Is Riverside/Avondale Ready For Mellow Mushroom?

[ben says]

Could anyone with a general understanding of sentence structure please interpret kNOw Growth's ramblings?

I was going to say something, but didn't want to offend, in case he was autistic or had some speech/writing issue 

[JaxJerry]

and here I thought the purpose of this 35 page Mellow Mushroom thread was to offend someone given the comments about neighbors vs outsiders, the We Love Avondale group, parking, etc 

[fieldafm]

Pretty one-sided take on the 'parking woes' in Avondale by Ron Word in Folio today highlighting 'public urination, drunken outbursts, racing engines' in Avondale.  Really?  Must be a COMPLETELY different Avondale than I know. What a real shame about all the misinformation going around.

'Trash, cups and beer bottles picked up in yards daily'.  In Avondale???  There must be some underground rooms that pass out cans of beer to people smoking bath salts in Biscottis that I apparently don't know the password to get into that are causing all of this mayhem.  In the mornings I ride down Hedrick 4 times a week on my bike (I live a quarter a mile away).  I must not get up early enough (5AM).  Perhaps the lawn gnomes come to life at 4AM to clean all of this stuff up before I get a chance to see it.

Seeing as though I don't go to the The Brick much b/c it sucks so bad (overpriced pedestrian-at best-food with very poor cocktails)... I maybe need to start going there more often to see all of these drunks that leave and go piss on people's lawn.  The last time I was there both Wayne and Delores Weaver were in attendance along with Alvin Brown.  Are these the hooligans mitricating on people's yards?!?

This is SHAMEFUL. 

[ben says]

For what it's worth-the owner of The Brick is virulently against Mellow Mushroom moving into Avondale.

From what I understand, he's been telling people that "MM has everyone fooled" and "it's actually a nightclub" moving in who plan on "changing the face of Avondale"

[Timkin]

For what it's worth-the owner of The Brick is virulently against Mellow Mushroom moving into Avondale.

From what I understand, he's been telling people that "MM has everyone fooled" and "it's actually a nightclub" moving in who plan on "changing the face of Avondale"

Seriously? 

This would be the first MM in history to bring down a neighborhood!


Ignorance.   How sad.

[thelakelander]

I will say that the various descriptions about MM's operations are hilariously ignorant. MM is a national chain. For anyone interested in finding out how it really operates, just visit one of the other locations.

[KEGreene1]

I wonder how these establishments would feel if some folks started a group "We Love Free Enterprise" and advocated boycotting establishments who are either worried about their illegal parking lot or worse having a little competition.

I find it amusing that the past 3 Resident newspapers have been devoted to this issue.  This has to be (and its sister threads) the most commented topic on this website.  It seems to me we are all be held hostage by a few vocal home owners and a couple of competing businesses who's only real argument I can see is "Because I don't wanna."  MM keeps trying to open dialogue or make changes and their only response is "I don't wanna, move some place else."  They sound like a 2 year old. 

Yes, I like MM and want it here.  However, their acting like a 2 year old makes me believe this is a bigger issue.  I keep asking: What is this group going to do when Monty's is sold?  How is this fight helping them sell their property (My guess: what value was there is dropping rapidly).  Doesn't having a vibrant Shoppes increase their home values?    Once you give in to a 2 year old, they know all they have to do is pitch a fit and they win.

[ben says]

For what it's worth-the owner of The Brick is virulently against Mellow Mushroom moving into Avondale.

From what I understand, he's been telling people that "MM has everyone fooled" and "it's actually a nightclub" moving in who plan on "changing the face of Avondale"

Seriously? 

This would be the first MM in history to bring down a neighborhood!


Ignorance.   How sad.

Yes. Seriously.

How one can claim MM has 'secret aims' to 'change the face of Avondale' by 'moving in as a MM' yet 'really it's a night club' is beyond me...........yet, it happens, by Avondale shop owners!!

[Timkin]

^... Who see the restaurant which by the way, has stellar food and atmosphere, as a threat.

It is ridiculous to state that it is secretly becoming a nightclub.  That is about the furthest statement from the truth of anything posted on the matter.

[JHAT76]

^... Who see the restaurant which by the way, has stellar food and atmosphere, as a threat.

It is ridiculous to state that it is secretly becoming a nightclub.  That is about the furthest statement from the truth of anything posted on the matter.

I wish the opposition would just be honest and state their true reasons for opposition.  Its one of the 3:

1. Current restaurants want less competition

2. A few residents think the Shoppes should be Rodeo Dr Junior and only allow high priced (and in my opinion overpriced in reference to clothing stores) shops and restaurants.

and/or

3. Residents who think everything must be strictly local to be hip.  MOJO's wasn't local enough, Sherwin Williams is a national brand and even though the owner obviously lives in Jax and it provide great, personal service, close to many residents it wasn't Bob's Paint Shop so not good enough.

[JHAT76]

I find it amusing that the past 3 Resident newspapers have been devoted to this issue.  This has to be (and its sister threads) the most commented topic on this website.  It seems to me we are all be held hostage by a few vocal home owners and a couple of competing businesses who's only real argument I can see is "Because I don't wanna."  MM keeps trying to open dialogue or make changes and their only response is "I don't wanna, move some place else."  They sound like a 2 year old. 

The latest Resident issue said there was an estimate for $60,000 for parking study.  Would rather Jim Love and residents push for WALKING/BIKING JSO patrols in the window of heavy nightly use, directing (through signs, word of mouth, whatever) drivers to use park and spots East/North (not sure of direction) of Shoppes on St Johns toward St Vincents, and coming up with valet solutions.  Funded by Shoppes, restaurants, customers or any combo of the 3.

[Gators312]

^... Who see the restaurant which by the way, has stellar food and atmosphere, as a threat.

It is ridiculous to state that it is secretly becoming a nightclub.  That is about the furthest statement from the truth of anything posted on the matter.

I wish the opposition would just be honest and state their true reasons for opposition.  Its one of the 3:

I think it's a little bit of all three that you mention, plus many homeowners believe they own the public right of way and no one should be able to park in front of their home without express written consent of the homeowner.

Others have also pointed out that many homes have more cars than licensed drivers, including some multi-family properties.

I'm also glad to hear that I'm not the only one who thinks the Brick is way overrated.  It's crowded often, so I always wondered maybe I'm too critical, but Field's assessment hits the nail right on the head.    I always assumed it stayed busy with people who didn't want to drive over to the "Club" to have lunch or dinner -- mainly it's convenience for the people I know that frequent there. 

 

[If_I_Loved_you]

I agree with a neighbor that stickers, or parking passes, or fees to park are all just taxes designed to drive people away. We the residents and the store owners will find a way to co-exist and thrive. It may not be pretty, but we will find a way to solve the problem and compromise.

I saw this Harrisburg, PA last month (Resident Only Parking).  I thought this was a great idea.  You tow a few cars and it will change people's habits. 

I wonder what the merchants thoughts are on Parking Permits.  At the meeting at Grace, the owner of Blue Fish stated that his patrons complain that they cannot find parking (which is odd considering he has his own lot).  I would find it hard to believe having permits would help this situation.

The Owner of Blue Fish could Double his parking spaces with some cash and http://www.katopark.com/majorlift.htm and parking at Blue Fish wouldn't be a problem anymore?

[Pinky]

I've been reading MetroJax for a long time, but have only recently become motivated to "go legit" and actually sign up after reading this thread...  In the interest of full-disclosure, I know John Valentino, and have done a bit of fabrication work in the past for his other restaurants.  (I built the Bus at the beaches, and a couple of other "display pieces" for him.)  I like Mellow Mushroom's food, and enjoy the atmosphere in his restaurants.

Which leads to my point:  THEY'RE RESTAURANTS, NOT "NIGHTCLUBS".  If the criteria for being a "nightclub" is having a bar and playing music, then certainly The Brick, which does a smart business at their bar and plays music would have to be considered a "nightclub" as well, no?  And all this talk of "drunks running loose in the streets", and "rampant hooliganism" is absurd.  I would ask only that those who are so opposed to Mellow Mushroom GO AND VISIT ANY OF THE OTHER LOCATIONS.  Really, GO, and see for yourselves.  Go on a saturday night, late even, and what you'll find are nice folks chilling, probably eating (excellent) pizza, drinking a beer, watching a game on TV, and having a pretty MELLOW time.   It's not the Sodom and Gomorrah that the mouth-breather/NIMBY/competition-phobes would like to portray. 

Go.  See for yourselves.  Dare you.  Double Dog Dare you.

Pinky out.

[Pinky]

(LOL - Double Dog *StephenDare* ya!!)