided to give her cooking a shot. Good Days Restaurant is wheelchair accessible with a few minor problems which need to be changed.
Parking is easy for there are handicap parking places right in front of the entrance. There are two single entry doors that are not automatic. My friends held the door open for me as I drove my power chair inside. If I was by myself I would need to buzz the front window to have someone come out to help me open the doors.
I was not very happy about that but when my friend told the owner he said that the Bridgewater Historical Society would not let them up date anything in the restaurant because the building is a historical site. It is an historical site because President John F. Kennedy once ate in this restaurant. I’m sure that President John F. Kennedy would have wanted this restaurant to be fully wheelchair accessible for he was a wonderful man who cared about equal access for all persons.
Good Days is a fun environment with peppy waitresses and a fun 50’s theme. The tables are of a perfect height for my wheelchair. The food was great and they had an endless cup of my favorite beverage which is coffee :) Good Days has a huge menu with reasonable pricing. I loved the staff at this restaurant because everyone was so friendly and that is why I give the staff FIVE STARS. Thank you Lisa, our very nice waitress :)
The restrooms are a single man’s and single woman’s restroom with no stalls to fuss with. I had no problem maneuvering my wheelchair inside the men’s room for it is very spacious. The ADA required safety grab bars are located at a perfect height on the side and rear wall of the toilet. The accessible sink is a perfect height as well and the only down side is that they do not have the pipes under the sink covered as is a new ADA requirement. My friend is going to tell the owner that the pipes are now required to be covered.
I give Good Days Restaurant FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star, they would need to install automatic entry doors and place protective covering around the exposed pipes under the restroom accessible sink.
I give Bridgewater Historical Society ZERO STARS for delaying full and equal access to all patrons to this fine eatery.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
The historic building debate and how it denies individuals with disabilities access to these valuable resources in the Commonwealth. Many buildings in Massachusetts that are defined and listed as historical do provide access for individuals with disabilities but the claim by some owners or managers that the building is “historic” is used all to often.
All buildings that are under the jurisdiction of the Mass AAB are required to provide access or can request a variance from the regulations. The ADA is more lenient and in some instance allows access to be non-existant.
Mass. AAB-3.9 HISTORIC BUILDINGS
An historic building or facility that is listed or is eligible for listing in the National or State Register of Historic Places or is designated as historic under appropriate state or local laws may be granted a variance by the Board to allow alternate accessibility. If a variance is requested on the basis of historical significance, then consultation with the Massachusetts Historical Commission is required in order to determine whether a building or facility is eligible for listing or listed in the National or State Register of Historic Places. The Massachusetts Historical Commission may request a copy of the proposed variance request and supporting documentation to substantiate the variance request and its effect on historic resources. A written statement from the Massachusetts Historical Commission is required with the application for variance.END OF AAB DEFINITION
If a business/facility does not meet the criteria as defined by the AAB section 3.9, and the building has been renovated or any common areas have been touched and a building permit has been issued then those areas must provide access for all.
President Kennedy’ visit to this restaurant has nothing to do with historical designation unless the building is designated on the Massachusetts or National Register of Historic Places and this was part of the application.
If there is a question as to the requirement to provide access at an historic building contact;
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3314
or
E-mail: mhc@sec.state.ma.us
Provide the name & address of the building and send a self addressed stamped envelope with a money order or check for the cost of a copy of that listing.
Keep up your presence in the communities Kenny, you are making a difference!