wow. I'm brand new to eGullet. I've been afraid of upgrading my participating membership because of my knowing everything and going on endlessly. (is this where I put in a clickable smilie?) I'm in Philadelphia. Starr is admittedly not exactly a "restauranteur" but what might be referred to as a "Starbucker", where his rest. ideas come directly from other restaurants, NYC being the major player. For example, Buddakan was Asia de Cuba and China Grill combined. His latest, Barclay Prime is The Beach's, aka SOFE (South of Fifth) in Miami, Prime 112. He is a corporate mogul. His timing and intuition have been great, for the most part. He is truely a great Philadelphia entrepeneur that finally had success in the onset of the 90's, the 90's being Philadelphia's 2nd coming in the restaurant world aidied by a cheerleading, hospitality friendly mayor, Ed Rendell. This plan involved riding the backs of the hospitality industry while campaigning Philadelphia to be a World Class City, as oppossed to the city where you go to see the bell and then get the hell out for fear of not being saved by the corrupt cops when you get mugged at night (9:00pm) because the streets "are rolled up", or fear of being killed in 30th St Station's bathroom. The opening of the new convention center was key as well. Typically Philly Style, there were many instances of taking 2 steps forward and 10 steps backwards. The new convention center wasn't big enough and was, and continues to be, plagued by our unions. The 90's also brought a recession and it was survival of the fittest for restaurants. This meant that new Philadelphia restaurants were ones with great theme-parked entertainment value, and high-end chains such as Capital Grill. Basically, ones with a corporate umbrella and big investment monies, supported by city government. Mind you, doing small business in Philadelphia was, and is, a struggle, to say the least! NYC began following this trend as well. I don't know if we have a choice. It's been a struggle to pull Philadelphia away from it's Quaker state; the state that it disgusts and considers it to be as dirty and unsafe as NYC. It's been said over and over, but, "There's Philadlphia and Pittsbugh with Alabama in between. On top of being neglected and looked at as a bad seed, Philadelphia has to contend with it's state laws whcih hinder the success of the hospitality industry. (We still pay the Johnstown Flood tx, from decades ago.) It also has hurt Philadelphia that it lies between NYC and DC. Philadelphia mission was to become a destination city. The hospitality industry was on it! A decade and a half later: since 2001, before the election even, most small, independent, fine dining white linen restaurants have been operating in the red, or closing. Costs are impossible; BYOBs are too numerous (the bill adds up and people do not account for the $ spent on the booze, not to discount the BYOBs themselves!); the chains, high end ones and the 'Applebys of the nation, where the marketing strategies changed to promoting themselves as the small independent restaurant, are impossible to keep up with. Afterall, Appleby's is "the friendly neighborhood restaurant.") Stardom became the recipe for a great restaurant. "STARRdom) TVFN changed the industry. Chefs left their kitchens. Entertainment was key. The industry became Hollywooded: meet Stephen Starr. Of course, with any trend, NYC was a forerunner and even began a struggle as the number one star after 9/11. By the way, 9/11 helped Philadelphia. My last decade of visiting New York has made me uncomfortable. NYC has always been about its resisdents. My gut feeling has me thinking that this is not the case anymore. Broadway musicals are about carrying the one American-Idol long note, and is owned by conglomerates. Murray's in the village just became Dean and Delucaized, and is surrounded with condos inhabited part time by Hollywood Stars, and Mario of course. Jean George, Spice Market?? Admittedly I like staying at The Gavensvort and having my capp at Pastise in the morning, but it's for my own comfort level I seek wherever I am. It's all 10 times more stimulating for my manic self, but not a true NY experience. I'm down to just staying in the West Village with friends, who I beg to take me to places that are not on the hit parade. It's becoming difficult and I spend all night listening to talk about being on the waiting list for that 500 sq foot apartment for 3000.00! (ha ha, I inhabit 2000 sq ft in Philly!) All that being said (sorry), for Stephen Starr to succeed in NYC is a condondrum, and a little shameful from my perspective. I think more chefs will return to the line, that consumers do have the opportunity to create a their own market as oppossed to following the trend (PBR?), politically correct will become more politically incorrect, and the small population of liberal, cultural, intellectual and democratic Americans will take back America, including setting the trends instead of following them and judging restaurants based on their own experiences. Is this way too long for this forum? Give it to me.
