Latest Rude Tactic 'Winterspreading' Bad For Restaurant Business

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- First, there was "manspreading" on the subways. Now, there's "winterspreading" in restaurants, where people shed their winter gear and pile it on empty chairs and tables.

Often times, the careless tactic of peeling off layers and putting them wherever you please can be a real problem for businesses.

"A lot of times I see people coming in and going, 'Oh, there's no where to sit,'" Marinell Madden-Crippen, of Rex Coffee House, told CBS2's Elise Finch.

Many times those patrons don't come inside to see if someone's actually sitting there, they just go somewhere else.

"People are too embarrassed to ask people to move their stuff, so it does become a concern for us," Madden-Crippen said.

This issue can be especially bad for small establishments with no coat check and limited coat hooks or racks.

"Taking up space when there is limited space and you have all your jackets and everything... It's bothersome," Shannon Toma, a North Bergen resident, told CBS2.

And most patrons agree.

"It's common courtesy to take your coat and put it on the side of your chair, put your hat in your pocket, put your gloves in your other pocket, drape your scarf around your chair," Abby Collier of Queens said.

Experts say to treat your space in a restaurant similar to the way you would treat your space on an airplane, make sure everything fits on your seat or underneath it.

"Putting your coat on the back of your seat is a great idea, making sure that when you lay it down you put your hat and gloves into the sleeves and bring the sleeves together and tie them so that you're not spreading out two feet to either side of you," Faye de Muyshondt, of SocialSklz, told CBS2. "It's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's being mindful and respectful toward other diners."

Yet, there are some business owners and customers who say it doesn't bother them.

"It's winter, people have a lot of stuff sometimes, they leave it at the next table ... it's OK," Georgio Papadakos of Georgio's Country Grill said.

Experts say you shouldn't have to tolerate "winterspreading" and you won't have to if everyone can just remember to mind their dining manners.