60 replies to this topic

[mothrock]

  i just pray to god that grand doesn't become one big strip mall.

surreal

[Gaudustophe]

i don't know what you're talking about...
they're RUNNING OUT of starbucks, they're dropping like flies.
and there are WAY too many decent venues in Phoenix.

What a goddamn shame...
This is the same kind of "neighborhood re-development" (corporate greed) that has destroyed so many venues over the years, they killed Tempe years ago, now they're after the 'Nix.

Get a rope...

I agree with everything your saying. About Tempe and potentionally phoenix being co-opted in the name of "neighborhood redevelopment," and turned into a wasteland of homogeonized corporate poop and college kids interested in getting drunk and getting drunk.

But I feel I should defend tempe just a little bit. Apparently (I'm still relatively new so I need to preface this sentence with "apparently"), Final Friday's in Tempe has been entirely stagnant, except for one store, the gallery/store wet paint. But there are some people trying to kick a little bit of life into it. Wasef, an employee at mill's end, on 3rd and mill, is now participating in final friday's. every final friday, he's booking 3 bands, live artsits, between-set dj's and spoken word for a free show. since they've been doing that, another place, college st. deli has followed suit and is now holding something similar on final fridays.

Here's a link to mill's end page, if you're interested in playing there. you're pretty much guarunteed a show whenever you want it, if they can't have you on final friday's. It's really fun cause the shows are outside.

i'm making it seem like a huge cultural revolution, when it's not, because obviously border's, gordon biersch, and burger king all remain.

And you're still pretty much dead on. i just wanted to promote some of the droplets of interest in final fridays that are forming in tempe.

[capthfc]

coffee is good. but not that good.

especially starbucks.

that shit sucks.

[Thugletta]

Just a reminder to check out azcr.org when shopping Arizona Chain Reaction. Also, remind local business owners to join up with this. Perhaps it can help a little in the prevention of corporate giants taking over everything. I'd hate to see Willow House suffer from anything that Starbucks has going on. A similar program to arizona chain reaction has done wonders in Portland and Austin. The folks in Portland actually ran off one of their Starbucks in favor of a local coffee shop, according to independent storeowner mythology. And all Wal-Mart types of stores do is close the little mom and pops. Oh and underpay their employees with little or no benefits, fire those who join unions and lock their janitorial employees inside at night while their 5 family members have more than 20 billion dollars apiece. Lord, how rich do you have to be? Couldn't they stop at 19.5 billion apiece?

I loved the fact that Emerald didn't always charge a cover, you could check out bands for free on weekdays and once upon a time on weekends too.

[Hooray For Everything]

shane got me cheered up somewhat though with the lionel ritchie...

that song makes me drop to the floor & weep.

seriously.

[dharma_bum]

shane got me cheered up somewhat though with the lionel ritchie...

that song makes me drop to the floor & kneel.

seriously.

damn dude, you really must like that song a lot huh...

[Hooray For Everything]

shane got me cheered up somewhat though with the lionel ritchie...

that song makes me drop to the floor & kneel.

seriously.

damn dude, I really like your dong a lot ...

[dharma_bum]

yeah it sucks that starbucks does offer fair pay and consistant raises, as well as progressive health insurance benefits that even include coverage of same sex partners as well as non married domestic partners... it also sucks that they have a fund that the workers can collectivly contribute to that is designed to help fellow workers when catastrophy hits...

you know, i am all for the small independent mom and pop to a certian point... but having worked for different ma and pas for the past 10+years i can say i have no health insurance and nothing on the horizon... i mean fuck the multinational corporation, but maybe they need to get fucked from the inside out... sometimes (most of the time) the difference between small boss man and big boss man is that small boss man wants to be big boss man, but does not have the means or resources. sometimes i think it would be nice to not have a face to put to the selfishness....

sorry you all are losing your dive bar, but i am not sorry that someone will be able to get even a 20 hour a week job and have health coverage for themselves and their families...

all power to the workers!

matt.

this has nothing to do with a mom and pop store. this has to do with a corporate name coming in and just saying fuck off, we want the WHOLE bldg... next thing ya know they are taking over the WHOLE block.. etc..etc.. i am all for benefits, fair pay etc... but i am not in favor of big corporate names coming in and mowing down independent buisnesses - period. i too have worked for places that didn't offer bennys but it was my choice to work there. do you live in the valley or seattle?

[unluckycharm]

this all works both ways. people at emerald could be losing their jobs & they sure won't be getting them at Starbucks.

change *is* bound to happen, i'm not under any illusions about that. i am miffed that the general attitude in phoenix is *not* about preservation but about new new new.

[dharma_bum]

i live in downtown phoenix, like right down the street from the emerald lounge, i completely understand the issue with a corporation strongarming an independant businessi ustsaying that at least it isnt some sam waltonesque company that exploits its workers, and at least there will be some decent jobs opening up for people n the community... and i also understand that the local corner hangout is going to be gone, but another will pop up... trust me, they always do, besides it seems to me that comradre is not about the place, but about the comrades... another dive bar will start doing shows and fun times wil amass...

i guess i see both sides to the situation... and am trying to draw positivity out of it,,,

i think we are on the same page but my question is where will it stop. because the bottom line will always win, i think that the no-names will not stand a chance in the ever evolving landscape of Phx.