Florida restaurant Rick’s on the River is making “dine-and-dashers” do the “walk of shame” in viral social media posts as a “deterrent.”

A Florida restaurant owner is calling out restaurant owners who target his business for his “wall of shame” by filming the perpetrators and posting the often heated confrontation on social media

Ken Brackins, owner of Rick’s on the River in Tampa, Florida, took matters into his own hands when he guilt-tripped the Dashers into humiliation after the brazen act – proving his method was successful.

In a moment caught on camera, a restaurant worker chases a woman who tried to flee in a Mercedes-Benz because she claimed the wind knocked over her beer mug.


A Florida restaurant owner encouraged dine-and-dash customers at his Tampa Bay restaurant.
A Florida restaurant owner encouraged dine-and-dash customers at his Tampa Bay restaurant.
Rick’s on the River / Facebook

“This newest restaurant owner spent her beer money on a fancy late model Mercedes,” the restaurant captioned a Facebook video that captured the confrontation and the car’s license plate.

“There were only a few ounces of beer on the deck. True story,” the rest of the caption read.

Brackins said in one Interview with Fox News His method is simply to “use this as a deterrent as well.”


Ken Brackins said he installed surveillance cameras outside his restaurant, Rick's on the River, to film the sprinters as they did their deeds.
Ken Brackins said he installed surveillance cameras outside his restaurant, Rick’s on the River, to film the sprinters as they did their deeds.
Fox News

He added that dashers return to the restaurant to pay when they realize their face is their “wall of shame” online.

“We keep making them come in and pay when they want to pay over the phone – but we force them to do the walk of shame and come in and pay,” Brackins said.

The restaurant also revealed some of the big meals that Dasher leaves behind.


A restaurant employee chased a woman who tried to escape in a Mercedes-Benz.
A restaurant employee chased a woman who tried to escape in a Mercedes-Benz.
Rick’s on the River / Facebook

The woman claimed the wind knocked over her beer mug.
The woman claimed the wind knocked over her beer mug.
Rick’s on the River / Facebook

They shared a photo of two suspected Dashers who fled after consuming oysters, sandwiches and six Long Island iced teas, warning they would “get the PoPo on the GoGo.”

“If anyone recognizes the two newest members of the Dine and Dash Hall of Shame, please contact them,” the store said in April. “You have 24 hours to pay the bill you “forgot” to pay.”

Both were eventually caught, the restaurant said in an update.


Dashers must pay in person at Rick's on the River rather than over the phone, Walk of Shame style.
Dashers must pay in person at Rick’s on the River rather than over the phone, Walk of Shame style.
Google St View

In a third clip, two women flee the restaurant – while one makes sure the coast is clear – before driving off in their car while the store snaps their license plates.

“Apparently these people didn’t know that if you Dine-N-Dash at Rick’s you will be identified through social media.” the caption said.

“These are the latest offenders who did ‘Eat it and Beat It’ and ‘forgot’ to pay,” the caption continues. “I took great pictures of you, your car and your trailer. Come back and pay your bill!”


A woman checks that the coast is clear before taking off and leaving the restaurant without paying.
A woman checks that the coast is clear before taking off and leaving the restaurant without paying.
Rick’s on the River / Facebook

Brackins says that since he started posting the stupid dashers on social media, “nine of the 10 have resulted in the perpetrators coming in and settling their scores.” according to the Daily Mail.

“I’ve got people calling and saying, ‘Hey, I paid, can you take it down?’ They get very angry. They say they’re going to sue me,” Brackins claims.

Brackins doesn’t want the police involved because they’re dealing with more serious crimes than the Dine and Dashers. Fox News reported.


The restaurant's security footage takes photos of customers' vehicles and license plates as they drive off without paying.
The restaurant’s security footage takes photos of customers’ vehicles and license plates as they drive off without paying.
Rick’s on the River / Facebook

“There are some people who are just…trying to say we’re in the wrong.” he told Fox News. “But… hey, we’re not the ones trying to… steal something. So if you don’t want to end up on social media, don’t do it.”

Caroline Bleakley

Caroline Bleakley is a USTimeToday U.S. News Reporter based in London. His focus is on U.S. politics and the environment. He has covered climate change extensively, as well as healthcare and crime. Caroline Bleakley joined USTimeToday in 2022 from the Daily Express and previously worked for Chemist and Druggist and the Jewish Chronicle. He is a graduate of Cambridge University. Languages: English. You can get in touch with Caroline Bleakley by emailing carolinebleakley@ustimetoday.com.

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