Urban Construction Update - April 2013

[Cheshire Cat]

I don't know if th

^ that would be called davening....or praying....its what many observant/orthodox jews do

Right....by "that", i meant why would Mezze make a video like that?

Because they have a great sense of humor.     I would like to see a menu, but can't find one anywhere.  I am hoping they will do traditional potato pancakes, cheese blintz's and my very favorite potato knish!   Haven't had good ones for many years now. 

Didn't realize they specialized in Jewish foods..

I don't know if they do or not, but with the heavy marketing using Jewish religious humor I am hoping they give us some good Jewish treats like those I mentioned above.  If anyone finds a menu, please share it!  Thanks.

Their website, which is not fully operational yet:
http://mezzejax.com/
From the front page, it appears that it is all pizza.

Mezze is Middle Eastern, and considering it is basically a rebranded Layla's, I'd say its Arab. That's the whole point of the video. They are playing on a stereotype that Jews don't like Arabs/Arab food, so it must be really good if this Orthodox Jew approves. Leaving aside the question of whether it is offensive, insensitive, or in bad taste, it certainly is not funny. Saying that video demonstrates a "great sense of humor" is...humorous.

Oh shoot!  More dang pizza!  If indeed this really is an Arab run restaurant, the ad no longer is funny and becomes something else entirely.  Looks like they missed on both counts, bad taste in promo and bad taste in food choice in a city overrun with pizza! 

[tufsu1]

Jews hate Arabic food....really?  Guess felafel, hummus, tahini, etc. aren't big foods in Israel then

[PeeJayEss]

Jews hate Arabic food....really?  Guess felafel, hummus, tahini, etc. aren't big foods in Israel then

I didn't see anyone make that assertion. Either you are criticizing the premise of the 'joke' in the video, or you are having an argument with your imagination. However, your comment brings up a good point: this commercial works much better if the restaurant is Israeli and Palestinians or Lebanese are endorsing it. Its still not funny, and probably offensive, but its making a stronger case to eat there.

[tufsu1]

sorry...your quote above said they were playing on a stereotype that Jews don't like Arabs/Arab food...was just responding to that

[L.P. Hovercraft]

After viewing Mezze's video I thought to myself, "Great, a new video just waiting to go viral that once again portrays Jax to the outside world as some backwards podunk town--now with even more antisemitic goodness!  This one might even almost make you forget about Councilman Redman's crazy-ass 'pray to your god' moment a few years back.  Visit Jacksonville--we're not just racist and homophobic anymore".

But checking out their Facebook page, their likes include Borat and the Dictator, so maybe this was just a Sasha Baron Cohen performance type thing meant to stir up some publicity?  I'd LIKE to give them the benefit of the doubt...but watching it definitely made me feel a bit squeamish.

[Captain Zissou]

I think they were trying to upstage Lola's for the "most racist and insensitive restaurant in jax" title.

[PeeJayEss]

That 7-11 in Riverside is officially open.

[ben says]

1) Why did Mezze make a conversion to selling pizzas?

2) Went to the new 7-11. Kinda awesome having a stoner joint in a less-sketchy/cleaner part of Riverside (who the hell wants to walk to the Tropical or whatever it's called).

[duvaldude08]

Frugal Diva is taking over the old Body Central space in the Landing. That space didnt stay empty long at all.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2013-05-15