Mellow Mushroom's Letter to the Editor Response

[KEGreene1]

Below is John Valentino's Letter to the Editor response to the FTU's article (for those who pay them http://members.jacksonville.com/opinion/premium/2012-11-05/story/lead-letter-mellow-mushroom-owner-defends-avondale-plans)


I was surprised that Riverside Avondale Preservation’s director felt she could characterize my plans to open a Mellow Mushroom in Avondale as “cookie cutter” (Planned Avondale restaurant heads for City Hall showdown because of parking).

She attended many of the meetings with members of the community at which we made dozens of changes to our plans to address local concerns.

Indeed, we invited and acted upon community input throughout our design phase, incorporating many new features as a result.

It is fair to say that Mellow Mushroom Avondale has been designed to be uniquely appropriate for the Shoppes of Avondale.

Despite this, despite the approval of the city’s Planning and Historic Commissions and despite the fact that we have the legal right to open the restaurant as soon as we choose (as long as we do not serve liquor), RAP and its allies continue to oppose this.

This is even more astonishing when you consider that we have done everything that they have asked of us.

They asked us to make sure we met local parking requirements, and we have done so, even though it has meant abandoning our plans to preserve an existing building.

They asked us to reduce the number of indoor seats, limit the number of sidewalk seats and shrink the planned building itself.

We agreed to all of this and went further, agreeing not to apply for sidewalk seating for a year after opening.

Frankly, it is difficult to see what more we could have done.

From the beginning, we have done our level-best to listen carefully to what the community is saying and act on what we hear.

Those who oppose us should consider that their voices are not the only ones we hear in Avondale.

Overwhelmingly, local families give us their support and encouragement and tell us that they are excited we are coming to the neighborhood.

John Valentino

owner, Mellow Mushroom, Jacksonville


John was awful nice to not tear down the "cookie cutter" comment even further.  He did want to keep the gas station and create a cool place that would have blended in quite nicely.  His current "cookie cutter" design is chock full of all the requests RAP and WLA made of him only to ask for more and more...  John is in his legal right to open a restaurant in the space.  He has bent over backwards working with groups who have falsely stated they are not against Mellow Mushroom or business in general, when their actions continually show otherwise.  Their actions have done nothing but drive a wedge in our community instead of working to create something special.

[ben says]

Great letter...could have been 100000x harsher...but I understand his hesitancy to rip into any/all opposition

[Captain Zissou]

At this point John knows who his opposition is and he knows how low they will stoop.  There is no need for him to be civil anymore, but every time that he is will be a testament to his character!

[zedsdead]

^ +1

[MEGATRON]

Laughed when she called it cookie cutter.  Carmen should go back to directing a museum and leave the planning to those trained in planning.

[JeffreyS]

So sad for RAP they can't be very proud of their role anymore.

[Intuition Ale Works]

Alicia Grant, of WLA fame, is out front of Grace Church of Avondale with a petition.
It would be safe to assume it is anti-mellow.

[MEGATRON]

Alicia Grant,  of WLA fame, it out front of Grace Church of Avondale with a petition. It would be safe to assume it is anti-mellow.

While the cats away, the mice will pee on her orange tree.

[ben says]

Still f'ing pissed the gas station is being torn down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ironic that WLA and Brick/Biscottis/Blue Fish are making Avondale MORE bland/strip mall......

[MEGATRON]

Really don't have any problem with a 1964 service station being torn down.  Would have been cool to incorporate it but I don't understand getting upset over losing it.

[ben says]

^ I've seen one too many gas stations turned über cool retrofitted establishments.....

The second the station goes down (when it WAS going to be renovated) we've moved one step closer towards Avondale turning into generic strip. Just an opinion....

[Josh]

Really don't have any problem with a 1964 service station being torn down.  Would have been cool to incorporate it but I don't understand getting upset over losing it.

A lot of us are attached to the building since it's been a staple of the area for such a large time. Since it would have been an awesome example of adaptive reuse, it's doubly stinging that we're now going to be given a generic structure instead.

[strider]

A 1964 gas station, while just an old gas station, happens to be a iconic example of the design period (OK, IMHO).  Losing it is just as bad at this point as losing a 1920's building.  Let's face it, the 1920's building was "only a 1920's building" at one time.  At some point, the styles of the various decades need to be recognized and some examples saved or in the end, what's the point of saving any of it? The new building that will replace it is simply nothing special.  But that is what WLA and RAP apparently want - nothing special.  Except their way, of course.  And they want that at all costs.

[If_I_Loved_you]

A 1964 gas station, while just an old gas station, happens to be a iconic example of the design period (OK, IMHO).  Losing it is just as bad at this point as losing a 1920's building.  Let's face it, the 1920's building was "only a 1920's building" at one time.  At some point, the styles of the various decades need to be recognized and some examples saved or in the end, what's the point of saving any of it? The new building that will replace it is simply nothing special.  But that is what WLA and RAP apparently want - nothing special.  Except their way, of course.  And they want that at all costs.

My gut tells me RAP and WLA really want to keep the Shoppes of Avondale away from Chain restaurant's for they feel the atmosphere of the shoppes will forever change. Look I would love to see a chili's restaurant in Avondale or five points. Look people not everybody likes the same food Thank God!

[ben says]

A 1964 gas station, while just an old gas station, happens to be a iconic example of the design period (OK, IMHO).  Losing it is just as bad at this point as losing a 1920's building.  Let's face it, the 1920's building was "only a 1920's building" at one time.  At some point, the styles of the various decades need to be recognized and some examples saved or in the end, what's the point of saving any of it? The new building that will replace it is simply nothing special.  But that is what WLA and RAP apparently want - nothing special.  Except their way, of course.  And they want that at all costs.

My gut tells me RAP and WLA really want to keep the Shoppes of Avondale away from Chain restaurant's for they feel the atmosphere of the shoppes will forever change. Look I would love to see a chili's restaurant in Avondale or five points. Look people not everybody likes the same food Thank God!

......a Chili's? Really? 

On another note, your comment "not everybody likes the same food"...that's not the issue. It's never been an issue about food...