TwoBootsJC wrote:
Thanks for the support FatAssBike (and others).

I hope those who have attacked me and my business will stop and think for a moment how they'd feel about the issue if they owned a business and were in my shoes or those of Ibby's, or those of the Little Sandwich Shop. I'd dare say that they'd be "whining" too. Unfairness is unfairness and I'm sorry that some folks can't see that.

I'm going to sign off now because being a human pinata is starting to wear me down. I've got pizza to deliver.

Best to all.
Aaron

trambone wrote:
Quote:

TwoBootsJC wrote:
Wow guys. Let me give you our story. Two Boots JC is not a franchise. I am friends with the founder who is based in NYC. I thought JC should have one. With his help, I opened Two Boots JC two years ago. It's completely independent. My wife and I own it. I've lived in JC since 1997. Did you read my post about how much we're involved in the community? I'm happy to answer any other questions.

First I will say I love the pizza, but you are a large business.

You have multiple locations in the NY metro area including CITI Field. You all have similar items on all your menus. It may not be a franchise that I cannot go down to Seaside and open a location, but you have the backing of multiple storefronts.

TwoBootsJC wrote:
Wow guys. Let me give you our story. Two Boots JC is not a franchise. I am friends with the founder who is based in NYC. I thought JC should have one. With his help, I opened Two Boots JC two years ago. It's completely independent. My wife and I own it. I've lived in JC since 1997. Did you read my post about how much we're involved in the community? I'm happy to answer any other questions.

TwoBootsJC wrote:
Thanks for reading. Of course, I disagree with every point you made. Here's my analogy. You don't get orchestra seats for the price of standing room. That's pretty much the way our capitalist system works (whether you're on the left or right politically). The farmer's market completely subverts that and provides a subsidy to outside, non brick and mortar businesses by offering them below market rent. It's bad economics and definitely unfair to those of us who pay market rates. If you disagree with these tenets of a market economy, you might want to try living in Venezuela.

And, by the way, I think Ibby's is fantastic.

kencares wrote:
Bistro only gets 2.5 stars on yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-bistro-at ... y-city?sort_by=rating_asc

Boots does better with 3.5, but still has its share of problems:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/two-boots-jersey-city-2?sort_by=rating_asc

maybe they should both focus more on customer satisfaction and less on their competitors.

TwoBootsJC wrote:
You don't get orchestra seats for the price of standing room. That's pretty much the way our capitalist system works (whether you're on the left or right politically). The farmer's market completely subverts that and provides a subsidy to outside, non brick and mortar businesses by offering them below market rent.

TwoBootsJC wrote:

A little background is in order. The problem of prepared foods only became a big problem when the SID, which was set up to help its member businesses instead decided to go into competition with us in order to fill a budget hole. The easiest way to do this was to find vendors from all over New Jersey and New York who would come in and rent space at the plaza to sell their foods.

user1111 wrote:
[quote]


you here that Two Boots! these ____ aint loyal!

TwoBootsJC wrote:
What???
The price of my rent is set by the market. The price of a space at the Grove Street Plaza isn't. Am I missing something? As I said, the vendors at the plaza are receiving a subsidized, below market rent, plain and simple.

TwoBootsJC wrote:
You're right. Not EVERYTHING stays in JC. Just a lot.

TwoBootsJC wrote:
Hi Folks,

I couldn't resist joining in this debate. (Sometimes I think I'm crazy for taking such a prominent role on this issue but have found that most people, when they hear our points, sympathize with us and understand our position.) I hope you'll take the time to read this.

I have been the spokesperson for a group of 17 downtown businesses that includes, among others, Park and Sixth, Orale, La Conguita Barcade, Beachwood Caf?, the Little Sandwich Shop, and Ibby's Falafel. We have asked the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District, of which we are members, to end the sale of prepared foods at the farmers market. We believe that it should return to its original form which was essentially produce and other farm products sold by the actual farmers.

A little background is in order. The problem of prepared foods only became a big problem when the SID, which was set up to help its member businesses instead decided to go into competition with us in order to fill a budget hole. The easiest way to do this was to find vendors from all over New Jersey and New York who would come in and rent space at the plaza to sell their foods.

However, our problem with the SID is not your problem. The question is, even if it was run by someone else, why would it be wrong to allow the food court to continue? Let me explain.

1. The food trucks and table vendors represent predatory and unfair competition. How can I say this? It's pretty simple. When we open a restaurant we have to invest hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. We then have to pay astronomical rents to be close to Grove Plaza. We pay high taxes and fees to Jersey City. The food trucks and table vendors have none of these costs. They pay a small fee and get to parachute in during the busiest hours of the day, the dinner rush. (They can stay away during the slow times.) So, their cost advantage is huge. Imagine running a business where your competitors minimum-wage could be half of yours. That's what this is like. It's completely unfair.

2. Brick-and-mortar stores like ours make an immense contribution to the Jersey City economy. The food trucks and table vendors do not. Fully two thirds of the vendors at the Grove Plaza farmers market are from outside of Jersey City. They haven't built out any restaurants or hired any local contractors. They pay no rent to downtown landlords. They employ no Jersey City residents. They pay almost none of the Jersey City taxes and fees that we pay. Of the 10 vendors at Grove Plaza that are from Jersey City, only four of them have actually built brick-and-mortar establishments. None of them have done so in the pricey downtown area. So even they have a huge cost advantage over us.

3. We are all for fair competition. Several of you have mentioned the opening of Porta next door to Two Boots. I welcome them. They have invested millions in a beautiful new space. They are competing with me fairly. When Roman Nose opened, they took a bite out of my sales. But I welcomed them also. They are nice guys and serve good food. But, as I explained above, a food truck or a guy selling from the table from southern New Jersey or Brooklyn is simply not fair competition.

4. An empanada eaten does hurt pizza sales. Consumers prize above all else, convenience. If you can grab some food the moment you emerge from the Path station and you're hungry, you'll do so. Some people might say "no, I want pizza and I'll walk the half block." Many won't though. That's just human nature. But it's even worse for others. Just last night, at the City Council meeting, the owner of Ibby's testified as to how he now has two competitors at Grove Plaza selling falafel and hummus. Imagine, this is a guy that took the step of investing in Jersey City 20 years ago and makes some of the best food you could ever want and he's losing sales to vendors from outside of Jersey City Who are in effect given a huge subsidy by the Special Improvement District when they are allowed to sell at the best location in Jersey City. This simply is not right.

5. Jeff Favia clearly has many detractors here. I cannot comment as to some of the claims that have been made. I don't know Jeff well enough. What I can say is that he invested approximately $3 million in one of the nicest looking restaurants in Jersey City and has immeasurably improved the way the plaza looks. What if a Hooters had gone in there? I think his views need to be taken
seriously.

Finally, as to Two Boots, we have tried to contribute in every way possible to Jersey City. We are a consistent supporter of numerous neighborhood organizations including ArtHouse, the Boys and Girls Club, WBGO and local schools. When two buildings burned down on Manila last year, we were the first to offer our space for a fundraiser for the occupants who were burned out. I know other businesses are similarly generous. These are things that food trucks and vendors from tables simply will not give to Jersey City. It's another reason why it's so important that everybody support brick-and-mortar businesses.

If we give it time, we will get all of the restaurants we want. But so long as there are tables and food trucks at Grove Plaza restauranteurs will be less likely to build. I know everyone loves convenience. But convenience has costs.

Thanks
Aaron

TwoBootsJC wrote:
Wow guys. Let me give you our story. Two Boots JC is not a franchise. I am friends with the founder who is based in NYC. I thought JC should have one. With his help, I opened Two Boots JC two years ago. It's completely independent. My wife and I own it. I've lived in JC since 1997. Did you read my post about how much we're involved in the community? I'm happy to answer any other questions.

ianmac47 wrote:
You're actually arguing not for capitalism, but for a corporate welfare state where the government steps in to make it easier for big business to operate at the expense of small business.

TwoBootsJC wrote:
Thanks for reading. Of course, I disagree with every point you made. Here's my analogy. You don't get orchestra seats for the price of standing room. That's pretty much the way our capitalist system works (whether you're on the left or right politically). The farmer's market completely subverts that and provides a subsidy to outside, non brick and mortar businesses by offering them below market rent. It's bad economics and definitely unfair to those of us who pay market rates. If you disagree with these tenets of a market economy, you might want to try living in Venezuela.

And, by the way, I think Ibby's is fantastic.

TwoBootsJC wrote:
Thanks for reading. Of course, I disagree with every point you made. Here's my analogy. You don't get orchestra seats for the price of standing room. That's pretty much the way our capitalist system works (whether you're on the left or right politically). The farmer's market completely subverts that and provides a subsidy to outside, non brick and mortar businesses by offering them below market rent. It's bad economics and definitely unfair to those of us who pay market rates. If you disagree with these tenets of a market economy, you might want to try living in Venezuela.

And, by the way, I think Ibby's is fantastic.

caj11 wrote:

Exactly what I'm talking about. Kudos to the Me Casa owner! I might just check the place out. As for the owner of Ibby's, I really hope the city council doesn't submit to their whining.

JCMan8 wrote:
Caj11, I agree with your rebuttal to Two Boots' arguments.

But did you notice the most important part?

Quote:

Just last night, at the City Council meeting, the owner of Ibby's testified as to how he now has two competitors at Grove Plaza selling falafel and hummus.

That's what gets regulations passed (and competition stifled). Going to these town council meetings.

Now that the business owners are going beyond speaking to the press and are going to the meetings, I wouldn't be surprised if a regulation is passed that bans the sale of prepared food at this Farmer's Market.

A pity, because the Me Casa owner competed the right way. He got his own food truck which can be found in the plaza several nights a week.

Just last night, at the City Council meeting, the owner of Ibby's testified as to how he now has two competitors at Grove Plaza selling falafel and hummus.

Seagull wrote:
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ianmac47 wrote:
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Seagull wrote:
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ianmac47 wrote:
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Seagull wrote:
lol....I'm going to dub you, "The Brooklyn Troll" now that you've been outed as not even living in Jersey City.

It wasn't ever a secret. This is not like, earth shattering revelation here.

It's all good man....I'm happy you have enough time on your hands that you can troll a board pertaining to another state.

"Troll" is not synonymous with "using the internet."

Ok, Mr. 2508 posts. Whatever makes you happy.