-
Posts
237 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Everything posted by Bluehensfan
-
Um , the dates are wrong. ← Umm you're right...but I lifted the dates from the website! I know you're fine on Saturday since that's the day we always go. And I'm sure Holly has been there many times so maybe he can chime in. There is a phone number to call for info: (215) 627–4389 Fax: (215) 627-4394
-
Wonder if they will have the lamb on the spit this fall? http://stgeorgecathedralfestival.com/fallfest.htm Fall Festival Thursday Sept. 28 11AM – till Friday Sept. 29 11AM – till Saturday Sept. 30 11AM – till Featuring: • Delicious Greek Food • Greek Pastries • Greek Music, DJ & Dancing Friday & Saturday • Jewelry, Souvenirs & Gifts • Greek CDs & Videos • Fun for All Ages • Saturday from 8 – 10 PM all Entrees are 50% off
-
Made a quick stop at Firehouse BBQ for a small sample. Tried the ribs and the brisket, jalapeno cornbread, fried mac and cheese, and coleslaw. The Ribs had a bold smokiness, but oddly didn't taste like much else, except for what came from an unpleasant sugary glaze. We figured one of the many sauces provided on the table might help, but all of those, even the ones marked spicy, were extremely sweet. And not spicy. And not that good. The meat was very tender, but pulled completely off the bone upon the first bite, and had receded pretty far up each bone, each a sure sign of being cooked too long. They were also pretty tiny, but as they're sold by the pound, I suppose that's OK. The Brisket was moist and tender, but as with the ribs, just didn't taste like much. We got one nice slice, and one strange mass of shredded edges. To be fair, it is early days, and pretty much the whole staff seemed very young, so maybe they're just not quite in the groove yet, both with the cooking and the cutting. Fried Mac and Cheese was quite tasty, 2-inch cubes of their regular mac and cheese, breaded and fried to order, resulting in a crispy crust and oozing, cheesey center. Coleslaw was OK. Cornbread was on the dry side, but had a pleasant-enough flavor. So I can't say we were thrilled by the Firehouse, but it might be worth letting them settle-in a little before passing final judgement. ← We actually tried Firehouse on Saturday and found it (well once we found it that is) to be above average. We tried a pulled pork sandwich on Texas toast (essentially buttered bread). The pork was good but next time I will stick with the roll. We also had some briscuit which was decent (but not as tender as say the Smoked Joint) and a very good seasoned chicken half. They were out of baked beans, so we tried the hash, which was essentially all of the meats mixed in with BBQ sauce and potatoes, and sweet potatoes which were decent but could use some more brown sugar. Also pretty good mac and cheese. The cornbread (we tried the regular and sweet) was kind of dry and not all that tasty. It's interesting because they have a lot of sauces on the tables to try. I think we liked the sweet something one (but not the tomato). As far as desserts go, the bread pudding was just fair and the banana bread pudding was decent. The pig shaped cookies were much better but next time I think we will hit La Michoana next time for ice cream after our meal. I was actually very impressed by the staff, as they were all very friendly and enthusiastic, and gave good recommendations on our visit.
-
Rumor has it that the Brewpub site already has a tenant lined up and it's not Tony Luke.
-
Has anyone been to the new Firehouse BBQ place (particularly Holly?) that recently opened up behind the WalMart in Kennett Square? Apparently they are a small company that also has a location in Elkton, MD. I was wondering if it's any good because a casual, more economic alternative to frequent visits to Talula's Table down the road would be appreciated.
-
Well I was informed by a second party today that Rick's rent increase (if he were to be offered one) would not be as drastic as I previously reported. Admittedly I must have made a mistake with the figure, as fingers are quickly being pointed at me from many directions, so please disregard those numbers (see this whole fiasco must be BLUEHENS fault!). Anyway nix the numbers...no need to create another argument that detracts from the situation at hand. It was also brought to my attention that the TJ BankNorth event being held at the market helped bring money to the market to reduce these (as incorrectly reported by myself) rent increases. Either way, apparently a meeting will be held later this month at the Convention Center to discuss the new leases (which given my declining credibility, may need to be verified by another source). Just don't shoot the messenger.
-
So why did the market not offer Rick a lease? Was he generating too much income and adversely skewing the rents of the other less profitable sandwich purveyors?
-
Further proof the market is being fashioned in the image of a mall... This weekend at Reading Terminal Market: TD Banknorth Event Visit the TD Banknorth event Friday, August 17th through Monday, August 27th and get your No ATM Fees Debit Card. No ATM Fees. Any bank. Anywhere. SM With the money you save on ATM fees, you can do more shopping. Member FDIC. | TD Banknorth, N.A. No donuts but bring your wallet! That's right. No Dutch Festival. No stools allowed with Coca Cola logos. But banks are welcome. What's next?
-
Uh, "hundreds of percent"? Are we overstating the case, just a little? Like by a gazillion percent? But you're right, it's about money. ← Unfortunately I can't remember what Rick is paying now for rent (or was paying) but the new number that was proposed to him was astronomical. I'm not divulging numbers, but it may very well have been in the hundreds of percent ballpark or more because the market was proposing to change rents so that they are based not only on square footage but also on revenue. And that is where Rick would get taken to the claeners because his stand is so popular. And herein lies the problem. With the new rent structure, very successful merchants would be footing the bill for those merchants who are not generating as much income. While I do think that some provisions should be made to allow for a diverse market, essentially penalizing a merchant for operating a successful business is just plain wrong. It would encourage mediocrity and/or allow "tired" (no names mentioned) vendors to just hum along while others foot their bill.
-
See I knew the market wanted to have Capogiro at any expense! Around Philly Article I would support the dunk tank idea though.
-
Okay, before we start tossing around definitions of facts and truth and beauty, let's back up a bit here: Question: Why was Olivieri's lease not renewed? Dunston's Answer: Olivieri didn't agree to the proposed terms, so Olivieri's lease was not renewed. Olivieri's Answer: He was discussion w/management over the terms of a lease, but RTM refused to produce a written lease. Common sense and general business practices certainly permit negotiation of the terms of a lease renewal by both sides; RTM should be willing to explain their decision to apparently end negotiations and rescind their offer to Olivieri. Otherwise, it logically follows that other merchants are in danger of having their leases yanked if they disagree with management. Has anyone from RTM ever provided any details beyond Dunston's comments in the linked article? Dunston's "no-one gets a lifetime lease" and "the terms of the leases are fair" are insight into his management philosophy, but do not provide a specific explanation of this situation. And why all the mystery? If Dunston is so business-practices-oriented, certainly there would be documentation of the negotiation process?! ← One would certainly expect documentation, particulalry if Rick was indeed offered a lease, which was appearently never the case. If you ask me, what probably happened was when Rick expressed displeasure at the prospect of having his rent upped hundreds of percent that Dunston's "mall management" lobe in his brain took hold over the situation and decided that another tenant (sorry merchant) such as Quizno's (whoops Tony Luke) should be invited to the mall (I mean market).
-
Well maybe with the announcement of the closing of the Independence Brew Pub, Inky Article Tony Luke will decide to bow out of the market negotiations and will open at that location across the street. Rick's Steaks could stay put and business could go back to normal at the market. Wishful thinking I suppose?
-
Sorry but Tommy is not the one who made the comment about signing the lease.
-
I am most definitely certain that Tommy is not happy to have Tony Luke come to the market. Exactly what are you concluding about his adding ovens and expanding capacity?
-
If I thought the Rick's Steak brouhaha would bring significant long-term damage, I'd agree. But I don't: my opinion is that while the lease non-renewal may or may not have been justified, it's not the threat to the market you perceive it to be. These are the type of things on which reasonable people may disagree, and I hope they do so with facts and logic. And I would also hope that, where appropriate, we discuss topics with the passion you bring. Passion is great. What I cannot abide and allow to stand unanswered or unremarked upon is the tone and tenor in some of your posts in advancing your case, with inflammatory language that is just plain rude. ← You may want to talk to the merchants at the market and see if they agree with your statement that the Rick's Steak Fiasco won't cause any long term damage. I personally know merchants who have recently signed long term leases at the market who wished they have not done so seeing recent goings on there. They are the ones who are suffering the most. Long time customers (such as people like Holly and myself) also seriously question what is happening at the market as well. If I was a vendor at a place for 25 years, served a decent product, ran a clean business, and had no shortage of customers, one would think that magagement would not treat me like a US Airways baggage handler at PHL and throw me to the curb. Surely those years of service at (and for) the market must be worth something.
-
Carol's Cookies are great (although each one of 'em weighs a half pound). Thus far the sugar and chocolate chip varieties pass muster and then some. Think Famous 4th St. Cookies on steroids. http://www.carolscookies.com/
-
The market would be perfect for lunch, as it's right across the street from the Convention Center. A very good lunch choice would be the roast pork sandwich with greens (spinach) or broccoli rabe (or half each) from DiNic's. It's great to browse around for other goodies too, as there is nothing like it in Chicago that we've found. You are kidding about shlepping cookies here, right? If you find yourself at the Market on a Saturday, we'd gladly treat you a sandwich at DiNic's (or wherever you choose) for a few cookies!
-
The market is now open every day but Sunday from 8 AM until 6 PM in the afternoon, and 9 AM to 4 PM on Sundays. Many vendors close earlier (so for a better selection, come in earlier). Some merchants are not open on Sundays, and the vast majority of the Amish vendors are there only from Wednesday through Saturday. Reading Terminal Website Bring us some Carol's Cookies from Chicago, would ya?
-
Quoting the Inky Article: That e-mail - which Dunston did not provide a copy of - triggered a conversation among board members about whether to keep Rick's Steaks. Dunston said Olivieri was aware of his position, but made no overtures to the board and instead raised the same concerns to a board member in May. Shortly after that, the board contacted Tony Luke's, Dunston said. In June the board told Olivieri that he had to be out July 31. "The board made the decision," Dunston said. "It was a six-to-one decision to remove him. And we're carrying out the wishes of the board." From my experience with non-profit boards, the unpaid board pretty much allows the paid manager to set the course. They do take votes to make things legal and official, but they bow to the manager because he/she is running the operation on a day to day basis. The directors attend bi-monthly meetings if the organization is lucky. From my experience managers in these situations just use the board as the fall guys for their own decisions. That might not be the case here, but read between the lines of his quote what you will. Also in the article was: Dunston doesn't see it that way. He said he had not dealt with vendors like this at other shopping locations. Pretty telling. Everyone knows the RTM isn't like other shopping locations, that's the point of RTM. ← This whole bruhaha is all about pointing fingers at Rick while being tacitly evasive as to exactly whose finger is being pointed. Is it the board making the decision or is it more the GM Steinke? And why is all of a sudden this Feeley guy the lone person making comments to the public? Sounds like a lot of guns are being pointed but nobody wants to say that they are the one doing the evicting. Kind of like a "he said, she said..." I think it's time for someone at the market with big enough cojones to step forward, explain their position, and answer questions about their actions rather than trying to evade questions about why Rick was never offered a lease to begin with, as what little credibility they had has been quickly eroding.
-
...though he might not be making all that much, as he faces penalties from the Market for operating without a valid lease. In other news: My subscription to Brian Tierney's other paper, the Philadelphia Daily News, began today -- and not a moment too soon, for this informative story about the standoff appears on page 11 of today's edition. This ongoing story, BTW, is a good example of why journalism has been called "the first rough draft of history." With each passing day, details are added, elements revised, and mistakes corrected -- or added; journalists are no wiser or more omniscient than the rest of us mortals. And speaking of mistakes added: I thought that someone said upthread that the leases still were not based on a percentage of gross revenues. So where's this come from? This -- and other material in the article -- also leads me to conclude that the main protagonists in this drama are really Oliveri and Dunston. Here's the situation as I see it: --Dunston is the one board member with prior experience in retail management. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), it's as a shopping mall manager, and a manager of a specialized shopping mall at that. Owners of shopping malls are far more involved in the details of operating their properties than RTM managements have traditionally been. They operate more like the music director of a symphony orchestra might -- selecting players in terms of their individual contributions to the overall mix and giving them detailed guidance on how to make those contributions. Historically, RTM management has operated more like the landlord of an apartment building might: You're willing to pay the rent and won't disturb the neighbors? Fine, go ahead with your business. This approach was carried to an extreme in the 1970s, and it was the tenants rather than the landlord who began to repair the damage caused thereby, though the landlord soon caught on and realized he had a role to play too. --Dunston has managed to convince the board, but not all of the merchants, that the RTM needs to operate more like a traditional shopping mall to compete for the business of a shopping public that has become accustomed to highly engineered shopping experiences. While a number of factors beyond the merchants' or property owners' control have contributed to this, the fate of places like traditional downtowns and informal street markets -- sorry, 9th Street is both the exception, not the rule, and smaller than it used to be -- relative to shopping malls and big-box retailers supports Dunston's view. --While there is a split within the merchants' ranks over this bigger matter, the majority of them (including a number of those who agree with the bigger picture as outlined by Dunston) see nothing wrong with the landlord-tenant as opposed to the symphony-orchestra approach to assigning space in the market, at least as far as handling the tenant mix is concerned. And AFAICT, the landlord-tenant model hasn't prevented Market management from making necessary changes, even changes in the shopping-mall direction. But with their handling of Rick Oliveri, the board has run into THE irreconcilable conflict between the two approaches. Holly probably has it right when he ascribes this to ego: Having staked the future of the Market on the mall approach, Dunston -- and by extension, most of the board -- can ill afford to back down when presented with a direct challenge to that decision. I think that if that e-mail exists, sharing it with the public would go a long way towards explaining why things have come to a head in this fashion, and its continued withholding gives credence to the arguments of Dunston's critics. Perhaps its disclosure will only bolster them more by demonstrating that it was merely an excuse for a decision already made, but IMO it's a risk that perhaps the board ought to take. Of course, as long as the matter is headed to court, it probably won't be taken, for that document will be part of the evidence in any trial. ← Jeez...look at the Gallery! If he's trying to fashion RTM in it's image, I'm heading for the hills. But here's something, how does he let Chick-Fil-A get away with being closed on Sundays? I say it's time to start over, revamp the Board at the market, and head it up with people who are not so politically connected or motivated.
-
The lines are as long as ever, if not longer. Evidently taking the Rick's Steaks location off the Reading Terminal Market website map and merchant list hasn't had all that much impact. ← The lines are indeed longer as evidenced by trips in recent weeks. Presumably it's not all tourists or conventioneers either but rather people who feel for his situation. Good for Rick. At least he's making a few extra bucks rent free...
-
Wow, we tried Sweet Lucy's recently (since we now drive into town thanks to SEPTA's almost 100% fare hike in family fares. Aside from great cornbread and chicken, the other stuff we tried (ribs, pulled pork, greens, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and baked beans) were just so-so. And the sauce that day seemed like tomato paste. Perhaps we hit it on an off day?
-
You make a good point about continuing to shop at those merchants who signed the petition. ← The deal with the petition is that not everyone was in town when it was drawn up. So if a merchant is not listed on the petition it could actually be that they were out of town when it was drawn up. However, I do know that some merchants were not in the area and made a trip back home just to sign the petition. I purposely went out to buy the Daily News just for the ad and still have a copy of it. While most names are legible, a few are not. Anyway, here goes: Michael Holihan/Pennsylvania General Store Thomas Nicolosi/DiNic's Charles Giunta Jr./Giunta's Prime Shop James Iovine/Iovine Bros. Produce Wan Wuu(?)/Wan's Seafood Vincent Termini Sr./Termini's Bakery Harry Ochs/Harry G. Ochs & Sons John Morgan/Downtown Cheese Michael Strange/Bassetts Ice Cream Jack Treatman/Old City Coffee Glenn Mueller/Chocolates By Mueller David Auspitz/Famous Fourth Street Cookies Jie Chow/San Kee Peking Duck Steven Safron/Hershel's East Side Deli Domenic Spataro/Spataro's Walther McIlhenry(?)/Everyday Gourmet Steve DeShong/Market Blooms ?/? Adham Albourouki/Kamal's Middle East Specialties Stephanie Shao/Shanghai Gourmet Eric Matthew/Basic 4 Vegetarian Samuel Dienner/Dienner's BBQ Samuel Esh Jr./Dutch Eating Place and Lancaster Co. Dairy Alvin Beiler/Beiler's Bakery and AJ Pickle Patch and Salads Phares Glick/The Rib Stand David Esh/Hatville Deli Paul Fisher/Fisher's Soft Pretzels Darren Sausser/Bee Natural Jake Fisher/Dutch Country Meats Kyung Sup/OK Lee Produce E. Dean Frankenfield/Godshall's Poultry Ed Sciamanna/Salumeria Johnny Moore/Shoe Doctor (?) Voulgaridis/Olympic Gyro Kamal Albourouki/Kamal's Middle Eastern Soon Ae Mun/Golden Bowl Jacob Riehl/L. Halteman's Poultry David Dinh/Tokyo Sushi Bar Isaac Martinas/Miscellanea Libri George Profi/Profi's Creperie Brian Wang/4 Season Marion D'Ambrosio/Salad Express Anthoni Novelli/Beer Garden Steven Cho/Coastal Cave Martin Giunta/Martin's Quality Meats and Sausages Albert Starzi/Spice Terminal Jack McDavid and Jordan Shapiro/Down Home Diner Carmen DiGuglielmo/Carmen's Hoagie's Roger Bassett/Original Turkey Russell Black/Franks a Lot Watson Parks/De' Village David Braunstein/Pearl's Oyster Bar
-
Everyone is entitled to their opinion of what constitutes good cuisine, especially in this town (Pat's or Geno's?) However, just because I'm not particularly fond of the offerings at a few of the places at the market, I don't wish them ill will or ask that they relocate to the other side of the Delaware River just because I dislike their food. In fact, I'm actually not all that big a fan of cheesesteaks, and would love to see something like a Smoked Joint outpost in the market, but would never want that to happen at the expense of a good, hardworking, successful merchant who busts his ass and helps make the market what it is today. No thanks...i'll go hungry.
-
Seeing that the Dutch Festival would've been this weekend, wouldn't it be appropriate to parade some type of domesticated farm animal down Market Street this Saturday with a "Save Rick's Steaks" banner? Also, for your multimedia enjoyment, an audio slideshow courtesy of the Daily News. Thankfully there are no choice words from Kevin Feeley in this one: http://pdn.philly.com/photo/audio_slides/r...0507/index.html