This idea is as short-sighted and stupid. Fortunately, no thinking person would agree. Yes, reasonable minds can differ... but with so much underproductive real estate in this town, tearing down a baroque movie palace from 1929 is the worst idea I've ever heard in this backwards town. What is the style? Baroque? Art deco? Something like that.

The theater may not "fit" the neighborhood in your view, but it's an architectural treasure. You should go there sometime to see it.

Lastly, it's not a playplace for yuppies. Maybe hipsters. Maybe. Along with thousands of others, including my grandfather... who can recall and appreciate the era of grand theatres and the mostly black-and-white films still showing there.

Honestly, you should look on their website for a flik you like (or one that is might take you beyond your borders) and go there sometime if you have not already.

and you're overlooking all the ugliness in wmbg architecture. that ugliness is from times past, but there's new ugly in bklyn too

I see this as being very simple issue. More smiles = more money... without being overeager for tips.

Most posters enjoy the food at Taqueria. Some contrarians argue for a different definition of authenticity: Bergenline Avenue, etc.

Many posters either observed, noted, are turned off by, or stay away because of the attitude of some staff at Taqueria. The most frequent target of their frustation is the tall, curt Frenchman. I enjoy the food enough to put up with the 2 minutes of unpleasantness in dealing with the counter service.

While I've never had poor service, I've almost always experienced some attitude from their staff. And as I'm from New Jersey, I can also be tough, surly, prickish, selfish, and rude. I know tough attitudes, and I'm not saddened or moved by them. It's just the reality here... and it may be noteworthy that most of their staff are *not* Jersey tough: They're either Euro or CA rude.

The point: If Taqueria wants MORE of my money, they'll endeavor to become more pleasant business owners. It's not a public service their running; it's a business. The 80/20 rule may suggest that eighty percent of their sales (profits?) come from twenty percent of their customers... but that also allows for them to *expand* their group of steady, repeat customers by making marginal changes in the climate of the place while maintaining their consistently good food. The 80/20 rule may still work... and they'll simply have a *larger* pool of repeaters (the 20), and a larger pool of sometimers (the 80).

Why do I say that this volume can change? Because this neighborhood is changing so much, and because SOME of us sometimes stay away *because* of the moodiness... but would be dining there more frequently if we actually felt welcome, and not condescended to.

P.S. At present, only the bussers get my (generous) tips. The counter staff haven't really earned any.

P.P.S. My preferred BYO restaurant takes the opposite tack. Madame Claude's is often relaxed, friendly, slow, and welcoming... perhaps to a fault. Their prices are adjusted for that decreased volume.