Dan - Come Shine Your Light

[A_Malicous_Duck]

while it maybe better it's about 3x the cost, but come to think of it I don't feel that the carts are going after the same customer base as a place like skinflints. I've never known anyone to suddenly be all "Hallal!?!? fuck the plans with friends, baby send out a invite update and tell them to meet us on the newly placed bench on 5th ave, we are doing hallal tonight."

[Kitchop]

All I was saying was support your mom and pop businesses in the neighborhood. Skinflints has one of, if not the best hamburgers around here so why go to a chain place?? The fact that a Subway franchise even exists in BROOKLYN, the land of some of the greatest delicatessens especially A&S pork store!!!!!is beyond me. Why would anyone patronize a chain sandwich spot with pre sliced garbage cold cuts?? That goes for every facet of business If we don't support the people in OUR neighborhood it will turn into another strip mall type of shopping plaza we all (or most of us) hate.

Oh, I totally agree with you about supporting mom & pop businesses. I'll admit to having maybe 2 Five Guys burgers in the last year and that wasn't in BR. But the vast majority of restaurant and takeout food I eat is mom & pop. Especially during an economic downturn, it's important to think about where you spend your money and support the businesses you really want to survive and be there for you. I'm just saying that the food cart is one of those small independent local businesses. I will never understand why anyone opts for chain pizza in Brooklyn. When I travel on vacation, I try to spend most of my money at local madre y padres too rather than give all my money to some multinational resort hotel chain. The same thing applies at home. That said, the mom and pops need to always offer something that the chains don't.
If that can't be price or selection, then it has to be service or quality.

[someguy]

Subway exists because it's 5.00 for a footlong.

I understand it's less meat on the sandwich but you can load it up with ALL THE VEGGIES ever.

In turn it beats a 8.50 footlong at your local bay ridge deli.

And no Subway is not better - it's just cheaper. Aren't we going thru tough times? SO 5.00 is better than spending 8.50. True story.

[rickshawsue]

Re: Bay Ridge Store Owners/ Food Cart

Postby VirginiaDave » 02 Apr 2012, 19:15
I like Lonestar and Tony. I also understand that the food cart is legal. That said, there is something to be said for the argument that it isn't a level playing field. The food cart guy gets to roll in, sell his food cheap and go back to Queens or wherever he lives. He doesn't pay any rent and has much more lenient inspection standards. I think the city has dropped the ball on this.
........

I agree Virginia Dave.

Veto Power should be given to the business owners and/or residents of any given cart vendor prior to being allowed to
set up shop in any community. It's the thoughtful, kind and courteous thing to do - for all concerned.

2ndly: Lonestar Tony has an ethical and brilliant mindset. I do not know the man. . . but from my eyewitness experiences when passing by on the street - he always conducts himself with the utmost integrity. Everyone seems
genuinly pleased when they see his face. And he gives back to the community more than he takes.

* I personally do not like the diamond vision advertising during nightime hours flashing on the carts. It confuses me when not wearing my eyeglasses. Red green yellow BLINKING BLINKING on a busy cross intersection is - UNSAFE ! They should not be allowed to have any colors conflicting with TRAFFIC LIGHTS !

[Observateur]

Veto Power should be given to the business owners and/or residents of any given cart vendor prior to being allowed to set up shop in any community. It's the thoughtful, kind and courteous thing to do - for all concerned.

Then why not have that thoughtful, kind standard apply to all businesses? Taken together, it would be a great way to eliminate any competition or variety and insure that only some local's son or cousin could run a street cart.

but from my eyewitness experiences when passing by on the street - he always conducts himself with the utmost integrity

That's nice but this isn't about passing someone on the street et al. It's about specific behaviors that are/were used to attain wants.

[A_Malicous_Duck]

next thing you know we will see a crusade against the italian ice carts... oh wait a min....

[rickshawsue]

My " passing by" comment was made to qualify the extent of my personal knowledge.
Meaning - take it with a grain of salt.

Nothing more.

[rickshawsue]

( channel 11, fox . . .ny1 news CBS all taking notice. talk about taking the bull by the horns. go lonestar go. )

[Tommy Holiday]

Oh, I totally agree with you about supporting mom & pop businesses. I'll admit to having maybe 2 Five Guys burgers in the last year and that wasn't in BR. But the vast majority of restaurant and takeout food I eat is mom & pop. Especially during an economic downturn, it's important to think about where you spend your money and support the businesses you really want to survive and be there for you.

I agree 100%

I'm just saying that the food cart is one of those small independent local businesses

I also agree 100%

I personally think that These guys at the end of the day all they want is to level the playing field. I look at both sides of this story to bade my opinion on.I don't stand for either side I stand for what I believe in and what I personally feel is right. Whether it be the food carts right to vend food with the right permits in any given place, or it is the local businesses who feel their are too many loopholes in the laws they have to follow that perhaps the mobile vendor doesn't have to abide by. I'm sure both sides have their opinions in which they feel are right but at the end of the day there are the laws involved.Mind you some of these laws may have to be changed,altered or updated to make things a bit more clear. I guess we will just sit back and see what happens and hopefully things will change for the better! ( whatever that means). Just ask yourself next time you get a parking ticket that you have to pay for WHY doesn't the cop who does the SAME thing not get the SAME ticket??? Same goes for the traffic cop who double parks to write you a ticket for the SAME offense! There's a million more references like that It's just a shame that more people don't stand up & fight for what they believe in because it's easier to talk about it rather than doing something about it.SAD BUT TRUE




. I will never understand why anyone opts for chain pizza in Brooklyn. When I travel on vacation, I try to spend most of my money at local madre y padres too rather than give all my money to some multinational resort hotel chain. The same thing applies at home. That said, the mom and pops need to always offer something that the chains don't.
If that can't be price or selection, then it has to be service or quality.

[queenoftheclick]

so many silly people here.

[Tommy Holiday]

OH I almost forgot about the "chain pizzeria" comment. I still do not understand that?? saving money starts by cooking at home. Granted there are some things we cannot cook the same at home but If you're talking about saving a few dollars Really think about that statement. I know for a fact if you get a sandwich at A&S pork store on 87th and 5th a lot of people cant finish it in one sitting therefore you are getting 2 meals sometimes for your $8.50 so that's QUALITY & QUANTITY!!!! How could you go wrong? Oh yeah and wonderful customer service and a beautiful store to boot servicing this community for over 40 years.

[A_Malicous_Duck]

True, but for that price you could probably just about buy a loaf and a pound of deli ham and another pound of american cheese. As for cannot cook at home I'm not sure I follow what you mean?

[Tommy Holiday]

I mean exactly what you said sir. Artisan food valley on 92nd and 3rd ran a special a few months back for 1lb of boars head ham , a 1/4 lb of American cheese and 2 loves of italian bread for $5.49. I told the guy that was riduculous how could he make money being I use to work for Boar's head and knew the price of ham at cost. he informed me that his distributor discounted the ham to him to run the special for his customers and he gave away the bread and cheese pretty much as an incentive to have people shop at his store. I know that that price for all of that at $5.49 is a steal considering across the street at Foodtown I think the ham was either 8.99 or 9.99 a lb. But like I said about cannot cook at home, what I was referring to was I doubt most people can make a slice of pizza equal to that of a local pizza parlour.Therefore going out for pizza might be a viable option.

[A_Malicous_Duck]

Foodtown seems to have perpetual deals on boarshead, i'd always assumed they used it as a magnet to get feet into the store and were selling it slightly above cost and making up for it in volume or as a chain they had the purchasing power to cut a better deal.

as for a pizza? a pizza stone makes all the difference.

[Tommy Holiday]

I never cooked Pizza on a Pizza stone I have to look into this.. Thank you..

[north ridger]

I wonder if the food cart vendors can sue Lonestar for loss of income? After they are obviously and maliciously targeting a legal business. And being complete pricks in the way they're doing it to boot.

[someguy]

I wonder if the food cart vendors can sue Lonestar for loss of income? After they are obviously and maliciously targeting a legal business. And being complete pricks in the way they're doing it to boot.

So true. Hope Lonestar gets their balls sued.

[VirginiaDave]

I wonder if the food cart vendors can sue Lonestar for loss of income? After they are obviously and maliciously targeting a legal business. And being complete pricks in the way they're doing it to boot.

But therein lies the rub. Not paying rent means he doesn't have a right to any spot. If someone else legally takes up that space, there is nothing the non-renting, non-refrigerating, who knows where he takes a piss vendor can do.

[Ellen]

this afternoon, Tony standing on one corner by the table, sweating in the sun and a few steps down the block the cart was parked
in between the two of them a cop standing

is this really necessary?

that cart should park in front of lonestar and conduct business as usual


speaking of quality of life issues: the garage door at lonestar open and rowdy drunks inside really loud

I would like to know why this cart on this corner is a problem, when the cart across the street, right by chase bank is fine and doing business, why just this one cart? Why targeting just this one guy?

[north ridger]

I wonder if the food cart vendors can sue Lonestar for loss of income? After they are obviously and maliciously targeting a legal business. And being complete pricks in the way they're doing it to boot.

But therein lies the rub. Not paying rent means he doesn't have a right to any spot. If someone else legally takes up that space, there is nothing the non-renting, non-refrigerating, who knows where he takes a piss vendor can do.

I'd be interested in hearing what a judge thought about it. Because Lonestar is doing this strictly to deprive him of income and for no other reason. That sounds actionable to me. Shit, the cart vendors aren't even a threat to Lonestar, which is what makes it so stupid. He sells liquor and food in a sit down environment. How does a Gyro vendor selling cheap stuff on the street take business away from that?

[Kitchop]

I wonder if the food cart vendors can sue Lonestar for loss of income? After they are obviously and maliciously targeting a legal business. And being complete pricks in the way they're doing it to boot.

But therein lies the rub. Not paying rent means he doesn't have a right to any spot. If someone else legally takes up that space, there is nothing the non-renting, non-refrigerating, who knows where he takes a piss vendor can do.

Vendors' permits aren't for specific locations? A vendor with a permit can set up wherever he wants to? Is that true citywide? So there are early morning battles among vendors everyday for the most prime spots?

[VirginiaDave]

I wonder if the food cart vendors can sue Lonestar for loss of income? After they are obviously and maliciously targeting a legal business. And being complete pricks in the way they're doing it to boot.

But therein lies the rub. Not paying rent means he doesn't have a right to any spot. If someone else legally takes up that space, there is nothing the non-renting, non-refrigerating, who knows where he takes a piss vendor can do.

Vendors' permits aren't for specific locations? A vendor with a permit can set up wherever he wants to? Is that true citywide? So there are early morning battles among vendors everyday for the most prime spots?

I can't find anything other than the restricted streets and parks. It does looks like their permits are borough specific though in some cases.

[A_Malicous_Duck]

I never cooked Pizza on a Pizza stone I have to look into this.. Thank you..

well worth the investment, just preheat it with the oven and then place it on the stove top hot while you lay it down. works wonders even with a frozen pizza.

[VirginiaDave]

I never cooked Pizza on a Pizza stone I have to look into this.. Thank you..

well worth the investment, just preheat it with the oven and then place it on the stove top hot while you lay it down. works wonders even with a frozen pizza.

And do not wash it. Wipe any food off but leave the rest to season the stone.

[cherryblossom]

Pampered chef has a great starter set for stones... I use my small bar pan all of the time. Read the little manual and learn how to use it. Also, I think someone put a warning on here about what type of oil to use, but I think that may have been a wooden salad bowl. Chopper maybe?

[¡Ya Basta!]

Just saw the piece on PIX 11 news. Can't understand why Tom (lone star????) thinks a Halal Chicken & rice cart is going to take away business from a bar and Pizza Wagon.


I'm gonna start getting my lunch there just to give this guy some support.

[cherryblossom]

Tony is from Lone Star

[Observateur]

this afternoon, Tony standing on one corner by the table, sweating in the sun and a few steps down the block the cart was parked in between the two of them a cop standing

Oh, but all of this has SO improved that corner and block, which now look like serious musts-to-avoid in p.m.

[someguy]

Just saw the piece on PIX 11 news. Can't understand why Tom (lone star????) thinks a Halal Chicken & rice cart is going to take away business from a bar and Pizza Wagon.


I'm gonna start getting my lunch there just to give this guy some support.

lol

[Ellen]

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/05/01/ ... -brooklyn/

"People who support the street vendors plan to gather on the Bay Ridge corner on Friday if the business owners don’t stop blocking the area."


There goes my shopping afternoon, after cashing the paycheck :-/

[Tommy Holiday]

Thanks for the tips Duck and Blossom. I'm a huge fan of my cast iron pans so a pizza store might be next on my agenda.

[rickshawsue]

LOL, I've seen you, you'd have about 5 cents.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME daniele, obviously you haven't, cause I'M SEXY AND I KNOW IT!
an unnecessary, snarky, immature and totally irrelevant. is it something personal dear, cause you sound disgruntled

________________________________________________!________________________________________

Daniele-: snarky is the correct word to describe your totally hateful attitude. Methinks "SHE" has
serious sex appeal and is absolutely beautiful to look at - DESIGN WISE she is stunning. You sound like someone coming from fear. Or a dark place.

Disgruntled is another correct word to describe how your posts sound. Men are horndogs. They howl and whistle
at women. Even me. DESIGN WISE I USED to be cute and adorable. Now I'm ugly as a black eyed pea.
Black-eyed pea ugly? They ugly.

I used to hate being whistled at. Now I take each and every horndog comment with a grain of salt and
a smile. The issue is not about how people look. So please ZIP IT UP DANIELE. Your comments offend my senses.

[rickshawsue]

And some people don't know what letting something lie means.

Touche Virginia Dave. I love a good sly retort.

[rickshawsue]

"VirginiaDave" quote: Perky tits and good blow jobs? I may have misjudged her...

Another sly retort. And a good one.

[rickshawsue]

Lonestar's #1 fan has been noticeably absent from this conversation. I think we all know exactly who "foodcart" is.

note to self
do not hire daniele831 as an investigator

[bklyngirl]

Standoff! Brick-and-mortar merchants occupy food cart sites in Bay Ridge
BY DANIEL BUSH
The Brooklyn Paper
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35 ... 04_bk.html


Local merchants from a new group called Save Our Streets, led by Lone Star bar owner Tony Gentile, set up folding tables on both Fifth Avenue and 86th Street at 7 am — taking over the food vendors’ spots — and sold newspapers and cookbooks. They also handed out T-shirts and literature about how food carts destroy neighborhood businesses.

um isn't this illegal?!

[TheSurlyBuddhist]

I've lived in Bay Ridge for nearly 21 years.

I grew up here. I've watched the neighborhood change, I've seen/heard all the tongues clucking about the different populations moving in. And let me tell you, this has all become rather tiresome. The writing is on the wall in many ways, though legal issues are being used as convenient straw men and little else. That said, there are measures to be undertaken.

You don't like the cart? Don't purchase food from it. You don't like the guy who runs it? Voice your concerns to the appropriate authorities in an appropriate way. If the guy who owns Lonestar or any other citizen of Bay Ridge has legitimate questions about how this food cart operation is run, it's their/your right and moral imperative to ask those questions. You can ask the guy who runs it, you can ask the city. Those are your starting options. If the accusations made about both the Lonestar and the food cart can be proven in a quantifiable way, then DO IT the way it should be done: calmly and with a trail of paperwork. Those involved in this idiotic scenario know very well how to act like reasonable adults, you just chose to act like petulant children. And that's meant for BOTH sides.

What really sticks out for me is this question:

Do you feel the same way about food vendors who operate during the 3rd and 5th Avenue Festivals? If so, then the same inquiries should be made. If not, you're a raving hypocrite who needs to sit down and wipe the tears away long enough to realize that we live in a free market society. In essence, the food carts during the festivals are identical, save for the fact that they're operating on one specific day in one location. But what makes their appearance any better or worse than that of a Halal food cart? If you truly believe in a free market, you'd realize that you alone as one person can't cherrypick what stays and what goes. Supply and Demand does that very well for us. If enough people are willing to exchange money for certain goods and services (and it's legal), then it should stay in its place unbothered. Competition exists and should actively be encouraged, despite it favoring one side on a given day. One of the cornerstones of an ideal free market is minimal (ideally ZERO) governmental interference, which includes that of the local sector. But would you really want that? It's all well and good to trot that idea out to suit ourselves and our financial interests, but reality tells us a different story. Without some sort of oversight, monopolies will form and the abuse of things such as labor laws becomes a very real possibility. People complain that brick and mortar establishments have to jump through hoops to meet standards and rules set forth by the city, and bemoan the supposed "ease" of a food cart's existence. They're two different beasts entirely. A brick and mortar establishment is selling an experience, an atmosphere, a certain level of service is provided. And for that, they should be adequately compensated. A food cart is selling a simpler experience, a simpler atmosphere with a minimal level of service. Their overhead costs are obviously much smaller. The rules governing them can't be exactly the same simply because of what they are. But they can be similar. People have the right to know about sanitation concerns, food handling concerns and everything else that was mentioned. But inquiries needed to be made, not demands. There's a wide chasm of difference between the two.

As I said above, if someone has a legitimate concern...take it to a legitimate source and have them do their jobs. If you don't like the way things are being done, then get involved. Put your feelings into making a change, as opposed to puffing out your chest(s) and making a spectacle of yourselves for everyone in the area to gawk at. It's off putting to see adults who claim to be proud business owners engaging in what amounts to little more than a schoolyard fight over "territory".

The comments on here are very telling, and quite indicative of how deep xenophobia can run. That, unfortunately, is par for the course in Bay Ridge. It doesn't surprise me, but I do find it very sad.

[rickshawsue]

The squeaky wheel gets the oil,

there are real issues here not just the fact that you think the brick and mortars are bullies, give me a break already will, the bully thing is just distraction from the real issues, nothing more

[phew]
so glad to read this particular post. i can promise you this, i'll not be peddling my pedicab idea ever again.
i just be peddlin' my ass out of business. any one looking for a professional lime slicer?

[bklyngirl]

Shit, the cart vendors aren't even a threat to Lonestar, which is what makes it so stupid. He sells liquor and food in a sit down environment. How does a Gyro vendor selling cheap stuff on the street take business away from that?

When the drunks who are hungry late at night leave LoneStar and get cheaper/faster food at the corner rather than order food in the bar they're hanging out in. Only thing I don't get is I've seen LoneStar customers go to Pizza Wagon for the same reasons (late-night food craving while buzzed, pizza is quick and cheap)...so why is there issue only with the halal cart.

[rickshawsue]

Veto Power should be given to the business owners and/or residents of any given cart vendor prior to being allowed to set up shop in any community. It's the thoughtful, kind and courteous thing to do - for all concerned.

Then why not have that thoughtful, kind standard apply to all businesses? Taken together, it would be a great way to eliminate any competition or variety and insure that only some local's son or cousin could run a street cart.

but from my eyewitness experiences when passing by on the street - he always conducts himself with the utmost integrity

That's nice but this isn't about passing someone on the street et al. It's about specific behaviors that are/were used to attain wants.

My comment about passing someone on the street was to QUALIFY my knowledge or lack thereof. . .
That being said. . .I shall zip it up.

[bklyn9]

I just dont get how a food cart can operate almost 20 hours a day with meat and zero refridgeration? Im sorry dry ice cant cut it for that long. To me, thats just disgusting. Not to mention when walking home down fifth avenue how many times ive stepped in nasty hot sauce. I know this is New York and I can not expect clean streets but hey why cant the food cart guy hose down the sidewalk or wash it down?

[VirginiaDave]

Shit, the cart vendors aren't even a threat to Lonestar, which is what makes it so stupid. He sells liquor and food in a sit down environment. How does a Gyro vendor selling cheap stuff on the street take business away from that?

When the drunks who are hungry late at night leave LoneStar and get cheaper/faster food at the corner rather than order food in the bar they're hanging out in. Only thing I don't get is I've seen LoneStar customers go to Pizza Wagon for the same reasons (late-night food craving while buzzed, pizza is quick and cheap)...so why is there issue only with the halal cart.

Because they don't pay any rent and don't have to abide by the stringent inspections that the brick and mortar places do. They get inspected ONCE a year. That explains why people get sick so often from "dirty water dogs". Once a year? We have to have our cars checked that often. Not only does he not have to pay rent, he gets to use the public sidewalk. I am sure once that sidewalk gets worn down, we will have to pay to fix it.

[foodcart]

I just dont get how a food cart can operate almost 20 hours a day with meat and zero refridgeration? Im sorry dry ice cant cut it for that long. To me, thats just disgusting. Not to mention when walking home down fifth avenue how many times ive stepped in nasty hot sauce. I know this is New York and I can not expect clean streets but hey why cant the food cart guy hose down the sidewalk or wash it down?

Because they do not have a hose to wash the sidewalk like every other store has to.I wounder if they even sweep,or let the guys in the red jumpsuits do that

[abayridgeguy]

Shit, the cart vendors aren't even a threat to Lonestar, which is what makes it so stupid. He sells liquor and food in a sit down environment. How does a Gyro vendor selling cheap stuff on the street take business away from that?

When the drunks who are hungry late at night leave LoneStar and get cheaper/faster food at the corner rather than order food in the bar they're hanging out in. Only thing I don't get is I've seen LoneStar customers go to Pizza Wagon for the same reasons (late-night food craving while buzzed, pizza is quick and cheap)...so why is there issue only with the halal cart.

Because they don't pay any rent and don't have to abide by the stringent inspections that the brick and mortar places do. They get inspected ONCE a year. That explains why people get sick so often from "dirty water dogs". Once a year? We have to have our cars checked that often. Not only does he not have to pay rent, he gets to use the public sidewalk. I am sure once that sidewalk gets worn down, we will have to pay to fix it.

...and they're PROBABLY TERRORISTS disguised as food vendors!
How come NOBODY ever thought of that?

[cherryblossom]

Because clearly you're the only one around here so smart... like Batman smart.

[VirginiaDave]

You misspelled batshit and crazy.

[cherryblossom]

I know how to spell batshit crazy... c-h-e-r-r-y-b-l-o-s-s-o-m.

[naked rev. trish]

Whoa. Hold on minute there.

Who is required to hose down their sidewalk? I'd like to see that regulation because there are a ton of stores that are more than content to have stained, disgusting sidewalks fronting their businesses.

As much as I personally don't enjoy or utilize sal minella's carts, let's not make absurd comparisons.

[foodcart]

OK no hose needed but.


Commercial Premise Enforcement Routing
Under the Enforcement Routing Program, enforcement agents patrol all
commercial and industrial blocks at specified times focusing on violations for
dirty sidewalks and failure to clean 18 inches into the street. During the
enforcement routing time, when enforcement agents observe a dirty sidewalk or
an 18 inch violation in front of/adjacent to a commercial or industrial premise, a
notice of violation will be issued. Although enforcement agents will issue notices
for dirty sidewalk or failure to clean 18 inches into the street violations only
during the specified 2 one-hour daily routing time periods, they may issue notices
for all other violations at any time. Although the commercial routing times vary
by Sanitation District/Section where the business is located, all
commercial premises should be maintained (the sidewalk and the area 18 inches
from the curb) at the beginning and end of the day. This makes good business
sense and helps keep the community clean. For more information about the
specific commercial enforcement routing times, for a particular location, call the
New York City Customer Service Center at 311.


Sidewalks and Gutters
The sidewalks (including areas like tree pits, grass strips, etc.) and gutter areas
(18 inches from the curb into the street) along the building perimeter must be
kept clean. Sweepings must be picked up and deposited in suitable containers
for collection. Sanitation litter baskets may not be used for this purpose.

[bklyn9]

I see some of the businesses sweep or clean the sidewalk in front believe it or not. Im sure they are not all doing it.