The Traveling Wheelchair

1670 President Ave
Fall River, MA 02720
Phone: (508) 678-6346
http://www.newportcreamery.com/
 
Today, I was in Fall River and drove by the Newport Creamery on President Avenue so I thought I’d try it out for lunch and assess it for wheelchair accessibility. On my way in I had trouble with the front entry doors which are not automatic. They have two front doors but one door isn’t big enough for my chair to fit though so I needed the help of two of my friends to open both doors so I could get my wheelchair into Newport Creamery. Once inside I was seated at a booth because all they have are booths. I was sitting at the end and my chair was in the middle of the aisle. It wasn’t busy when I was there but if it were busy I’m sure I would have been bumped into by anyone trying to get by me. My friends told me that they didn’t have much leg room under the table and it was a tight fit for them too.  I was uncomfortable because my chair had to be pushed in far under the table for me to reach the table.

I checked out the rest rooms and it was really hard to get my wheelchair in the door as there was a really sharp turn for my chair to turn. The handicapped stall was ok but a little small and the pipes were not covered which are ADA regulations. My waitress Kimberly was EXCELLENT and very kind and courteous to me. She was very patient and she took her time to listen to me and take my order. Kimberly looked right at me when she was taking our orders and asked me what I would like to drink and then a little later asked me what I would like for dinner. She treated me like she would any other customer, which is something most take for granted but when you are disabled and hard to understand as I am, often people will turn to my friends and say ‘what would he like to eat’, as if I’m not there. Kimberly was EXCELLENT and deserves FIVE STARS for hospitality and service.
 
I would love to give Newport Creamery FIVE STARS but the truth is the only thing that was good was my waitress, Kimberly. The restaurant is not very wheelchair accessible. I give Newport Creamery of Fall River TWO STARS for accessibility and that really is given only because of the great service. Newport Creamery of Fall River could earn the other Three STARS if they installed automatic doors, made the rest room easier to get into and added some regular tables that are of wheelchair height so people in wheelchairs can sit in comfort and not in the middle of an aisle.