Someday Café will CLOSE by August 15

[ron_newman]

I just came back from Someday, and confirmed the bad news. The café has not renewed its lease with the landlord (Chatham Light Realty), and the café's owner (Gus Rancatore, of Toscanini's ice cream) is disinclined to reopen it elsewhere in Davis Square. Unless someone changes his mind, the café must vacate by August 15, and most likely will close around August 1.

If you don't want this to happen, call Richard at Chatham Light, 617-354-4466 , and e-mail gus@tosci.com .

(for earlier discussion, see the post immediately below this one.)

[EDIT (6/27, 12:10 am): after exchanging e-mail and a phone call with Ian Judge, the manager of the Somerville Theatre, I have edited this post so that it no longer says that "the landlord is making them leave". Ian's statement is here. I'm going to leave the phone number and e-mail address in place; they came from a sign at the Someday's counter last night.]

Comments

[ellf.livejournal.com]

I fairly much hate the attitude at the local restaurants that kick people out, force them to order certain things, and so on. However, that is a reaction to someone telling me what to do -- my breakfast/meal is paid for, and I believe that I should be free to eat it in a manner that I deem reasonable.

When my idea of "reasonable" differs from that of a business, I stop giving them my money. What value is there in using ordinances and laws to force that?

If what we are reacting to is a business that is treating us poorly, especially in this case where they are infringing on our freedom to eat as we see fit, shouldn't we simply stop patronizing that business?

[push-stars.livejournal.com]

Consider that if you stop patronizing the business it may not affect the business at all. I believe if you live in an area that allows businesses in the community that primarily serves people from outside the community then it is only fair that the business pay more taxes or something. Businesses don't care about you or their neighbors unless you pass laws that make them care. Most of them are out to make as much money as possible. On the other hand; if you have local businesses that supports and serves the local community you have a different situation. The owner may live nearby and participate in local events and fundraising. They may even sponsor and coach a local kid’s team.

Outside businesses that don't do these kinds of things need to make up for it by paying higher taxes and following rules the local community decides on. If they don't support the community the city should be collecting a lot of taxes from them. There is no reason local taxpayers should pay higher property taxes to pay for city services that support businesses that don't support us. So make them pay and make them follow the rules.

[ron_newman]

I don't think a city can legally assess a different tax rate depending on whether the business "cares about its neighbors" or "supports us". Too much subjective judgment is involved there. Nor should a city micro-manage how a restaurant manages its queues and tables.

[push-stars.livejournal.com]

Yes it would be extreem, it is an expample. If you want to see the kinds of stores you like in your neighborhood you have other options than just voting with dollars. Businesses get heavily involved in changing areas like yours to their advantage. They sue, they apply for sepcial permits then they try to change the zoning to allow more commercial use and get more parking so that they can have more customers drive through your neighborhood to get their tables. There is nothing wrong with evening the odds for your local favorites.

[ron_newman]

True. But that has to be done at the time a business applies for a permit, not later after it's already open.

It's quite reasonable for the community to, for instance, oppose a permit application from Quizno's but then support the exact same application later from Mr. Crepe.

[push-stars.livejournal.com]

I think is reasonable for a community to do what it wants. If emminent domain is reasonable.

the hard part may be in getting "everyone" to figure out what they want.

see this:
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/planning/landuse/plans/generalPlan/economicDevelopment.html

The City’s Role in the Local Economy

In recent years a major challenge facing the community has been how to maintain the unique character and business mix in Berkeley’s commercial and industrial areas in the face of rising property values and increasing pressure from chain stores, formula businesses, and "big box" developments. The City has successfully used the Use Permit process and its zoning code to limit the encroachment of businesses that threaten the sometimes delicate balance in neighborhood, commercial, and downtown areas. For example, the City used the Use Permit process to enable the Berkeley Bowl, a unique Berkeley grocery store, to relocate to a new, larger site in South Berkeley. Although the City is not able to govern business ownership types or establish zoning regulations that directly benefit Berkeley-"owned" businesses, the City does use other zoning strategies, such as limits on number of businesses of a certain type that can locate in a particular area. In addition, the City uses economic development programs, such as targeted business lending, to support local businesses and encourage new businesses that will serve local residents in underserved neighborhoods. Through an assortment of regulations and programs the City continues to strive to maintain Berkeley’s commercial areas as unique, diverse, commercially successful centers that serve both local and regional needs.