So asserts Fayes Video‘s Mike McConnell in yesterday’s SFoodie piece about Mission merchants’ opposition to Blue Bottle’s planned Dolores Park cart operation:
“My concern with Blue Bottle is that they’re going national [Last February, Blue Bottle opened a cafe in Brooklyn]. Two years ago in this neighborhood there was a huge fight to keep American Apparel off Valencia Street, and now this.” McConnell thinks a smaller coffee roaster without a retail presence ― like De La Paz ― might be a better fit.
Thanks to this opposition, Blue Bottle’s plans have been put on hold, pending a community meeting. Read on.
Photo by oolong milktea.
Previously:
De La Paz Coffee Company: The Only Coffee Outfit in Town Run by a Grown Man
It’s a free market. Who is this twit to say who should or shouldn’t operate a business in this neighborhood? And opening a cafe in Brooklyn is hardly “going national”. Relax.
well it’s also sold online… seems pretty accessible nationally to me.
Hey, do whatever you have to do to rationalize your fascist position on the issue.
Newsflash: despite what mommy and daddy may have told you, you actually don’t get to decide what businesses can and cannot operate in your neighborhood. Money and the law do.
Cochise is such a ding-dong…He/she/it talks about ‘rationalizing a fascist position’ and then talks about Money and the Law running things….
No one ever said anything about ‘the community’ deciding what businesses can go where. Cochise, why you got to jump to conclusions? He loves BIG BUSINESS.. ha…
But seriously, if you are so into the ‘law’.. why did the ‘law’ (parks & rec) put a hold on issuing permits? That was their decision, not the decision of anyone community member.
You don’t make any sense and have little to no information on what is really happening..
Your parents much feel sad for you….
http://www.kohlbergventures.com/case-bluebottle.html
I can certainly understand Mike’s position; it would be a shame if San Francisco became a place where a local business could start, become successful and then grow. That would be a worrisome trend.
What an absurd smoke screen, obviously these guys are just worried about the potential competition., even though they don’t have adequate capacity on weekends to serve everyone.
Ever been to Fayes? Those guys keep it real. NO more coffee for Christs sakes. This shit’s getting old. Ever been to Blue Bottle? Exactly. Keep’em away from our park and go infringe on someone’s else’s park. We like to keep our park ethnically balanced
It’s not a smokescreen, and please don’t harbor the ludicrous illusion that DPCafe and Fayes are funding astroturf groups to deviously crush the competition. They’ll both keep selling plenty of coffee no matter what kiosk gets approved for the park, and they know it. We (the community members who have actually been volunteering, attending meetings, and talking to people — ahem) are the ones who pushed for the park vendor process to be reset because we were taken by surprise and annoyed at the betrayal of Rec & Park’s continuous promises of transparency and outreach and that sort of thing.
BTW i share your amusement at that silly Fayes quote. I know all politics is local but it’s a little ridiculous to say Blue Bottle is somehow less pure because they’re becoming successful.
What a bunch of crap. They started local and have a great product. Those asses who didn’t want Slanted Door to return to Valencia Strret where they started were also fill of shit. Delfina will have their 4 th and 5 th places soon. You gonna kick the out. Success is hated here.
Hmmmm, Is slanted door set up in the middle of a park? Is Delfina’s? What’s your poin? We are talking about parks, not business on streets that actually intend to have brick and mortar biz’s. Duh. Blue Bottle can go suck some tea!
So you want to get rid of the Tamale Lady and all the street food carts? That’s the analogy.
I’ve made it a point not to patronize businesses that try to force other businesses out of the neighborhood (See Ritual and the American Apparel fiasco). I’m adding Dolores Park Cafe and Fayes Video to the list. Using “localism” as an anticompetitive tool to protect your own pocketbook sickens me.
I think we should put American Apparel right next to Blue Bottle in the park so Piratesnack will be happy. After all, whiners need love too and we can all live happily ever after
Don’t believe every spin you read. This license hold was *not* driven by the businesses. It was driven by community groups who felt like they (we) weren’t given enough time to react. DP Cafe in particular has been very supportive of the park improvements and it’s unfair to think this is some capitalistic sour grapes.
I don’t even brew coffee by the cup at home. The conceit of the cup-by-cup brew annoys me. And the sludge at the bottom annoys me, too.
Maybe you should stick with Folger’s instant coffee?
Maybe you shouldn’t stick anything in the park except new bathrooms and trash cans and see if that works first and foremost
say wha said
>Maybe you shouldn’t stick anything in the park except new bathrooms and trash cans and see if that works first and foremost
That’s a good idea, and they’re actually doing it. Rec & Park added port-o-potties all summer, and they’ve been increasing the number of cans. But trash pickup is expensive/hard and gee, wouldn’t it be good to get a new coffee cart who can use their profits to pay for more cleanup? That’s exactly what we’re talking about in these community meetings, like the one on 9/27: http://www.doloresparkworks.org/2010/09/927-community-meeting-regarding-food-vendors-in-the-park/
The bathroom situation won’t get much better until the major renovation is done, circa 2012
Note to self: stop going to Fayes and Dolores Park Cafe. (Oh wait, I already don’t go there.)
I am sure this would cause people to go *utterly* ripshit, but I think SF should take a page from Vancouver and Kits Beach. Build a nice restaurant like the Boathouse in the middle. Then we might get some decent bathrooms.
More pix here.
Note to self: Blue Bottle tastes like soap, a bunch of white, pretentious baristas with token black dude. Wait, not black dudes, mexican bussers. Note to self: Keep supporting Fayes Video. Those dudes are cool as shit, offer great products, coffee is rad. Note to self: Why do all the idiots on this blog remain idiot white dudes with one speeds bikes that rarely bathe!
I agree that Blue Bottle tastes like soap. Glad I’m not the only one. Also agree that the Fayes crew is the rad brew.
If you’re going to post five times on the same entry you might give the courtesy of using the same username each time.
If you don’t like coffee, don’t bother commenting on it.
The great parks of the world all have cafes within them. We are not talking a Gap.
But then again as an old guy I remember the very first GAP. It was here on Ocean Ave and sold Levis and Records. It was a very cool store. But started as a mom and pop. So maybe we all should be scared.
So the Blue Bottle in the park will sell jeans, too? That might be fun.
It’s gone now too! Hmmm, think you’re onto something
Using the public process to snuff out competition is disgusting. I can’t believe Faye’s and DP Cafe have stooped to that level.
Good, cause they haven’t. See my previous comments.
If you want to do some reporting on the issue, fine. But I don’t believe random comments on the intarwebs.
Figured I would find Sir MrericSir on here typing on the verge of slander….
“The Public Process” — god forbid there be a community forum at City Hall where people are invited to speak, then speak, then get blamed for ‘snuffing out competition’.. I really don’t think the local businesses on 18th, especially Fayes and Dolores Park Cafe have enough *umph* to snuff out anyone, nor would want to.
I suggest, again, you get the facts, read Alex Chaffee’s posts.. along with the Dolores Park Works blog… then type intelligently about issues that you are informed on…versus your non-productive ‘drive by’ comments.
Again, let’s go out of a drink after next week’s community meeting or before….wait, let’s go to the meeting together…from your house, which Muni line will you be taking so I can meet you at the station?
Fayes is the best coffee in the neighborhood…
Dolores Park’s ruined anyway. Let’s get all the businesses targeting white hipsters away from the Mission and restore the Latinhood of this formerly working-class beautiful neighborhood.
oh and to all those who were not at the initial hearing… here is protest from someone who was and is a friend of Blue Bottle. So before you start calling out on the business’s of 18th street who seem more concerned about the state of the park rather than the idea of competition…
please read on…
http://sfunderground.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/its-no-secret-i-support-small-locally-owned-business/
Dearl Garompa, have you ever been in Dolores Park Cafe? You obviously have no idea what you are saying but not surprised you are yet another anglo into Blue Bottle. That cafe has every possible ethnic background working there regardless of who buys from them. You may not like the cafe but is is probably one of the most ethnically diversified cafes in our city…
This is about the facts. This is not about Fayes video, Bi-rite (yes, they stood up at permitting too and objected to procedure and Dolores Park Cafe who seems to be getting the brunt from assholes.
ME: Someone who loves my neighborhood, my local businesses who are cool as hell and my educated opinion since I have taken out the time to become involved with the facts and attended permitting and meetings:
Is it possible at all for people so obsessed with Blue Bottle coffee to put their prejudices aside, their fanaticism aside, and their own personal agenda aside and actually take the time to get the facts. Is it possible for reporters to stop reporting biased opinions based upon their own likes and dislikes or heresay and actually take the time out to attend a permit hearing or a community meeting and know the truths. This is about coming into a welcoming community that has become popular. We all love to hang out in DP and have a great time. The fact is that most of you go home to the Sunset, over the bridge, whereever, and we in Dolores Park are left to clean up your mess, keep our kids away from broken glass, cover the graffiti and pay exterminators to clear out the rats. Recs and Parks, Blue Bottle who have skirted their way into every park, our museum, rent free…..our leaders, our government broke in line, disobeyed almost all the rules and when someone questioned their protocol they pouted, said how dare you not let us get our way as usual. We are running to the media, we are protecting our interest and all local businesses and neighbors are the bad guys. Hey Parks and Rec, Blue bottle, thanks for skirting the rules, being honest and bullying the very ones that made you so popular! Thanks. Success if golden
Dude. We know who you are. So far you have posted under:
Say wha
Huh…huh
Dolores Park
Dolores Neighbor
The Kid
Keepin it fah real
SfDoggydown
SfDoggy smells poopy
P. Diddont
copperhead
Tweedledee
Tweedledum
Cracked
Fartface (my personal favorite so far)
Post all you want, but for the love of god use the same alias.
My name is Matthew, and I am co-owner of Fayes Video and Espresso Bar here on 18th street.
There has been a lot of arguing and debating on various blogs/boards in regards to the issue regarding push-cart vendors in Dolores Park.
I would just like to state where Fayes stands in regards to the issue. I was recently interviewed (as was my partner Mike a few days back) about and just wanted to state where we are with things, regardless of things read on the internet and such.
First off, the issue has to do more with The Parks and Rec department and the community surrounding Dolores Park than it does about 18th street merchants versus Blue Bottle or other vendors.
Secondly: Do I want someone selling coffee within a block or two of our store? Of course not.
Do I think Dolores Park should have push-carts that have a relationship with the PRD via a permit, not sure. Its not really up to me, other local businesses or possibly even the neighbors to decide that. It’s really up to the PRD to make that final decision based on various legal processes, evaluations, etc…
That being said, I don’t feel that the PRD reps made a ‘good faith’ effort to meet the standards in place when dealing with this type of permitting process.
The September 2nd City Hall Meeting: I attended the meeting with a few others to learn more about what was happening. Sitting in the room and hearing from the permit representatives (not sure what to call the person making the presentation) “Yes, we contacted businesses in the area”, but not hearing our name mentioned nor having been contacted was frustrating along with various other statements that just didn’t add up. The process/criteria of selecting vendors, location of the ‘mobile car’, etc…
Various people spoke and said their peace and the after some back and forth, I really felt like a compromise had been reached via the PRD Commission who has the final say.
So, 2-year lease instead of 5, find a location possibly on 20th and Church(not in the middle of the park) and that would be that. I honestly felt, “yeah, that’s cool.”
The PRD Commission said there would be another meeting in two weeks and that the PRD reps for BLue Bottle would come back with an updated proposal reflecting changes the Commission had suggested.
Seemed like a positive experience, getting the chance to speak and bring up some points/concerns.
Then I hear that Crystal Vann Wallstrom from Dolores Parks Works gets an email from a PRD representative ‘asking her not to come’ to the next scheduled public hearing at City Hall on September 16th (ie, don’t bring any opposition)
Outrageous and a little fishy.
Next thing you know, after the hearing, headlines are a-blazing with “Mission Merchants Halt Dolores Park Food Sales” and now Fayes and Dolores Park Cafe are the bad guys?
I felt a little kicked in the nuts. Maybe a lot kicked in the nuts.
So hopefully you can see why some of the local merchants/neighbors are frustrated.
If there is a legal process for all this permit business, do it. All it takes is some ‘shady’ antics but someone in a position of authority (that being reps with the PRD)to taint the whole process/deal.
Information misleading or incomplete nor readily available to those immediately impacted having city-permitted vendors in Dolores Park, but being told “You were informed’ or ‘we talked to you’ along with being ‘asked’ not to attend a public hearing is really bad business.
I wanted to keep this comments simple, but alas.
If the city wants to have carts/trailers selling food, coffee, sunglasses, or whatever at parks(whether its for monies for the park, for tourism, for the health of the community, whatever the reason or reasons may be) AND it can be done in a way that has little negative impact on the surrounding neighborhood (whether that is to the existing businesses, neighbors, dogs, rats, etc…) then great.
Fayes has no beef with any vendors or other merchants.
We just wish the Parks and Recs dept and the process was a little more by-the-book.
Fayes has never set out to block any competitors, there was an opportunity to speak, so we did.
Hopefully those who can attend the Neighborhood meeting next week will get a chance to speak as well. We may not all agree with each other, but we all deserve the chance to be heard.
Thanks for listening.
-Matthew
I’m gonna go get a cup of coffee from Fayes. That SF weekly blog seems to sure have got it wrong about why this is now being delayed.
So, who are these community members and what exactly are their problems with the vendor carts? According to these notes (http://missionlocal.org/2010/09/notes-from-the-dolores-park-meeting-fix-the-park-without-changing-anything/), the fear is that La Cocina and Blue Bottle are going to “exploit” the park. Moreover, in these community members’ minds, the city’s projected $60,000-70,000 take (plus $12,000 in permit fees) is worrisome because not all of it will go just to Dolores Park–it will go to other parks in the city, too. C’mon people, as if we weren’t all ONE city. I live right by the park, love the hood a bunch, but what is up with this foot-dragging every time someone wants to touch your precious two-block radius?
All of those in favor of rationality, come to the meeting on the 27th. If we don’t, Parks & Rec is going to catch hell from that half-crazies rattling off about garbage and rats.
Right, Blue Bottle is BIG BUSINESS. Most definitely.
My statement about the community deciding ‘what businesses can go where’ was in response to the rant of Mike McConnell of Faye’s Video. Apparently he thinks the decision to allow someone to set up shop in ‘his’ neighborhood should lie with him and his cronies.
So tell me, how are Money and the Law inherently fascist? Yeah, I thought so, you’ve got nothing.
Also, go fuck yourself.
Hello Cochise-
So first off I’d like to clarify that I don’t think I was “ranting” to the SF Weekly. John called me up on a Friday afternoon and we had a casual conservation about what was going on with the permitting at Dolores Park. Its unfortunate that my American Apparel comment has been taken to the next level. The actual point I was trying to make was not a comparison between Blue Bottle and AA, but rather comparing the situation. I was trying to point out that it seemed okay for other businesses and neighbors to speak out about the possibility of AA opening a store on Valencia Street, in fear that it would ruin the local aspect of the neighborhood. I am not trying to say that BB should not be allowed in Dolores Park. When Tartine opened 6 years ago we did not protest another coffee venue coming to the street, people should be allowed to set up shop and do business you are right. BUT those places are privately owned and have a lease and rent… the situation here is entirely different. We are talking about PUBLIC space. My opposition to the vendors comes from the Parks and Rec department not providing the proper out reach to the community about what they would to have included in their neighborhood park. There have been several meetings about the renovations and not once has this been mentioned. It would seem like an opportune moment do do such a thing.
I love my neighborhood- it is the place where I have worked and lived for the past 12 years. Owning a business comes with many headaches and joys… and often those are provided by customers. Fayes is a very local and neighborhoody place, often a meeting ground for people to express their opinions and views on the ever changing neighborhood (and I don’t know if you lived in this area 12 years ago but there definitely have been changes), and so when neighbors were voicing a concern about the BB and vendors in the park, I decided to speak up for them. I am a quiet artistic type who is actually very quiet usually when it comes to politics, but by attending the hearings and meetings and reading all the permitting about the vendors it was obvious that the Parks and Recs were not on the up and up and I don’t think it is unreasonable to hold them accountable for that… nor do I think it unreasonable for the neighbors to ask to be well informed on the decisions happening within their community.
The park is already over used in many ways and can not provide proper facilities for the crowds that flock there on the weekends already, so why add more traffic and waste before the park is ready to provide for it. And I understand the situation that the Parks and Recs need money, but maybe having the meeting with the community, alternate fundraising options could have been reached, you never know who is willing to help finicially until you ask.
Lastly, I think the hostile name calling and profanity is unnecessary and people should not be so quick to throw insults and place blame. We all have our rights to have our voice and opinions. Come share yours at the meeting on Monday… we may not all agree but maybe an agreeable compromise will be made… people should listen to each other and respect individuality. I think that is a virtue about Fayes… we take the time to know and listen to our patrons all the while making a good cup of joe.
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