Mellow Mushroom: Working with the Avondale community

[ben says]

Mellow Mushroom is being led down the primrose path. It's obvious that a vocal minority just doesn't want the restaurant there, period, and that the only way they'll ever agree on a set of conditions is if they include enough arbitrary restrictions to guarantee that the restaurant won't succeed. Though I'm sure the two gentlemen behind WeLoveAvondale, LLC must think they're very clever, this is not particularly sophisticated. I'm actually beginning to think that if the ownership of Mellow is this abysmally stupid, as appears the case since they keep agreeing to each new set of moving targets, then they deserve what they've obviously got coming to them.

+1000

[Pinky]

Mellow Mushroom is being led down the primrose path. It's obvious that a vocal minority just doesn't want the restaurant there, period, and that the only way they'll ever agree on a set of conditions is if they include enough arbitrary restrictions to guarantee that the restaurant won't succeed. Though I'm sure the two gentlemen behind WeLoveAvondale, LLC must think they're very clever, this is not particularly sophisticated. I'm actually beginning to think that if the ownership of Mellow is this abysmally stupid, as appears the case since they keep agreeing to each new set of moving targets, then they deserve what they've obviously got coming to them.

I know Valentino.  He's a lot of things; reasonable, cooperative, well-intentioned, innovative and passionate among them. "Abyssmally stupid" is not a term I would ever use to describe him, and those who make that assumption do so at their own peril. 

[ChriswUfGator]

Mellow Mushroom is being led down the primrose path. It's obvious that a vocal minority just doesn't want the restaurant there, period, and that the only way they'll ever agree on a set of conditions is if they include enough arbitrary restrictions to guarantee that the restaurant won't succeed. Though I'm sure the two gentlemen behind WeLoveAvondale, LLC must think they're very clever, this is not particularly sophisticated. I'm actually beginning to think that if the ownership of Mellow is this abysmally stupid, as appears the case since they keep agreeing to each new set of moving targets, then they deserve what they've obviously got coming to them.

I know Valentino.  He's a lot of things; reasonable, cooperative, well-intentioned, innovative and passionate among them. "Abyssmally stupid" is not a term I would ever use to describe him, and those who make that assumption do so at their own peril. 

I call it like I see it.

Being reasonable and cooperative is a disaster when the other side isn't interested in meaningful dialogue or an honest compromise. Your buddy may be good at running a restaurant, but he appears to fundamentally misunderstand what he's dealing with here.

[JHAT76]

Mellow Mushroom is being led down the primrose path. It's obvious that a vocal minority just doesn't want the restaurant there, period, and that the only way they'll ever agree on a set of conditions is if they include enough arbitrary restrictions to guarantee that the restaurant won't succeed. Though I'm sure the two gentlemen behind WeLoveAvondale, LLC must think they're very clever, this is not particularly sophisticated. I'm actually beginning to think that if the ownership of Mellow is this abysmally stupid, as appears the case since they keep agreeing to each new set of moving targets, then they deserve what they've obviously got coming to them.

I know Valentino.  He's a lot of things; reasonable, cooperative, well-intentioned, innovative and passionate among them. "Abyssmally stupid" is not a term I would ever use to describe him, and those who make that assumption do so at their own peril. 

I call it like I see it.

Being reasonable and cooperative is a disaster when the other side isn't interested in meaningful dialogue or an honest compromise. Your buddy may be good at running a restaurant, but he appears to fundamentally misunderstand what he's dealing with here.

Or it could be he just wants in the market because he knows it is a good location.  Maybe he really doesn't give a flying F what the place looks like as long as it is profitable.  At some point you just say "Hey I tried to make it unique but if this is what it takes to be there, so be it.  Why do I care if they want a box and paved parking lot?"

[ChriswUfGator]

Mellow Mushroom is being led down the primrose path. It's obvious that a vocal minority just doesn't want the restaurant there, period, and that the only way they'll ever agree on a set of conditions is if they include enough arbitrary restrictions to guarantee that the restaurant won't succeed. Though I'm sure the two gentlemen behind WeLoveAvondale, LLC must think they're very clever, this is not particularly sophisticated. I'm actually beginning to think that if the ownership of Mellow is this abysmally stupid, as appears the case since they keep agreeing to each new set of moving targets, then they deserve what they've obviously got coming to them.

I know Valentino.  He's a lot of things; reasonable, cooperative, well-intentioned, innovative and passionate among them. "Abyssmally stupid" is not a term I would ever use to describe him, and those who make that assumption do so at their own peril. 

I call it like I see it.

Being reasonable and cooperative is a disaster when the other side isn't interested in meaningful dialogue or an honest compromise. Your buddy may be good at running a restaurant, but he appears to fundamentally misunderstand what he's dealing with here.

Or it could be he just wants in the market because he knows it is a good location.  Maybe he really doesn't give a flying F what the place looks like as long as it is profitable.  At some point you just say "Hey I tried to make it unique but if this is what it takes to be there, so be it.  Why do I care if they want a box and paved parking lot?"

He very well may not get either, if it keeps going the way it is...

[mtraininjax]

Mellow Mushroom is being led down the primrose path. It's obvious that a vocal minority just doesn't want the restaurant there, period, and that the only way they'll ever agree on a set of conditions is if they include enough arbitrary restrictions to guarantee that the restaurant won't succeed. Though I'm sure the two gentlemen behind WeLoveAvondale, LLC must think they're very clever, this is not particularly sophisticated. I'm actually beginning to think that if the ownership of Mellow is this abysmally stupid, as appears the case since they keep agreeing to each new set of moving targets, then they deserve what they've obviously got coming to them.

Chris - Wow....., I mean, really, are you on the inner circle with Keymer or Valentino or the legal council representing them? MM has a lot of supporters, but they are obviously more scattered than the WLA group, which has organization and a goal. You are an attorney, right? You know the men behind WLA, since you are anonymous, what is your feeling and take on them as people, and attorneys?

Sure MM should have put up a tent over the site, and built what they wanted and done so behind a secret secured site, but no one wants to have something shoved down their throat. WLA is reacting with fear of the unknown and time cures all. When the Brick opened up, Sterlings/Bluefish was worried about their business, all the merchants are always worried about business, so that is just hot air.  The merchants can do some things as well to appeal to both sides, with MM donating a large amount as the first one into the idea. There are all kinds of ideas being floated to get this accepted.

WLA cannot continue with this forever. Nothing is forever.

[ChriswUfGator]

I hardly need to be on anyone's inner circle to see what's going on Mtrain.

It's that obvious.

Like I said, I call 'em like I see 'em.

[mtraininjax]

It's that obvious.

Sure it is, from the outside looking in.

[ChriswUfGator]

It's obvious from any vantage point.

For christsakes, WLA just rejected their own site redesign...

[wsansewjs]

As a Duval county taxpayer and living in the same county as these organizations reside, I OBJECT to RAP's and WLA's notions to affect this outcome with their puny little minority voice and cost more of our tax money for this bloody ruse.

I would say, SHOVE IT UP their a$$, and LET the Mellow Mushroom do what is "right" in HELPING the community.

Just my two cents. -threw it away-

-Josh

[Captain Zissou]

It's that obvious.

Sure it is, from the outside looking in.

So if they withdraw the PUD they aren't going to get slammed with the parking requirements of Jim Love's new legislation?  That's sure what it looks like from the outside.  Also, to address Pinky's point that Valentino doesn't give a 'flying f': why would he go to the trouble of making the first design if he didn't care about the product he was bringing to the neighborhood?

Mtrain-  Your tone has really changed in the last few days.  Are you now siding with team WLA in order to get a surface lot thrown down on the most important piece of land in Avondale's commercial portfolio? 

[ben says]

Mtrain-  Your tone has really changed in the last few days.

Phew. So I'm not the only one who noticed this...

Honestly Mtrain, wtf are you smoking?! Whatever it is, I want some.

[urbanlibertarian]

All I can say is it must be nice to have so much economic activity in your neighborhood that you can make these kinds of demands on new businesses moving in.  In my 'hood (northbank CBD) I'll accept ANY kind of new business moving in.  Please.  Bring it on.

[JeffreyS]

Just stick with the original design and the original approval and start building.

[ben says]

Just stick with the original design and the original approval and start building.

^ Yes!!!! Please!!!!