34 replies to this topic

[Liamlunchtray]

This is the rumor on the street - anyone have details?

[Cotuit]

Liamlunchtray, on Aug 30 2009, 01:07 AM, said:

This is the rumor on the street - anyone have details?

I've only heard from you, but I'm interested, need gossip!

[jencoleslaw]

I saw something on Chowhound and on dailydose. Not sure which came first though.

[gopher.maps]

slogging through the lotsofnoise forum so you don't have to, I have dug up posts from tyler, the TP owner and zander, as220 manager
(http://lotsofnoise.c...opic.php?t=8518)

tyler:
here it is, the official story of just what is going on with the taqueria.
Zander and bert filed eviction papers to evict taqueria pacifica and all it's employees on the 18th. the rent was due by the 15th, but instead of just picking it up like they usually do -- we share an address -- they waited for us to slip and nailed us. it's all up to the courts but the bottom line is they are railroading small business because we don't go along with their agenda -- whatever the heck that is. this was made apparently obvious when zander refused rent yesterday. they just want us gone. too subversive, i guess. those rebellious burritos. whatever. the tp will most likely rear it's head again, either here or not. but thank you to everyone who has eaten our food and supported us. tenants of theirs should beware. you could be next. -- more later. aloha--


zander:
Hi all-
Firstly, I’d like you all to know that I respect the discussion that is happening in this forum. I fully recognize that AS220 and the Taqueria are part of all of our shared community, and that this situation affects many people in it. Your desire for more information, as well as your investment in this process, is valid.

Of course, there is another side I could add to Tyler’s assessment of the situation. However, I don’t think its in anyone’s best interest to get into a flame war on LON. We are maintaining a civil conversation outside of the limelight as this situation progresses. Until the next steps are firmed up either through negotiations or through a court agreement, I can only offer the following:

It was mutually agreed that the relationship between AS220 and the Taqueria was not working. This was addressed with good faith by both sides. It became clear that both sides felt they had expressed a desire to renegotiate, reconcile, or end the relationship in the past, but somehow these desires were never totally clear to one another. They violated the terms of their lease, opening up an opportunity for us to bring the situation out of the standstill that it had been in. In terms of refusing their rent yesterday, that was a matter of protocol and was on instructions from our lawyer. We have told them that we are willing to negotiate to make the transition work for them and their employees, who are certainly not being disregarded or thought of lightly through this process, and AS220 has every intention of returning their security deposit.

We have no intention of expanding the bar. There will be some kind of food offering available, however, there are no specific plans for this at this time...We're working on it though! (I have to admit to laughing aloud at all of the things that Reposludegoblin had read about going into the space on the daily dose – none of them are true)

I totally understand that this action has an effect on many people and on many aspects of this community, and that there will be a variety of responses and complicated feelings about the issue. I appreciate that many of you want to have a better understanding of the situation before making judgments, and appreciate your understanding that the situation is more complicated than a single blog thread can make clear.

[jencoleslaw]

Man, its like the Decatur all over again. I hope the Taco peeps find someplace to land--do they have their truck still?

[Liamlunchtray]

It really does feel like the Decatur. I'd love to know what sort of ills AS220 felt were being carried out. Sometimes it feels like there is an evil cloud lurking over the city that threatens to squash any enjoyable, laid back, hip but not too hip business.  What amuses me most is that the response I keep hearing is "But the Taqueria is the only reason to go to AS220" Bah.

[jencoleslaw]

Maybe Pawtucket will find them some room there. I am very interested in the whole story so i can legitimately choose sides.  And i am interested to see what is going to go into the AS220 space.

[Cotuit]

Liamlunchtray, on Aug 31 2009, 12:44 PM, said:

What amuses me most is that the response I keep hearing is "But the Taqueria is the only reason to go to AS220" Bah.

This opinion may be unpopular, but the Taqueria is kinda what keeps me out of AS220. For two reasons, one, it is just annoying and confusing to have two separate businesses operating in the same room, surmountable, but annoying, two, I just am not a fan of the Taqueria's food or staff. What's her name (calls everyone 'luv') who's always at the bar is like a ray of sunshine, walk across the room and you get the distinct feeling that ordering something is akin to killing someone's puppy.

[Liamlunchtray]

jencoleslaw, on Aug 31 2009, 12:48 PM, said:

I am very interested in the whole story so i can legitimately choose sides.

I love this! I'm totally with you - I never have any interest in being impartial, I want to choose sides!

[jencoleslaw]

Liamlunchtray, on Aug 31 2009, 02:02 PM, said:

I love this! I'm totally with you - I never have any interest in being impartial, I want to choose sides!

If anything, living in the south has made it that much more important to constantly choose sides.

[brick]

Cotuit, on Aug 31 2009, 12:15 PM, said:

This opinion may be unpopular, but the Taqueria is kinda what keeps me out of AS220. For two reasons, one, it is just annoying and confusing to have two separate businesses operating in the same room, surmountable, but annoying, two, I just am not a fan of the Taqueria's food or staff. What's her name (calls everyone 'luv') who's always at the bar is like a ray of sunshine, walk across the room and you get the distinct feeling that ordering something is akin to killing someone's puppy.

Solution:  Puppy Burritos!

[basachs]

Cotuit, on Aug 31 2009, 01:15 PM, said:

This opinion may be unpopular, but the Taqueria is kinda what keeps me out of AS220. For two reasons, one, it is just annoying and confusing to have two separate businesses operating in the same room, surmountable, but annoying, two, I just am not a fan of the Taqueria's food or staff. What's her name (calls everyone 'luv') who's always at the bar is like a ray of sunshine, walk across the room and you get the distinct feeling that ordering something is akin to killing someone's puppy.

Well lets add to the unpopular opinion....I never really cared for their food either and the structure in the room is annoying. Plus, when my wife asked about food allergies, she was told that she might not want to eat there by the staff. Mexican of all flavors is one of the easiest to make wheat free, and plenty of places in PVD offer much better food in a more accomadating atmosphere.

And reading the blog responses of AS220 and TP, AS220 comes off professional. TP comes off as "whoa dude, I am a small busness, cut me some slack!" I understand they are upset, but their response is an indicator as to maybe why there are issues.

[Liamlunchtray]

All I know is that an Osita Burrito and a Lime Jarritos is heaven. We have 2 fussy kids, so going out to eat anywhere is somewhat of a luxury. TP was one of those spots we could always count on for being kid friendly, cheap, tasty, and reasonably good for you. And when we would bring our ugly dog they would even bring her a bowl of water. Good stuff.

[jencoleslaw]

It is true; that dog is ugly!

[shamalama]

Long Live THE BERT PALACE!

[runawayjim]

Does this mean we're gonna get a lot of new users who sign up just to bash AS220?

[Frankie811]

runawayjim, on Sep 1 2009, 09:38 AM, said:

Does this mean we're gonna get a lot of new users who sign up just to bash AS220?

hahaha  Truly one of the top ten one-liner posts in the history of RI forum posts.  

[jencoleslaw]

I think all the bashing is happening over at lotsofnoise forums. I bet a lot of people signed up there in the last week.

[gopher.maps]

jencoleslaw, on Sep 1 2009, 09:58 AM, said:

I think all the bashing is happening over at lotsofnoise forums. I bet a lot of people signed up there in the last week.

youd be surprised how many annonymous bashers are actually as220 and/or taqueria employees. as220 management usually just fires you if you complain, so people take to the internet under assumed names. whaddayagonnado.

[Cotuit]

basachs, on Aug 31 2009, 05:32 PM, said:

Well lets add to the unpopular opinion....I never really cared for their food either and the structure in the room is annoying. Plus, when my wife asked about food allergies, she was told that she might not want to eat there by the staff. Mexican of all flavors is one of the easiest to make wheat free, and plenty of places in PVD offer much better food in a more accomadating atmosphere.

And reading the blog responses of AS220 and TP, AS220 comes off professional. TP comes off as "whoa dude, I am a small busness, cut me some slack!" I understand they are upset, but their response is an indicator as to maybe why there are issues.

I can't help but read all the, "I only ever go to AS220 for TP and now I'll never go there again" comments from around the interwebs and think, maybe AS220 doesn't want to host a home for a place that attracts so many people who are only there for the Taqueria and not there for AS220.

I mean I know there is some, oh, I don't know what to call it, bad feelings for AS220 and for Bert in some sectors of town (as there are bad feelings in some quarters about everything if you dig deep enough), but to have this entity right in your living room, that attracts that element of people who have the bad feelings... that's just a little awkward, no? And I think it in a way contributes to the cold shoulder feeling I get. Like I said, AS220 staff, I love, TP staff, I get the distinct feeling that I am viewed as an outsider.

I don't know what the issues between the parties are, but as someone just observing, that's how I see things.

I hope the Taqueria can find some way to emerge from this for the owners, employees, and the loyal customer's sake. And I hope that AS220 can find some arrangement to make the bar/food arrangement work well.