White Linen restaurant bans lawmakers, lobbyists after altercation

TOPEKA -- The owner of a downtown Topeka restaurant says he banned a group of high-ranking Kansas House Republicans and Statehouse lobbyists for being disrespectful to staff and other patrons while dining at the business.

White Linen’s manager and owner describe a boisterous scene that intensified in response to directives to the 12-person crowd to be quiet and the manager’s decision to cut off the flow of alcohol to Rep. Blaine Finch, a Republican from Ottawa and speaker pro tem.

The altercation at the fine dining restaurant, which is two blocks south of the Statehouse, unfolded in the early evening hours of Feb. 27 after lawmakers wrapped up business for the first half of the legislative session.

“They showed up and just started drinking and drinking and drinking,” said White Linen owner Adam VanDonge.

He said Finch was served five old fashioneds in a 90-minute span. Also in the group were House Speaker Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe, Rep. Susan Concannon, R-Beloit, and lobbyists Dan Murray and Rachelle Colombo.

Read more: https://www.cjonline.com/news/20190308/white-linen-restaurant-bans-lawmakers-lobbyists-after-altercation

Rep. Concannon gave the restaurant a bad review on Yelp:
“Extremely rude management is not worth tolerating for the good food.”