Popular New York Restaurant May Close Doors Because of Excessive Union Demands
- Posted on November 25, 2011 at 8:55pm by
Becket Adams
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Restaurant Owner Barbara Smith (Source: The New York Times)
Barbara Smith, a famous model and “lifestyle entrepreneur,” started her B. Smith’s restaurant in 1986 in a New York neighborhood that, at the time, was “better known for junkies and hookers.” Since opening her Southern-inspired dining establishment, she helped reestablish the city’s Theater District as a popular and profitable tourist attraction.
“What Barbara Smith accomplished on the Avenue of Lost Souls is nothing short of remarkable,” said Dan Gasby, her husband and business partner, in a recent New York Post report.
With the enormous popularity of her restaurant, Smith decided that it needed to expand to a larger facility. She then relocated from West 47th street to Restaurant Row in New York. Her restaurant has been there for going on 11 years.
However, some recent and unexpected financial issues have her wondering whether she should just close shop. See, Local 1 of the stagehands runs the building she has leased for the last 11 years on Restaurant Row–the same union that saw its membership grow in proportion to the Theater District’s surge in popularity.
“Now with the lease expiring in February, the union wants to increase the rent 350 percent — from around $13,500 a month to about $50,000, going up to $60,000 a month within five years,” reports the Post.
This enormous increase has many believing that the same union that saw its membership grow as a result in the popularity of the pre- and post-theater dining location is purposely muscling Smith out of the distinct.
“The very nature of the money they are asking says they don’t want us here,” Smith said. “Our attitude is that we survived 11 years and gave the building and Restaurant Row more value than it had previously.”
Why the union would want do this is anyone’s guess.
Indeed, it seems very odd, even ungrateful, that they would want to push her out given the fact that her restaurant has for over two decades attracted top tier celebrities (including Robert DeNiro, Denzel Washington, and Sidney Poitier) which, in turn, attracted tourists and their money.
“At B. Smith, there wasn’t an us and a them — it was just everyone coming together and having a good time,” Gasby said.
Nevertheless, a true entrepreneur, Smith has several other endeavors she can fall back on if she does indeed decide to pull the plug on her Restaurant Row eatery.
“She has other restaurants in the Hamptons and Washington, DC, her own line of home products from Bed, Bath & Beyond, and a furniture line — leading some to dub her ‘the black Martha Stewart,’” reports the Post.
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Comments (329)
honestynow
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:22pmComplain long and loud Barbara! People need to hear about this continued union greed.
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:47pmScrew em’. Leave now while you can and do so without incurring major losses. Maybe if the whole area goes back to it’s old ways it will teach the Unions to act like good citizens. But don’t hold your breath!
Report Post »Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:32pmOnly Liberals would call Ms. Smith “a BLACK Martha Stewart”
Report Post »Conservatives would call her “smart and savvy”.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:38amUsual case with the union thugs, legalized extortion of the very businesses that bring them their success in the area then they kill same businesses; then when the area declines once again into poverty, they blame the business owners for what is the unions own self destructive fault.
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:49amRacists.
TheRugger
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:35amTo go Galt or to stand and fight, quite a dilemma! I urge Ms. Smith to stand up for your rights and fight the greedy bastards.
Report Post »Marci
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:38amDump them Barbara–let them see if they can get the same rent they HAVE been getting from you in this crappy union-aided economy let alone the ridiculousness they are asking.
Report Post »Miami
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:16amThe future as seen by those who placate to unions, the beast who is never satisfied, they will bite the hand that feeds them and swallow them whole.
Report Post »TurboCat
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:59amUnions will accomplish here the same thing they accomplished in Detroit: destruction and a ruined neighborhood. Thugs!!
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 6:40amThe part I find interesting is that the union owns the building. This makes me wonder how much real estate unions own and, in NYC, if the tail is wagging the dog. My vote is to close it and move south. We appreciate good southern cooking and YOU can own your building, not rent from union thugs.
Report Post »saigonpaul
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 7:49ami suggest she contact the NRA, maybe they have the answer to that question…
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 8:16amAh, the wonderful unions…sarcasm. All unions should be abolished. They have no place in today’s society. They are nothing but greedy corrupt pieces of crap.
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 8:33amWhy would OWS’ers not jump on this? Maybe a street protest or something to show the “corporate” greed and thuggery of unions. I mean, isn’t what the union doing the same thing as what the OWS movement deplores?
Yes ,LIBERTYLUVNMAMMA, you have brought up another great example of far-left hypocrisy!
We don’t even have to hunt for it now that its out of the closet.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 8:57amThe best way, and perhaps the only way to get rid of a union is to fold the company and begin a new.
Report Post »SLEUTH
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:14amthe unions GREED, made them even more STUPID. its time to END the unions
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:22amA perfect example of why unions have outlived their usefulness! This is a shame that they would want to put someone out of business, due to greed, or just wanting her out. This sort of thing pains me to no end, and this is one of the big why America is losing it’s exceptionalism.
Report Post »Sheepdog911
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:40amSimple answer. Forget the union. Go someplace else. Let someone else pay them the money. You have a profitable business that flies in the face of what a union stands for. Forget them, take your business and your customers elsewhere.
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:51amI’d say GET THE HELL OUT OF THAT UNION BUILDING ASAP.
Why would you want to give the union one penny of your hard earned money anyway?
I’m sure Trump would be interested in doing business somewhere.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:23amMs. Smith should move to Oklahoma. We are a right to work state. Here in the town I live in 85 Miles S. of OK City we have construction going full blast. Last 2 years Santa Fe – Rib Crib – Mediterranean -Chilies – Applebes, Etc. My 3 sons Construction could work 7 days a week if they wanted to.Home Depot has a new permanent sign out front – hireing – Same for Solo Cup Co. and many more. You should see our wanted Ads fo workers on Sundays News paper.
Report Post »Philo Beddoe
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:28amDon’t worry, obama will help you
Report Post »claymoremacm
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:33ammove,buy your own place,it is a buyers market
Report Post »WomensChampion
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:55amThere should be a law to protect Barbara Smith and others like her. No one should be able to raise the rent by 350%. I think if ever rent was to be increased, they should only be allowed to increase by 10% per year. New York ladies support this enterprising, beautiful lady who has contributed so much to the community. I am not in NY but I will pray for you Barbara. :) BE ENCOURAGED.
Report Post »ReallyAUnionGuy
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:09pmI think maybe she should just go ahead and close up shop. Many union members have been trying to get our leadership to see the errors of their ways. We have made no head way. The entrenched power is supported by too many sheep, and the other sheep who see it are to afraid to risk it because they see what happens to those who stand…….but the fight goes on…….. She should close up and those jobs can disappear, maybe when labor starts to see what happens when you bight the hand that feeds, we will be able to make a change…….maybe….
http://www.firefightersforfreedom.blogspot.com
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:15pmIt’s time to deal with the Unions aggressively before they put all of America out of business. Since I was in my senior year and worked for the Telephone Company part time I’ve been a #1 enemy of the unions. When I graduated HS and worked full time, the union began to hound me to join. I stood my ground and refused (mostly because of the horror stories about unions I’d read in Readers Digest) and told them I’d never join. Asked for a transfer because I could feel the anger toward me from union leader.
Report Post »I‘d sweep streets or pick vegetables before I’d ever be indoctrinated into such an EVIL and corrupt group that most unions have always been. Thugs and corruption is all they know besides breaking the American dream. Not nice people in that underground world.
mtnhimike
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:16pmJust close it up and then what will the Union say to all the employees that lose their jobs. More reasons that the unions should be outlawed.
Report Post »taxcorporateunions
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:41pmI suppose her employees are union?? In any event, close the doors and walk away. Time to remove the income tax exemptions of corporate unions. Why do all of us continue to fund this extortion and racketeering scheme? Compulsory membership and dues paying is one thing, but easier to remove their tax exemptions. It is only FAIR!
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:42pmThe people of new york are geniuses.
Let’s see-ows chasing all taxpaying businesses out, unions chasing all tax paying businesses out, the people cheer when rush moves his business out, they will cheer when beck moves his business out. Sound like a real recipe for success. That’s the liberal elite? I thought they went to the best colleges for the best education. What a waste of money.
So what will new york look like when there are no taxpayers left? Looks like a third world dump to me now, is there a fourth world landfill? Don’t worry NY and California- I have a permanent blue sharpie to color in your stars on the flag.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:44pmWhy do the unions hate hot black women who are successful so much?
She’s smoking hot, so she’s obviously a conservative. If she could only be a dog faced redhead.
Oh, damn! Shed be joy bear.
Report Post »mils
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:03pmshe needs to keep talking about this…if the press we have was fair minded, they would be looking into this injustice..
Report Post »members of this union need to question what the heck their bosses are up to.
Hollywood
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:13pmUnion fault???? It‘s Bush’s fault,don’t you know!
Report Post »missioncreep
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:37pmThis article is misleading – its headline implies that the restaurant’s workers are organized and that their union is demanding more $ or benefits which is cutting into profits in a way which threatens the survival of the restaurant. Instead, the union is only guilty of doing what is done by capitalist landlords everywhere and every day. Are there articles on Beck’s site which complain when other landlords do this – or is it only because the landlord in this case happens to be a union?
Report Post »turtleboy
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:47pmI thought most Blaze readers believed in capitalism. Why shouldn’t the owner of the building be able to charge whatever rent they see fit? I guess you only believe in personal property rights when the owner of the property is of your own political persuasion. If the rents in the area have increased, and the property is now worth $50,000, then that is what they should be able to charge. Hypocrisy will undermine your credibility.
Report Post »Pigpen
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:56pmUh oh, now we Crackers can FINALLY feel good about Union Busting! Because a BLACK WOMAN is being hurt by the Unions. Uh oh, better send us Green Mouthed Papists back down the coal mine on a wage too low to afford milk for the baby. SCR3W the Irish, SCR3W the Redneck, a rich, talented, well-connected, BLACK WOMAN is going to lose money in her posh NY Restraunt! It is best to just get rid of ALL the unions. Don’t try to liberate them from the virulent, ethnic forces that have crushed them with a foreign ideology, just get rid of organized labor as a WHOLE! Because its not like the corporations ever got out of control! So we could keep Standard Oil and the railroad companies, they were just misunderstood… BUST THE UNIONS NOW !!!
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 3:28pmMission
Come on man! Seriously? Ok. So the unions are capitalists now? That‘s what they’re about? I thought they were for the working class? But now they are greedy capitalists? Which is it?
In the irony of all ironies, it turns out that whether you are a socialist, communist, or union, you really are a capitalist- you just use a different product, someone like you, to make a profit.
So the ows dummies and union members are the product of capitalists making huge profits peddling socialism and communism. Thanks for proving that point. Bravo, sir. Well done, tool.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 3:33pmThat’s for you too turtle boy. Why aren’t you turtle man? That’s the best handle you could come up with? Is that you encinom?
Which is it dummy? Capitalism or communism? You don’t get to have it both ways either tool. Isn’t she part of the 99%? Oh wait, she can’t be, she made something of herself. Ok, what is your product,service, or contribution to this coutry besides lice, mold, filth and zucotti lung?
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 3:38pmYour alinsky tactics are useless. Your words are hollow, your insults are outdated. Your tactics are known, your delivery is scripted. Your professors are corrupt, your school is a den of thieves. Your life is a waste, your future is dark. Your aggression is weak, but your fear is strong. We see you. We recognize the joke you’ve become. It doesn’t end well for you.
Alinsky is an old dead white, Jewish capitalist- and he’s got you wrapped around his little finger.
Report Post »johnlee
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 3:50pmNo, this is not greed, this is a push out. It’s not the money they want. Explore the building , inside and down.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 4:01pmShes a successful Black Woman….thats the problem. For them! They may think she’ll pay the money instead of trying to muscle her out as she believes. If she goes, so does the business, so it doesn’t make sense but what does under Obamas New America.
Report Post »Caniac Steve
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 4:04pmi agree with you and davethepatriot..screw them and go out on top !!
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 4:33pmmove the resturant and tell everyone else, if any, who leases in that building, or any buildings by Local 1 who you might know, that it is in all of your best interests to leave.
Report Post »John Galt Friend
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 4:53pmLet it go to those people and see what happens…..Who is John Galt?
Report Post »sbish
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 4:56pmI don’t know what anybody on this board is whinging about. Should not a landlord be able to set there own rent, per how the market dictates? This is a non-story as far as I am concerned. If the market is $50K a month for a space that is that sized in that neighborhood, for that use, why should the landlord limit his rentals payable to $13K per month? It isn’t exactly neighborley of the landlord, one could argue (thought I would argue that it is just business), but I don’t see how it is immoral or underhanded. Not that it matters in a free-market society, but while I imagine this lady’s restaurant was a factor in the neighborhood gaining a better vibe, I doubt seriously that this one restaurant saved several square blocks from the depths of depravity all on its own.
Wake up folks! Stop droning on like sheep. Think about what you are saying rather than towing the company line. Just because a union owns the building, doesn’t make wanting to get paid a fair rental rate from a tenant as the same BS we see from unions consistently. If it is a market rental rate, they will find somebody to rent it (B. Smith, or otherwise) and if it is not a market rent, then it will sit vacant and collect dust and cost the union in lost revenue. Perhaps you folks would like to see rent control through govt intervention so that this type of thing can’t happen?
Report Post »Romans828
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 6:10pmPeople! Get a grip! This is New York City! It‘s in EVERYBODY’s best interest to leave there now rather than later.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 8:54pmWhat does Michel Obama, Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, Rachel Maddow, Chris Mathews, Ed Shultz and the rest of the MSM have to say about this? Is she a (shudder) a Republican?
Report Post »ghostsouls
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:43pmBring your wonderful restaurants to more deserving NON-UNION states. You would be doing a service to those states, and local economies, who would welcome you with open arms. NOT everything needs to be in NY, Calif, Las Vegas, Chicago or Los Angeles, go to an unknown city, and put it on the MAP!
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:54pm@ghostsouls
Report Post »Nicely said!
The-Monk
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:57pmI wonder if she voted for Obama last time and if she’s going to vote for him this time?
Report Post »1947
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:05pmBarbara now do make anything is this Obama stands by the UNIONS
Report Post »calijohn
Posted on November 27, 2011 at 1:20amno rent increase in 11 years? it’s about time.
Report Post »commercial rents are extremely high in the theater district as indicated by some minor research/googling. 1200 sq ft going for $12,000 per month.
business is business.
old white guy
Posted on November 27, 2011 at 8:36amwow, 13,500 to 50,000. i thought 13,000 was bad. she must have to do serious volume to make money in n.y. even with 13,000 rent the other expense must be bloody awful.
Report Post »Wayne
Posted on November 27, 2011 at 8:45amBetween Obummer, the unions, and Muslims our nation is falling apart. And no one our Government seems to care. Hang in there Barbara don’t let these lowlifes push you around. Good Luck.
Report Post »SilverBlaze
Posted on November 27, 2011 at 10:40amUnion at work to destroy Capitalism. They hate capitalism, yet they are using iPads, iPhones and computers which are the products of Capitalism, only shows their hypocrisy, just check out the OWS people
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 8:29amShe should shut the doors today…..Have a nice dinner with her employees give them a 6 weeks severence package and tell them why she has to close the business.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:13am@Turtle boy
I do believe in capitalism. I do believe that a private property owner can charge whatever rent they so choose. I also believe Ms. Smith can look for another location for her successful business. If I were her that is exactly what I would do. Filing the empty space with a profitable business at the new rental rate would be interesting. If the property owner reduces the rental rate below the minimum quoted to Ms. Smith, they place themselves is the position of discriminating against a minority group member. It is called red circling or red zoning and is designed to keep minorities out of a particular area.
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:17pmWish all the Union Northerners would leave our State and go back to their Cess Pool Union States and leave our Right to Work States Alone. We Don‘t need NO Stinkin’ Unions.
Report Post »Choctaw25
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 6:15amCan I get an AMEN Brother.
Report Post »Move out, Relocate and rename the new place Union Busters Hide Away.
babylonvi
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:14pmThis is a landlord-tenant issue. Makes no difference it a union is the landlord or not therefore the union bashing in this instance makes no sense. Maybe they want to push out all the tenants and sell the building? If, however they are the only tenant to get such an increase, a discrimination investigation may be in order.
Report Post »antrancher
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:27pmSmells like a rat to me!
Report Post »majorsco
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:29pmHowever, most landlord are not financial terrorists. That’s what the union is, any union. If they can’t tear down an industry with overpriced and underqualified workers, then they’ll just push them out and all the people that work there will lose their jobs. The mob, Al Qaeda, or unions, what’s the difference?
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:58pmThe building can be sold while it’s tenant occupied. The new buyer would just have to honor the present lease and notify the tenant if the lease will not be renewed. So that’s not the issue.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:13pmI agree with you 100%.
If the Union is unreasonable in their asking amountm they will get 100% of 0.
Report Post »Choctaw25
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 6:20amOh PLEASE, give me a break, stop trying to justify or hang good reasoning onto something a union does.
Report Post »All union action is bad, racist, liberal, communist in nature. Follow the union dues.
treehuggerchip
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:30amit makes a difference down south as we have no use for the communistic unions
Report Post »Buck Shane
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:30amWhat is the space worth? If there is a higher use, or if they have another customer who will pay them what they are asking, this is capitalism. Her lease is up – time to renegotiate – that‘s what she’s doing by going public and pointing out that the union is managing the space. She is using the negatives the unions have generated for themselves against them. But, if the space is worth $50,00 a month, it would be mismanagement if they didn’t get it.
Report Post »dnewton
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:02amI think you are right about it being a landlord-tennant matter. It could be that the union is trying to beef up the coffers for the coming election season. I support the union in its attempt to optimize the value of its property. Perhaps there is a better and more beneficial use of the property with another clients. Maybe Soros needs it? To prove greed or craziness of the union, I would first have to know what the prevailing rent in the same area is. If they are out of line, and 350% sounds like it might be out of line, they will have a whole lot of months of zero income before anyone can rent at their new rate. Maybe they should sell food out of vending machines to save on labor and health care? I thought they had rent control in New York? Maybe, only in residential situations?
Report Post »dnewton
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:13amTo be an inflation adjustment, the contract would have to originated in 1977 to justify a 350% increase.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:54pmOk genius.
She’s the tenant. The union runs the building and wants to increase rent. According to the story. Did you read it?
Clearly, the union is involved. So it’s a tenant- union dispute. Play on words changes absolutely nothing. Good for the unions. Put yourself out of work. Brilliant! What a joke.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:57pmI’ll bash the unions anytime I want. They’ve been bashing, smashing, and crashing my country for years. It’s the most basic form of communism.
You want to defend them? Must be union.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:11pmClose it down.
She has been, and will be, successful in anything she does, why give in to their demands?
Relocate & reopen the restaurant in some other part of town – the customers will find your new location easily…
Report Post »oldironsides
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:10pmI agree. She should go John Galt like others are. And then some wonder why the economy is so lousy?
Report Post »susie4dy
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:39pmI agree with you, move and do give in the the Union thugs!
Report Post »TEXIFICATION
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:01pmActually….. The unions were headed where they belong, straight to HELL, until Obummer, the SEIU and UAW took over this country. Bring “B. Smith’s Restaurant” to Texas. We’ll buy your fine Southern food, if it’s good, and will love you even more if a union is NOT involved. New York & Chicago ARE NOT representative of the other 99% of this country.
Report Post »hi
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:54pmWhat an amazing woman!!
Report Post »Daddymac10
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:53pmTypical union thugs. Whenever possible, I would advise every conservative to leave their union..
Report Post »HumbleCitizen
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 8:39amIn KY. I had a union rep sit in my house and inform me that I am FORCED to belong to a union because (of where I work) my job position benefits from union bargaining. I know the dues stolen from me are used to fight against me.
Report Post »In this economy, and at my age, another job isn’t an option.
Unix
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:28amThen don’t get another job, create a business, come up with an idea and sell it! Easier said than done, but if you put your mind to it, the possibilities are endless.
Dump the union extortion, let them twist in the wind, and your life will be much better. Don’t let a few years and worn treads slow you down, you still have a brain – use it.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:41pmWell said unix.
Report Post »Doug Piranha
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:51pmThis woman is black. Therefore, the union is RAAAACIST!!!!!!
But seriously, if this woman is a Democrat, as most New Yorkers are, she empowered the very people who are taking her down. That makes it a little difficult to sympathize.
I hate unions. I hate everything about them.
Report Post »TurboCat
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 3:09amMe too. In particular, Richard Trumka. Andy Stern, Steve Lerner, And Hoffa junior. Can’t STAND any of THOSE thugs. They all need to be relegated to a homeless condition. It would humble their arrogant azzes!
Report Post »Roywalling
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:58amThats one of many reasons to hate bama.After all,he works for them.
Report Post »olddog
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:48pmAnd the Unions Continue to Destroy America. Unions, Leftist party are one in the same..
Report Post »Bete Noire
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:47pmGiven that she is female, black, successful and a woman’s activist there is a good chance she may start to change her political views after all this bull. She‘s a Democrat who does great things with the NYC Womens Institute but the libs and the unions probably feel she’s getting a bit too uppity and thinking of moving off the Plantation. Come on over to the right side Barbara, we”ll encourage your entreprenuerial spirit and let you keep your hard earned cash. But be warned, there’s nothing the libs hate more that a smart, successful conservative female. It makes them apoplectic and vicious.
Report Post »Infidel49
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:46pmLet them union themselves out of a job, morons.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:44pmMrs. Smith. You should open a series of restaurants in the south. You could call them ‘The Right to Work Restaurants’. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about some union thug pushing you around.
Report Post »TxSon
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:38pmDoes anyone here actually know what the going rate for that space is? Are they gouging or has she been getting a under market rate? I don’t know, do you?
Don’t hate on me for asking the obvious question. I think unions have long out lived their benefit to society as much as the next pro-work, freedom-loving person.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:16pmNo, you raised good questions.
Report Post »tpatrick
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 7:56amDoes not matter, and who cares. These are thugs, and they’re the same people who are running your country. They are not only strong arming this lady ,but the whole country.
Report Post »showmerancher
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:28pmObviously some union “crony” want to open a restaurant in what has become a very successful spot. He/she’ll probably have to be paying $500/month in rent…
Report Post »TurboCat
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 3:19amThat sounds about right to me.
Report Post »spfoam1
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:26pmClose the doors and relocate to a property the unions have no control over. New York is probably going to crash and burn, so get out of there, find a decent neighborhood, and use your good reputation to get started again.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:15pmHey- It’s New York.
Hey-It’s unions.
Hey- What did you expect?
You can’t try to do free market entrerprise in a union controlled environment. You are not working for yourself and your employees to create a good job and make the community better. No, you are working for the enrichment of the Community (Communism) and all the profits you create go to the betterment of the People (Communism) and since you are taking from the “rich” you must now give back to the “people” (Communism).
If it were me, I woud cut my losses, lay off the employees (who can now file for unemployment thanks to Socialism) and relocate my business to a business friendly location.
Hint: Don’t try to move to Washington State. It’s controlled by the unions.
Report Post »Tired of Code Names
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:33pmIt seems to me that soon the folks who can offer jobs are now wealthy enough to weather the storm and shut down shop, which, probably makes most of them sick to their stomaches. They can live from their previous profits. Quite frankly, that is the only way to bust the unions. The union members who truly believe in that communistic system, well, you are to be damned to your own making. You forced the issue. America burns and nobody wins in the long run.
Report Post »bubbamoosecat
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:44pmYou are correct – unions kill comerce. Contrary to what Michael Moore said, it was powerful unions that drove GM out of Flint, Mich. Michigan is a mess because unions had the state government in their pockets for many years. If I was looking to launch a large business venture, I’d put it in a right-to-work state.
Report Post »Female
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:16pmBuy your own block/city somewhere, create a new theatre district and watch this one crumble! Theater is nothing without those terrific meals! Branson, Missouri has succeeded! Nashville has succeeded. Vegas is somewhat successful. The rich fly on private jet. Pander to the likes of Al Gore, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, the G-20, they use government funds which never seem to stop!? Celebrities love it if you would sponsor a town in an impoverished nation; just don’t reveal it is only 1% (since you are definitely a 1%er) of declared tips from your employees (like they declare all of them, hahaha).
Oh, this is NYC, start feeding those worthless OWS vagrants and just declare it an occupation protest. They can’t throw you out of private property! No more rent, no more bills, and no more inspectors dirty looks!!!! Yeah, that is the way to spin it, work it, stew it, cook it, and serve it to the bloomberg’s fail policy to protect the rights of NYCers.
Report Post »Tex Expatriate
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:14pm$13,500 a month is outrageous, let alone 350% more than that. This is what is wrong with NYC. Anyone dumb enough to pay the prices New Yorkers routinely agree to pay is flat out dumb dumb dumb.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:21pmDumb, dumb, dumb you say, TEX EXPATRIATE? How can you say that about the people who elected Chucky Schumer and carpetbagger Hillary Clinton? Of course I jest. The answer is obvious. New Yorkers are: Dumb, dumb, dumb.
And union.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:49amActually, I was a bit surprised to find out that the rent was that low. Of course, I don’t know what amount of square footage is involved, but I suspect that back in 2000, that the “owners” were thrilled they were able to rent the space. As the redevelopment continued, the value of the building increased, and now the rent is catching up.
HOWEVER, there are businesses that are “anchor” stores or businesses that actually are critical to an area’s success. Those businesses act as the “draw” or the “appeal” factor. Unless the area is very, very, very stable and developed, if you lose an anchor business, then the rest of the businesses will slowly crumble. Sometimes, developers can replace the anchor businesses, but it’s a lot of work. If someone else rents the facility, they better be extremely good, otherwise they will lose the repeat clientele.
As for Ms. Smith – hey, you can’t keep a good woman down. She‘ll do fine wherever she lands because she’s a business woman and she clearly makes good decisions. I hope she’ll find someplace nearby where her employees can keep their jobs.
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:10pm“Why the union would want do this is anyone’s guess”
Because they can! What do you expect from these A holes?
Report Post »She at least seems to be doing well, and while I hope it all works out for her employees. Maybe she can move into another nearby building and poke a stick in the union’s eye. If not, pull out and let them continue to construct their demise.
freeweever
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:08pmThey don’t want business to flourish they want it to crash so the whole system does
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:08pmUnions will be the death of this country. So says this government employee (union).
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:16pmTruer words were never spoken.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:08pmThe unions bring down the American spirit..just ask Ms. Gasby…I remember when my mom was a secretary for the union for years…they just wanted employee rights…now they want all the rights to everything.
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:30pmThe unions are run my communist/Marxists now. As a former teacher who refused to join the union, I know. Until the rank and file wake up and unless they wake up soon, the unions will over take and change America as we know it.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:07pmJust like a union to try to “kill the goose who laid the golden egg” I hope that if she does relocate that they get their “just desserts”.
TEA!
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:27pmBe careful what you wish for. Their “just desserts” will surely come from the taxpayer’s money. Don’t forget these people continually vote themselves incomes from the taxes we pay. Obama calls that “Democracy”. I call that “Communism”.
Report Post »Turtleman
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:04pmWhy? Let’s see….UNION
Report Post »TommyGuns
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:03pmIf it were me, I would very publicly shut it down and let everyone know that it‘s because of the union’s demands. It‘s not all that unusual with the mindset that a union is always entitled to whatever they want from the fruits of another person’s entrepreneurial spirit and risk. If she were losing money, would they be offering to cut her rent?
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:27pmI agree. If I were Ms. Smith, I would not close my doors quietly. I would let the American public know what was going on and who was behind my closing.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:03pmI would suggest to just close the whole cities doors in New York but I’m afraid some of them would come down here and ruin our city. I hope they keep the crap up there in dumb butt land!
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:16pmYeah, I hear you on that. When I retired from the Army and moved back to the South I noticed a certain caller on a local talk radio show in the mornings was from Massachusetts . He constantly called in bitching about our property taxes being too low, and how the unions controlled so little in the area. I think that I used to have blood spurt out of my eyes during his idiotic calls. I think he may have gotten too tired of keeping so much of his own money that he moved back. Haven‘t heard him on the radio since the very late ’90s now….thank God.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:54amI have noticed that in the South. Yankees screw up where they live,move down here,then want to screw up the south. Had a Yankee boss tell me with our lower property taxes ETC,I should consider myself rich.She did not realize that People up North Get Paid more. What is even worse is states like Commiefornia and New York will do something(Outlaw big TVs,Insane Emission Tests, ETC) then the whole country has to suffer.
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