January 24, 2008
Fozen Yogurt Wars: Survivor Winner Out
It looks like Survivor: Cook Island winner Yul Kwon won't get to serve you air-pumped, sugary, dairy-like deliciousness. After getting ready to set up a Red Mango chain in North Beach, and after being granted a building permit and signing a lease, his permit was pulled after he was "told he ran afoul of the strict North Beach ordinance against 'formula chain' stores," or so says the Gate. Kwon went on to say, "I sorely regret the day that I decided to open a restaurant in San Francisco, and I will never make that mistake again." Ouch. True and choice words, Puka Puka tribesman.
What's more, when people got wind about this, they told Kwon to mention his Survivor-ness to help sway Supervisor Aaron Peskin, in an effort to help him land the permit. But according to Kwon, "Peskin told him he doesn't own a TV." (Wait, Peskin doesn't own a TV? A lie. And if by chance that's true? Classism framed in its most pretentious and socially-acceptable form. Vile.) Yul, you silly New Yorker, nepotism and status in San Francisco only works from within.
Edited for geographical clarity. See where xenophobia gets you? Oy.
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look out, here comes the whaaaaaaambulance.
dude, before you go signing leases and committing money, do a little research, a little due diligence, and make sure that you're allowed to do what you want to do.
(that said, the city should do a better job of screening these things as well.)
look out, here comes the whaaaaaaambulance.
dude, before you go signing leases and committing money, do a little research, a little due diligence, and make sure that you're allowed to do what you want to do.
(that said, the city should do a better job of screening these things as well.)
The dude checked it out first. He got his permit before Red Mango had 11 stores. It only had 4 when he applied.
Now I wonder what would happen to the Stinking Rose if it opened 11 restaurants in the mid west?
look out, here comes the whaaaaaaambulance.
You do mean for this ridiculous town's Board of Supervisors, right?
fsharp: maybe we can extrapolate from existing cases: shoe biz? pasta pomodoro? when was the last new opening of either company? looks like there's about 30 pinkberries out there...
manys: Not all districts and neighborhoods have this ordinance, that's why there are chains in other 'hoods.
It's not the city's fault he tried to sneak in under the wire when choosing the location of his yogurt place. If he could get a franchise, it's probably not difficult for 7 other people around the country to get one too, endangering his poorly-thought-through business plan.
I'm sure San Francisco's restaurant landscape will suffer without Yul and his braintrust, but maybe Foster City could use a Survivor champion with a dream of slinging frozen yogurt.
Exactly, ievens. His beef is with the franchise. Not our problem. A chain is a chain is a chain. He has degrees in law from Stanford & Yale. Dude can figure it out. "Outwit", remember? Call me cynical, but I think if he can navigate legislation through the United States Senate, he can wrap his brain around the business ordinances of big bad North Beach.
Besides, this douchebag helped draft that foul piece of law known around the spy-van as the Homeland Security Bill. Thanks for that, Kwon.
I relished writing a nice long letter to both Peskin's office and the Chamber of Commerce detailing my objections to his entry into our fine hood. And I got my entire building to sign it. Felt good. Hope he lost a lot of money.
And yeah, WTF is up with Pasta Pomodoro? Why aren't they bounced? The Italian theme fooled me there. If I find out it had anything to do with diverting revenue from the now-defunct WashBag, there will be Hell. To. Pay. And BTW, freaking watch us bounce the Stinking Rose if it ever ballooned to 11 sites. NIMBYism? You bet your ass.
Generic,
I don't believe you can retroactively bounce chains so the fantasy might have to die
They might not be chains but the whole of North Beach has turned into a tourist trap of Italian restaurants run my Palestinians and others of indeterminate (but not Italian) swarthy origins. Lets be honest here. Hardly a real Italian to be found left there. My buddies great grandmother from Sicily is still there but she is close to 100
So instead of Red Mango, we'll get some other, not-yet-a-full-blow chain frozen yogurt place there instead? What's the difference whether it's a Red Mango, Jubili or SoGreen, besides their number of locations?
I guess I should be relieved that the President of my Board of Supes is tackling real issues, like a fervent hatred of entrepreneurship and "formula chain restaurant" definitions, and not worrying about trivial issues like, you know, public transportation and crime.
Hardly a real Italian to be found left there.
Surely you jest.
North Beach Restaurant?
The Steps of Rome?
Panta Rei?
Brocce Cafe?
Danilo?
And those are just off the top of my head. It sure ain't Pig Latin those guys are speaking.
The Guinea juice is strong in North Beach. For there are many Guineas.
Yeah, I was spouting the "there are no Italians left in North Beach" line before I moved to this part of town. It may not be what it once was, but it's far from dying out. I hear Italian spoken by the tourists, locals and especially in the local shops.
As for this whole yogurt thing, now that Peskin and that ninny from the neighborhood association have exiled Red Mango, does that mean they've got the "let's ban a fro-yo stand" bug out of their system and Honeydoo will be allowed to open?
This neighborhood is full of Italians, such that I'm going to have to take lessons. I want to know what those old men are saying when I walk by!!!
Damn Generic, I am really glad you don't live in my neighborhood. Not that I like frozen yogurt (hello 1980s), but that "Hope he lost a lot of money" attitude you can keep in North Beach. Yet another reason why San Francisco is turning into Venice - a pretty little postcard town perfectly preserved for the tourists, with no life of its own.
You just know "Generic" grew up in Kansas and decided to bless our fair city with his own personal brand of prairie fascism.
aj, I'll take Venice. You can have Sacramento. Such growth!
And Chris ... sadly, no. Californian, born & raised.
It is rather an aversion to the prairie's McWalChains that Hitlerizes me so.
Godwin!
Chris "Weekly" (and gee, aren't YOU clever?!): A quick review of your comments leaves one to ponder whether the reason you're such a cranky douchebag is because you're on the rag 24/7 or you're mad because you're balls haven't dropped yet. Hard to tell.
Chris "Weekly" (and gee, aren't YOU clever?!): A quick review of your comments leaves one to ponder whether the reason you're such a cranky douchebag is because you're on the rag 24/7 or you're mad because you're balls haven't dropped yet. Hard to tell