Yes, The Marvelous is a GREAT addition to the neighborhood and meshes well with The Last Word -- another great addition to UC. I would not be surprised if it turns out that most of his customers are neighborhood residents (not students). We have new restaurants along Balt. Ave., new energy/shops at the Firehouse, new coffee shops in the neighborhood, new pet food supply place on Balt. Ave., houses being renovated along Balt. Ave., etc. 40th St. area has Fresh Grocer and the new theatre, several new restaurants (Ben & Jerry's, etc.)
Yet we are subjected to an endless discussion on this list of complaints about the UCD's role in chasing out the old businesses, gentrifying the shopping strips, etc. Please, could someone tell us which of these new businesses are objectionable? Most are locally owned and operated. Is The Marvelous "too upscale"? Is Ben & Jerry's too yuppy? Is "The Last Word" too upscale for our poor, illiterate, non-book-reading residents ? Is a comfortable coffee house like the Green Line "too upscale" by definition? Is Paris Cafe too upscale , because the owner is French? (Europeans, you know, are very trendy, especially Europeans with accents.) Must a coffee house in UC be more along the lines of "Sam's" (grungy, and definitely not upscale -- but you can buy Ben & Jerry's there, or expensive muffins, etc.)? Are farmers markets "upscale"? Should Vientienne dirty-up the place so as to appear more like a hole-in-the-wall? If somebody could please provide a list of "good businesses" and "bad businesses", I sure would feel more grounded in my understanding of the issue. I truly do not understand the concept that it is important to preserve our many phone card stores, our many hairbraiding salons, our many nail salons, our many bars and auto repair shops along Balt. Ave. We (and that means all of us: poor, middle class, wealthy ) need access to mundane every-day services -- which DO NOT currently exist in the neighborhood (or, are now only starting to exist). Nobody (regardles of comments on this list) is trying to "force out" the Ethiopean restaurants, or Mariposa -- they are 100% part of Balt. Ave. and I've never heard any complaints about them being there from anyone. Why the conspiracy theories? Why not a book store along Balt. Ave., or a thrift shop, or antique shop (or is that, by definition, "upscale")? A shoe repair shop would be great, but I'm afraid that would mean that some other shop might have to be displaced. Trader Joes would definitely be great on Balt. Ave. or Lancaster Ave.(in my opinion)... But, again, is that too yuppy? A lot of folks on this list sure do like Trader Joe's (and I'm one of them). In conclusion, it just seems to me that the people on this list who are doing the bulk of the postings (mostly complaining) about the changes brought about by Penn or the UCD are not representative of the vast majority living here. Other than those complaining on this list, I have not heard anyone else complain about the trend of bringing new and various businesses to the UC cooridoors. I've mentioned this example before -- and it's worth repeating-- Go take a look at Passyunk Ave.(esp. east of Broad). There's nothing "upscale" or yuppy about it. But you can find everything under the sun there , all within walking distance. No need to leave the neighborhood for ANYTHING, if you don't want to. It may not work for us (pop. densities are different, etc.) , but I think Passyunk ave is still a great model for our business cooridoors in UC to strive for. Most people living here must do a large part of their shopping (food, clothing, necessities, books, appliances, etc.) elsewhere (out of the neighborhood) and mostly via automobile ( or you could take the tolley downtown, etc). Sorry this is so long -- I didn't mean it to be. Neil Lifson ----- Original Message ----- From: "J. HolmesAndrews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 1:27 PM Subject: [UC] someplace else > Hi all - > just in case you're looking for someplace different to > visit or take your teens, might i recommend a trip to > The Marvelous on 40th under Smokey Joe's? > > It run by a neighbor, is really a cool place, and if > you haven't been there yet, its worth the trip! > > Our family of 4 (2 baby boomers and two teens) have > been there twice and have great times...i dig in the > folk and international titles while my better half > does jazz and gets nostalgic over original sixties > vinyl; one teen digs into the wierd humor and comics, > while the other goes for punk and thrash...and we all > keep showing things to each other and getting to talk > about memories and music in a relaxed, fun way... > > whether you're looking to rediscover that lost record > or artist your nostalgic for, an unusual gift, or just > someplace to hang out before a movie, give it a try! > > thanks! > jnah > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search > http://shopping.yahoo.com > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
