The SPARlisted Convenience Stores

[uptowngirl]

Guess you can add me to the list- I actually use the BP on 8th and Liberty even though it is nasty and dangerous and works in conjunction with the Section 8 apts across the street from the "executive director of SPAR". We have been notified- we are doing a disservice to the neighborhood if we shop there. I have one response to that and it is not fit for public consumption....

[cindi]

Guess you can add me to the list- I actually use the BP on 8th and Liberty even though it is nasty and dangerous and works in conjunction with the Section 8 apts across the street from the "executive director of SPAR". We have been notified- we are doing a disservice to the neighborhood if we shop there. I have one response to that and it is not fit for public consumption....

lol.  isn't that the "upscale" convienence store that everyone was convinced was certainly going to be different.  guess the high end rolling papers aren't what that thought they would be.  how sad.  a damn shame they don't stay open 24-7 so they could share some of the real benefits of a true shithole store that the Shell has.

[uptowngirl]

doesn't anyone waych "Weeds" anymore LOL!!!!

[Dan B]

a damn shame they don't stay open 24-7...


...so they could share some of the real benefits of a true shithole store that the Shell has.

They do, and they do.

[uptowngirl]

Dan, I disagree here. I utilize that store quite often, it is no where near as bad as the Shell, and no where near as drastic as made out to be. Even the apts are not as bad as they were. Now there may be dealing or hooking at the gas station, but I have NEVER seen it and am there at least a couple times a week and drive past it multiple times daily. I have never been scared for my life or my belongings at the store- go up a couple blocks and check out that store if you want to be scared straight! Oh and the store up the block on Walnut, now that is a real treat- parking lot full of drunks and druggies all day.....

I did not see this address pop up with a lot of police calls either, so what are all these accusations based on?

I REALLY do not appreciate being told I am doing a disservice to my neighborhood by shopping there, seems to me "someone" does not like the store and is trying to boycott it, perhaps BP has been singled out because it is owned by a "foreigner"? Perhaps it is a little difficult for these owners to communicate with the police and in most instances they do not want to communicate with the police because the cops aren't so great in the countries they are coming from and a bunch of crazy white people "complaining" is not going to help them feel empowered either. Who has talked to the owner, when did he tell them  "i am running drugs and hookers out of this store so F you"? In any case, it is no where near as bad as several other spots in the neighborhood. I am getting sick and tired of some in this neighborhood telling me where I should spend my money, and how I either do or don't support my neighborhood based on where I shop, what I support,  or who I am friends with. 

[ChriswUfGator]

Ahh...but you're assuming there's some logical rhyme or reason to why SPAR does stuff like this. There's not.

If history is any indication, the hatred and bashing of the BP station could have been caused when one of the Supreme High Command went in to get a cup of coffee and realized it was cold. Would make about as much sense as the rest of their positions on these things...

[fsu813]

Uptowngirl,

I'm the only one that said anyone who spends money there is doing a disservice to the neighborhood (not on this website, but on the local Springfield forum).

You'll note that I specifically said that that was my personal opinion (imo).

Turns out other people feel the same way for very real reasons, as discussed at multiple Shadco meetings, among other places.

Not sure why you would suggest foreign ethnicity as a factor, along with other speculation.

I believe this old thread would be an appropriate place for the discussion: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,4442.120.html

[Dan B]

Not sure who said anyone was doing a disservice. I still use it as well, but mainly as there is no other decent option in the neighborhood. I have been in there on many an occation on the way home from work at 9 or 10 at night, and have gotten stared down by the drug dealers on the corner, and had on many more occasions had people sitting at the pump on the phone, hanging out with friends (not pumping gas) and not moving for those who actually need gas.

In short, my problems are the rabble hanging around the station, more than the owner, though I personally feel the owner does not do enough to discourage loitering, and obvious drug activity.

Is the store a detriment to the community? Meh. I dont know. Is it a quality location? I do not feel it is.

[strider]

Not too long ago, I got to talk with the previous owner of this station.  Part, not all, of the reason he sold out was the issues from SPAR Council and you know who in particular.  It seems some do not know how to just talk to someone, they complain and do so very loudly. And do so often and about inappropriate things in inappropriate ways. 

From the various discussions about this BP, some of the same thing is going on.  This owner may be responding badly to a few whom he feels insulted him.  Or it may actually be what some fear. The point is, we don't know.  The point is, if all this is going on and known about, why is it still going on?

The one thing I take heart in is that Doug V is involved so I believe things will be done fairly. If he wasn't in the mix, I would know it wouldn't be.  Meanwhile, the way to get him to "do better", if that is what is really needed, is not to not go there, but to do business as usual so he sees there will be support.

[sheclown]

Guess you can add me to the list- I actually use the BP on 8th and Liberty even though it is nasty and dangerous and works in conjunction with the Section 8 apts across the street from the "executive director of SPAR". We have been notified- we are doing a disservice to the neighborhood if we shop there. I have one response to that and it is not fit for public consumption....

It is obscene to do this to people.

[cindi]

but it's alright for business owners to allow dealers and hookers to crowd their sidewalks and doorways selling crack and a$$ without interference?  

[sheclown]

You can't lay all of the problems of the neighborhood at the feet of the business owners.  How many times has he called and nothing has been done?

One can only imagine.

Having him operate, successfully, beats yet another empty store front, for drugs and prostitutes to hang out in front of.

[cindi]

You can't lay all of the problems of the neighborhood at the feet of the business owners.  How many times has he called and nothing has been done?

One can only imagine.

Having him operate, successfully, beats yet another empty store front, for drugs and prostitutes to hang out in front of.

lol, seriously?  if he makes a call jso has to respond.  he can actually go out and tell people to leave.  the guy that runs the speedway at the corner of 8th and perry does and he doesn't have this problem.
and certainly, it's better to have them deal in front of an open store versus an empty one, we wouldn't want them to be deprived of their steel reserve when they get that cotton mouth.

[Springfielder]

You can't lay all of the problems of the neighborhood at the feet of the business owners.  How many times has he called and nothing has been done?

One can only imagine.

Having him operate, successfully, beats yet another empty store front, for drugs and prostitutes to hang out in front of.

From what's being said, the drugs and hookers are already there, so that argument is mute. As for owner and their responsibility for those loitering, it most certainly is on them...which does reflect upon the neighborhood as a whole.

I don't go there because it's out of my way to do so. I don't usually stop where there's people hanging around on phones or by the pumps when they clearly aren't pumping gas....so I would prefer to go elsewhere. However, that's my choice, and it's certainly not up to anyone in the neighborhood to even suggest that it's a disservice to the neighborhood, if they do shop there.

[sheclown]

Is there a bus stop out front.