urbanSTL

JCity wrote:I just don't get how people don't understand that it's a private business and this country was founded on religious freedom/expression. sure, you have the right to say that "the cross on the wall offends me." -

They have a complete right to have it up. But I also have a right to tell them I think it's inappropriate (i never said offended) and potentially detrimental to their mass market business.



BTW, I was at St. Patricks for a good part of the day yesterday and I had no problem with the crosses, etc there.

asckee wrote:

I thought about requesting this to management but feel it may not be worth it if I'm the only person downtown who will drink it.

Oh you would be surprised...

Thank goodness! I thought I was all alone.

^I don't live Downtown, but whenever I head down there to visit friends, I always show up with a 12-pack of The Beast.

I prefer "Hebrew" the Chosen Beer.

Genesis Ale or Messiah Bold!

gopher wrote:I prefer "Hebrew" the Chosen Beer.

Genesis Ale or Messiah Bold!

Hunh?

Friday, September 4, 2009

Challenges: Small business experience

Competition forces Heller to restock City Gourmet



St. Louis Business Journal - by Rick Desloge



For five years Craig Heller’s City Grocer had been the sole grocery in downtown St. Louis.



That changed Aug. 11 when the dominant supermarket in town, Schnuck Markets Inc., opened Culinaria at Ninth and Olive streets, less than a block away.



The new competition forced Heller and his partners to reinvent their combination deli/quick shop. They closed for a five day makeover and re-emerged Aug. 18 as City Gourmet — dropping most grocery items, expanding the bakery and liquor departments, and adding made-to-order stir fry dishes and a burrito bar to its breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Tastings and other events are in the works.



Heller said his plan is to create a more nimble business in City Gourmet’s 5,000 square feet. “We’re doing things like letting customers make mixed six packs of beers,” Heller said. “The produce we have is primarily the produce we use to prepare our foods, along with some fruit and vegetables that customers can take back to the office for a snack.”





http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... allb1.html

^I will go in on renting a postal style truck if you want to try to go reverse seinfeld style with me.

Today's Post Dispatch carried an article about that crucifix. That scandalous thing. Maybe it will be removed now! Hope ya'll are happy about that. I'm not, and I called Schnuck's today to offer support.

Culinaria could stage a theatrical recreation of Jesus' crucifixion at high noon every day from the 9th level of the parking garage, and I'd still shop there and be damn glad they're in the neighborhood. Their beliefs are none of my business, and even though I disagree with them, I still value their addition to my community.



The Schnuck executives are big political contributors to Republican campaigns, which I will not support, either. Still, they took a chance on our neighborhood, on our community, and have managed to do a very good job at it. I will put my political beliefs aside and patronize their business, as their faith in our community is a bigger deal to me than their religious or political leanings.

audioguy09 wrote:I will put my political beliefs aside and patronize their business, as their faith in our community is a bigger deal to me than their religious or political leanings.

I think more people ought to try your approach. This flap over the Culinaria crucifix is one of the silliest things I've ever seen.



Perhaps I'm wrong, but I get the feeling there's a certain segment of the population that would have no problem with a Jewish or Muslim symbol in place of the crucifix. Some might even say that the Jewish and/or Muslim symbol showed a commitment to diversity and tolerance. To be fair, there are plenty of people (including most of you in this thread) that believe any display of these symbols is inappropriate. And I don't identify with sensationalists like Bill O'Reilly, who apparently thinks there's a war against Christianity and enemies that are Hell-bent on destroying the American way of life lurking around every corner. However, there are some out there that apply a double standard to Christianity, or more specifically in this case, Catholicism, as they believe the majority is trying to impose its will on everyone else. I just don't see how a simple crucifix, which I never noticed until it became the issue du jour in this thread, is creating such a stir.

ThreeOneFour wrote:Perhaps I'm wrong, but I get the feeling there's a certain segment of the population that would have no problem with a Jewish or Muslim symbol in place of the crucifix.

For any opinion, there is a certain segment of the population that holds that opinion. I'm pretty sure noone has commented that they should be forced to remove the crucifix (which would be a violation of free speech anyway).

However, there are some out there that apply a double standard to Christianity, or more specifically in this case, Catholicism, as they believe the majority is trying to impose its will on everyone else.

christianity is an evangelical religion as prescribed in the bible. Its doctrines encourage believers to convert non-believers. Unfortunately to some this means imposing their system of beliefs on everyone else. fact: christian organizations do, indeed, attempt to impose their values on everyone else by lobbying lawmakers.

Matt Drops The H wrote:^



To me, it's the same as plastering Obama or George W. Bush's face up there. If you're airing your beliefs in such a public manner, and not everyone shares those beliefs (indeed, some are intimidated by them), then expect some flak.

"...airing your beliefs...?" w . t . f .



You don't get it, you really don't get it.



This IS what a diverse community looks like. Some people openly, joyously, celebrate their relationship with God in every aspect of their lives. Other religious people are low key and observe their spirituality in a more private way. Others don't have any religion at all. It's called D-I-V-E-R-S-I-T-Y.



Your discomfort with someone else's expression of his own religious tradition is your problem, not his. Your feelings are your feelings, you've got 'em--ok. But don't assume that because you feel something icky mean there's something wrong with the other guy.

Grover wrote:What we're seeing is the very uncomfortable emerging understanding by WASPs (representing the top of the social order) that their centuries long position of arbiter of what is and is not "American" is quickly ending.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

steve wrote:

Grover wrote:What we're seeing is the very uncomfortable emerging understanding by WASPs (representing the top of the social order) that their centuries long position of arbiter of what is and is not "American" is quickly ending.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

as a white anglo man myself I say it's good. I'm ready for someone else to be "the man" for awhile

GelatinousEndive wrote:

Matt Drops The H wrote:^



To me, it's the same as plastering Obama or George W. Bush's face up there. If you're airing your beliefs in such a public manner, and not everyone shares those beliefs (indeed, some are intimidated by them), then expect some flak.

"...airing your beliefs...?" w . t . f .



You don't get it, you really don't get it.



This IS what a diverse community looks like. Some people openly, joyously, celebrate their relationship with God in every aspect of their lives. Other religious people are low key and observe their spirituality in a more private way. Others don't have any religion at all. It's called D-I-V-E-R-S-I-T-Y.



Your discomfort with someone else's expression of his own religious tradition is your problem, not his. Your feelings are your feelings, you've got 'em--ok. But don't assume that because you feel something icky mean there's something wrong with the other guy.

You have a point, but only to a point. If my neighbor is member of the KKK and choses to hang his robe and hood in his window is it OK if I'm offended? What about displaying swastikas? What's missing here is any self-awareness by "people openly, joyously, celebrate their relationship with God in every aspect of their lives" that their symbols and actions may not be seen as benign by others. To many, religion is a symbol of oppression, bigotry and even violence. Religion, and corresponding symbols, are very, very powerful. Those in positions of social dominance really don't get it.