Cafe to candidates: Do not enter!

By Anna Lanfreschi

updated 5:20 PM EST, Fri January 06, 2012

NEED TO KNOW

A Portsmouth restaurant isn't letting presidential candidates in
Colby's Cafe wants to protect its patrons from political schmooze overload
Its patrons say all the national campaigning can get chaotic

Presidential candidates might have a hard time finding a place for lunch in New Hampshire next week.

Some New Hampshire restaurants are closing their doors to Republican presidential hopefuls, who are in the state for one of the biggest primaries of the election season. HLN affiliate WHDH reports that Colby’s Breakfast and Lunch Café in Portsmouth is banning all politicians from coming into their establishment during the primaries period.

“You get people coming in who are really just playing the political game, like standing up, telling everybody who they are, and then walking around and troubling the customers,” patron Andrew Booth told WHDH.

The restaurant’s owners say “the ban went down easy” with their patrons. It’s not the politicians themselves that bothers them -- it’s all the schmoozing that becomes annoying.

“This isn't Iowa, we don't need them in our face 24/7, we can decide on our own,” Marcia Foley, another patron, told the station.

But not every restaurant in New Hampshire shares Colby’s views. Affiliate WGME reports that many eateries around the state welcome the extra business.

What do you think: Would you like to be chatted up by a presidential candidate in the middle of your meal?

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