They don't want Domino's delivering in Jamaica Plain
The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports on a packed Jamaica Pond Association meeting that told Domino's they're not welcome on Centre Street.
Among those in opposition: The owner of Zesto's Pizza, who said Domino's would create extra traffic on nearby streets (as opposed, presumably, to the traffic from his own deliveries). Also, one resident opposed the Domino's because pizza makes you fat and that's the wrong message to send to students at the Curley School a few blocks down the street.
How about letting them open
How about letting them open and let the pizza eaters of Jamaica Plain decide?
But then all the wrong kind of people would take over.
What dicks. I understand why
What dicks. I understand why JP would not want Dominoes on centre st. I love the locally-owned, locally-bought, small business vibe JP has been trying to cultivate, and Dominoes totally doesn't fit. Tell them that. Telling dominoes they aren't welcome because of traffic the adverse health effects is a croc.
JP needs to be split up into at least three different autonomous districts. The latin-section, the hipster section, and the rich-uppity-white section that loathes fun and only wants their quiet streets, without "lower class" venues like Dominoes.
Nick - you seem to forget
Nick - you seem to forget one other section: the ppl that have always lived in JP before everyone thought it was the bestest place to live. My family has been there for almost 50 years. We may be white but we ain't rich...
in support of mom & pop stores
Do you have something against mom & pop stores? Wow! It's pretty well-known that independently owned stores and restaurants barely stand a chance against nation-wide mega-chains like Dominoes that are backed by big corporate money. Have a little heart!
West Roxbury/Roslindale experience
None of the independent pizza places along Centre Street have gone out of business in the year since Papa John's opened up.
Nor has Nick's seemed to have suffered on Washington Street despite being just down the street from a Domino's.
For that matter, there's Inbound Pizza right next door to Uno's at Comm. Ave. and Harvard Ave.
It seems like more of a fair fight than, say, a local hardware store going up against a Home Depot.
A mom and pop hardware store
A mom and pop hardware store is more likely to go out of business when home depot comes in because they sell the exact same product. Of course, home depot is more efficient, and will save us all money.
A restaurant, like dominos, will no no affect on other pizza places because theyre not direct substitutes. A dominos pizza tastes like a dominos pizza, not anything like what your favorite local pizza tastes like. Just like mcdonalds wont kill the local burger bar.
But anyway, the whole "save mom n pop" thing is bullshit. Why encourage less efficient stores just because theyre "local". Is the upper crust local enough, or are they too big of a chain now and should be blocked from expanding?
Having lived in more than
Having lived in more than one neighborhood that has fallen prey to the seemingly inevitable corporate chain takeover, it's just depressing to hear an underwhelming support for independent shops and restaurants.
Sure, I can get something cheaper at Wal-Mart or Dominoes, but I'd rather spend the couple of extra bucks and contribute to keeping a neighborhood feel to the area I call home. If you think big business is all about fair business practices and fair competition, then... well, okay!
Dominos isn't any cheaper
Dominos isn't any cheaper than the locally owned stores. Some things they make better, some things they don't. That's where the battle is going to be won. Who makes better food? Who makes it easier to order? Who has a nicer store, and friendlier people? If Mom & Pop can do a better job (see Pleasant Cafe, DeNo's, MJ's, The Real Deal, etc. in Roslindale & WR for example), Mom & Pop will win.
Dominos
While I'm no fan of Dominos, I'll point out that they have peacefully coexisted with many competing Somervillle pizza places for decades.
Are they really going to put 'Same Old Place' on Centre St out of business? I doubt it.
No chains
It's as simple of that. I don't care if a chain sells pizza, flowers or vacuum cleaners. Small businesses put their money back into the community and corporations don't. Employees of chains are often disaffected; locally owned establishments run a better a chance of being friendly and customer-oriented. And there are many other reasons why although chains may exist, there is no good reason to let the short stretch of Centre St. in Jamaica Plain become yet another home to chain stores.
" Small businesses put their
" Small businesses put their money back into the community and corporations don't. "
What does that mean? I think I know what you're getting at, but I don't know if I agree.
" Employees of chains are often disaffected; locally owned establishments run a better a chance of being friendly and customer-oriented. "
That's a nice portrait of the world you paint, but..ehhh...
Some stray thoughts..
The pizza places that exist along centre street...kind of suck. Domino's REALLY sucks, so I'll give the edge on taste to them, but Domino's is actually, you know, pretty cheap.
This is a complicated issue that ought to get more attention than glib, liberal sloganeering.
Oh no! A chain!
A franchise opening up in the hipster capital of Boston? No, that just won't do.
Let's see, how do we spin this...yes, health reasons! By all means, continue drinking 10,000 calories worth of PBRs and microbrews every weekend, continue smoking Camels, but whatever you do, ABSOLUTELY NO CINNASTIX on Centre Street!!
Why is everyone on Universal
Why is everyone on Universal Hub so obsessed with hipsters everytime JP is mentioned? I don't get it. Is it code for all those damned outsiders who have come in and taken everything away from the only people who have a right to live in JP--that would be white townies who have moved out to Medford and don't live there anymore I guess?
As to Dominoes--I'm kinda not that fussed either way. Would rather it not be here, but won't die if it appears. We have 7-11 and CVS already. I'll never go there, but there are some who will and I bet there will be enough business for the other pizza places to go around.
People in JP do seem to think that we live in a planned economy, but in the USA seems like businesses open where they want unless there is a very good reason not to. How can neighborhood coucils and associations get to chose who opens where and when in such detail? It's part of the reason there are so few liquor licenses in Boston and it stifles business--and not in a good way.
that would be white townies
Safe bet - anyone who uses the term townie to refer to long-time residents of Boston is a hipster douchebag.
See 'Barney.'
Hipsters and townies: a match made in wannabe vintage clothes
I would add that it is queer that said hipster douchbags are, in my experience, more likey to be seen wearing a green shirt with a white shamrock on it with the word "townies" written over the shamrock than the aforementioned long time residents.
There is really no need for ANOTHER pizza place.
As someone who lives near the proposed location, and an avid pizza eater, I can attest that the last thing this neighborhood needs is another freakin' pizza place. There must be about 100 in less than a mile radius: Same Old Place, Rizzos, Zestos, Planet Pizza (barf), Forest Hills Pizza, Penguin (yes, they deliver over here), The Real Deal, Ideal Cafe, Captain Nemo's, Doyles, Cappy's, Papa John's and a Dominoes less than mile away near RCC!
Seriously. The argument should be: "Can't someone think of another type of restaurant to open?" If it were Anna's trying to open there, I'd be all over that. Great. If Bella Luna wanted to re-open another take out pizza spot, I'd have some reservations.
And I'm not even going to address you trolls trying to start fights talking about the residents (both old and new) of the neighborhood. Clearly, you need to get over yourselves.
Ah... the voice of the
Ah... the voice of the Appropriate Restaurant Agency - Self-Appointed.
Snarky. So becoming.
I'm not a self appointed anything, but I _am_ a resident and user of the neighborhood's resources. For me, and many others, ANOTHER pizza place to compliment the other 20 that are already here, isn't useful.
Really, you can keep your snark to yourself.
A few thoughts here. First,
A few thoughts here. First, the stated reasons for opposition are quite weak, so I think we all know the real issue. Chains are distasteful, Dominoe's especially so (big funder of operation rescue). Though I have sympathy, the idea that a legitimate business that complies with local regulations should be run out simply because it is distasteful is, well distasteful.
As for the comments about community support and surly employees, I'd like to see the evidence. I used to work for Dominoe's and it was locally owned as a franchise, and the employees were enthusiastic.
I dont want my neighborhood
I dont want my neighborhood to be like every other place in the US and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'd rather see locals make the pizza and the profits, if that makes me an elitist so be it. Everybody over 35 will tell you how sad it is that Harvard Square has been overrun with chains, that can happen on a neighborhood level too.
what now?
Since when is Harvard Sq overrun with chains? With all the foot traffic there (probably 10x that of Centre St), I think they do a pretty good job of keeping most of the stores unique. Man, you people take snobbery to a hilarious new level. Don't worry, I have a feeling there aren't too many corporations clamoring to take over JP.
Harvard square is a victim of its own success
Take a moment to look around next time you are there. Harvard square is a victim of its own past success. Nearly all of the most prominent storefronts are taken by the most yawn inducing of businesses: Bank of America, Sovereign Bank, Citizens Bank, Citi Bank, a Verizon store, a CVS, etc.
Nobody comes to Harvard square to behold the vast array of banking options or go to the generic drug store chain. The stores with any real value that could possibly bring anyone to the square have been pushed into the back corners of the area.
This is a typical pattern not unique to Harvard Square. As an area becomes very successful, rents rise, and eventually the only businesses that can afford them are banks and chain stores, undermining the reason the place was popular in the first place.
Jane Jacobs knew this in the 60s, and I will briefly quote from Death and Life of Great American Cities:
"... consider the crossing of Chestnut and Broad Streets in Philadelphia, a spot which a few years ago was a climax of Chestnut Street's varied shopping and other activities. The corners of this crossing were what real estate men call a '100 percent location.' It was an enviable place to be. One of the corner occupants was a bank. Three other banks bought themselves into the three other corners, apparently to be at the 100 percent location too. From that moment, it was no longer the 100 percent location. The crossing is today a dead barrier along Chestnut Street, and the tumble of diversity and activity has been pushed beyond."
right, but...
...we're talking about restaurants. Major banks and pharmacies are necessities, they are kind of obligatory in any neighborhood center - especially one loaded with a bunch of transplanted college students.
Though necessary, they are
Though necessary, they are excessive and placed in a way that degrades the overall feel of the square, especially at night when the center of the square has only empty bank storefronts.
I don't think chain restaurants are the huge problem here though, mostly just other bland businesses. However, I do seem to recall Au Bon Pain having multiple locations in Harvard Square.
Ducking....
All things being equal, I'm a big fan of Mom & Pop, locally owned businesses. And it's one of the reasons why I like living in J.P. For example, I'll gladly pay more to get the friendly service and fresh goods at City Feed (aka my extended refrigerator).
But I must confess: I like Domino's pizza. As in, it tastes good. I especially love their thin-crust pies.
Nothin' against some of the other pizza places in J.P., which I've patronized and will continue to do so. But if they could figure out how to make their pizza taste like Domino's (or, maybe, a good Chicago-style deep dish place), I'd be even happier.
here's an idea...
Why don't we just let a free market exist? A food chain wants to open up a store in which they will hire kids from the neighborhood, pay them a legal taxable wage, who in turn will spend their money in other neighborhood stores (like, for instance, that video store that's about to go out of business) and people are against this. Why? Because they don't like the way the sign looks. How effed up is that, in THIS economy? The sense of entitlement from some people here is biblical in size and scope.