NO!

NON!

NEIN!

NEE!

OXI!

NAO!

NYET!

I-IE!

BU!

Got it, Rita's? Stay in Joyzee, we don't want you here!

What is the deal with Jersey, already? Rita's was started in Bensalem, PA.

neighbor is a big D-BAG, thats the deal...

No

It beats some business that goes belly up in two months b/c the owner did no market research and has no business experience at all. At least a Rita's might bring some much needed stability to the area businesses.

Keep the cheesey, corporate, franchised water flavoring store out or put it next to the Burger king, starbucks and wawa and turn NL into Manayunk.

please no....
I prefer that no chain-corporate-conglomerates take up store fronts in our neighborhood. Independently-owned and individually run businesses are what make this neighborhood interesting and different...

Rita's is just... dumb. Let some creative people bring creative businesses to the neighborhood to keep it our own unique thing. Can't you all understand that is what we want? It just takes away from the charm. And ugh, those awful white red and green awnings are just aweful. Why let a corporation make money from sustainable, business-minded people? Even if individuals can buy part of the frnachisez, it ain't a good fit.

I think the jersey reference is to the striped shirt, gelled hair, popped collar house music listening crowd coming from Finnegan's and Liberties who like to make noise at night and don’t care about people who work during the day? That’s just what I heard. ;)

Total "D-Bagg" comment. I have a friend that knew the older lady and her son out of Bensalem that started the whole thing (Rita's) in the late 80’s. I guess all things franchise and successful are totally "Jerzy" then.

So what really is the bottom line? If Pop's Water Ice in South Philly wanted to buy that location and sell water ice, would there be any opposition? Isn't it a franchise if there is a “trademark” and more then one? If Standard Tap opened up another location in the Art Museum area, would there be an issue, or would that too just be way "Jerz?"

Hey good neighbor……your first Gelati is on me.

OK Neighbor, then put your money where your mouth is an open something up in this neighborhood. Attend a meeting and take a chance. This blog is not the way to make it happen or not. Get involved and maybe you can stop it. You sound like you have a huge chip on your shoulder. I've lived here for 6 years and I for one am sick of the empty buildings up and down 2nd Street. Wallets and handbags stay at home when we walk that stretch of 2nd.

(apologizing because I just posted this in the "ground floor" thread...hadn't seen this one)

May I summarize for the benefit of all? This thread is a trainwreck...

First of all, if you do or don't want something in the neighborhood, go to the meeting and say-so. All of the research, big words and homogenized opinions in the world--posted on the internet--won't stop a council for voting on something that brings them tax dollars.

Secondly, I have no idea why Rita's is such a big deal, and I truly believe there has to be some kind of underlying reason. Because they're franchised? Come on now...it'll still be locally owned. What's the real reasoning here? They've already promised to give the facia a theme that will fit in with the 'hood, presumably something low-key. On top of that, none of you seem to know what their corporate practices are. Because they own more than one or two store-fronts, you instantly lump them into a category with Walmart...how do you know what they're like internally? Bring a fact to the table for once.

Thirdly...I'm in R.E., and not once has anyone EVER decided where to live based on the businesses in the area. Not in the burbs, not in the city, not in Northern Liberties, Haddonfield...anywhere. It just doesn't happen. They don't choose to live near independent shops or seek out Walmarts...it just doesn't happpen that way.

Finally...positive growth brought you here. Don't close your mind just because "you got yours". Furthermore, until someone can come to the table with a solid fact about Rita's not being a "positive" for the neighborhood (beyond a red awning and what Walmart does in their corporate life) then no one has a leg to stand on, ESPECIALLY when it's a big deal on the internet, but not enough of one at 7pm on a weeknight to get you out to the meetings.

FYI, Businesses that are part of a Franchise Organization like Rita's can also be "Independently-owned and individually run businesses"

I'd like to see something better go in that space but I have no particular problem with Rita's. There is a clear need for cold - sugary - desserty -goodness in N.LIBS. I'd also like to see some parking lots to deal with the influx of cars into the area because of all the amazing places to eat, drink, & shop in our neighborhood that makes other neighborhoods green with envy.

NLs doesn't want a Rita's any more than Rittenhouse wants a Rita's (how about right on the Square, next to Rouge?).

Here then are some reasons to oppose Rita's in NLs:

It's ugly.

It's tacky.

It sells a lousy product.

It's a business with no uniqueness or originalitty to it (unlike most businesses that made NLs recently famous).

Ice cream is already sold in NLs.

For die hard conoisseurs: 'Water ice' can be made at home by anyone with some artificial syrop and a fridge -- and much more cheaply.

It's not Rita's or bust. There are other businesses that can contribute to the economic revitalization of NLs.

So there. If you asked me (which you didn't), I'd tell you scrap Rita's or any other water ice and vote for a MAOZ (yes, a franchise) like the one on South Street (see: http://www.maozveg.com).

Another idea: tell the owners of Tiffin they'd be welcome to become rich by opening a restaurant where Ground Floor used to be.

How about another Tower project?

anon, you're a moron. for someone who claims to be in the real estate business, you're not very perceptive. people definitely make decisions regarding where to live based on businesses in the area. i used to live in center city back when the restaurants were all locally owned and unique to philadelphia. when that applebee's took over the old bookbinder's spot, i knew that it was the beginning of the end. the reason i moved out to northern liberties was because this neighborhood was largely devoid of the national chains. i realize that rita's is not a national chain, but it is a chain nevertheless. if it must come to this neighborhood, it is probably better suited for spring garden or girard - not 2nd street.

Yes.

Rita's certainly wouldn't affect my decision one way or another to move here.

I totally agree that Anon is incorrect. I, too, am in real estate and can tell you, for a fact, that the businesses in an area are always a factor in whether someone buys or invests in the area. To say it has no affect is just naive.

haha c'mon people, we're talking about an italian ice joint, not a strip bar

So you agree that a Rita's water ice stand--designed to fit in with the neighborhood as architecturally as possible--would affect property values as well as general feel of Northern Liberties to newcomers, simply because it's "corporate"? That this factor alone will make a noticeable effect in the Real Estate market of Northern Liberties beyond just the minds of the people arguing against it here?

bring on the rita's i love it

why not a strip bar that sells ritas

im there

http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/showthread.php?t=30735

This isn't water-ice specific, but it's a start.

Anon,

The point isn't that one establishment like Rita's will make people not want to live here, but if it triggers the opening of many more franchises the neighborhood will lose some of its close-knit feel (or whatever you want to call it). I seriously question whether you are in the real estate business, or at least how well you know the market. I definitely made my decision to move here six years ago based on both the businesses (bars, eateries, coffee shops, etc.) and the people. I can't believe that you honestly think that businesses aren't a factor in deciding where to live.

R

Besides Liberties Walk, how many new businesses have opened in the last year? Somethings wrong with this picture...

You all sound a little fascist and classist...

Its just ice and flavors.....

How is this gonna bring the neighborhood down?

Is is the Water Ice or is it the name "Ritas" or is it......?

Time will tell if there is a market for it...if not then it will disappear...

If people are soooo worried about Ritas coming to NoLibs then someone should open their own, independent, privately owned, non corporate Water ice store...then there would be no market for a Ritas.

Please allow me to tell you a story. Once upon a time, in a neighborhood called Northern Liberties, there were people living there who were mainly homeowners, not renters. They'd moved there before the neighborhood was 'cool', attracted by its reasonable real estate prices, family-friendly atmosphere, community feel, relative quiet and unique business establishments. They'd also created the wonder that is now Liberties Land. Then, one day, certain developers started noticing what was happening in the neighborhood. These developers then came knocking on the door of the Keepers of Paradise (a.k.a. NLNA), with proposals for real estate (re)developments and new retail space. At first, the Keepers were afraid the neighborhood's character might be lost, so they asked lots of questions. Eventually, however, the Keepers' judgment became clouded by their economic interests. They realized the value of the homes they'd purchased years ago had quintupled, and this meant they were now sitting on riches they could tap via home equity lines of credit at low interest rates. And so the Keepers began to ease their opposition to the 'barbarians at the gate'. And then, the real estate slowdown came. Some businesses in the neighborhood started closing down. Luxury cars and SUVs became commonplace, along with people speaking with accents from across the Delaware. Crime began to rise. Neighbors began to report 'parties' and other disturbances of the peace that occured at very late hours. Many people began to emigrate to Fishtown and other areas, partly because they felt the neighborhood had changed, but also because they'd been priced out of the neighborhood. Fearing these developments would get worse, and thus endanger the growth prospects for their real estate cash cow, the Keepers gave in to the developers' greed. All the new retail space that had cost so much money and was now empty had to be filled, and all the overpriced condo units had to be moved and rental units had to be rented. And so it was that when the Corporate Rep from Rita's came knocking recently, the Keepers welcomed him with open arms and listned, enraptured, to his plans to build a 'low-key', 'tailored' Rita's that would 'blend-in' with the 'hood'. THE END.

To answer Another Neighbor's question:

Businesses that opened in the past year that I can think of in 30 sec - Tiffin, Copper, El Wingador, Isla Ibiza, Quince, Higher Grounds.

The majority of those are excellent additions to the neighborhood. Maybe we should make sure we patronize the existing businesses that are here instead just waiting
for the next new thing.
One thing you can guarantee with a quick take-out product such as Rita's are cars double-parking on 2nd St. Not something to look forward to...
Wouldn't the strip malls on Spring Garden be a more appropriate place?

AS someone who moved here before it was considered cool, that's pretty accurate, Money Talks.

"I can't believe that you honestly think that businesses aren't a factor in deciding where to live."

Not when they're innocuous, 1000 SF or less and hidden away from anyone who doesn't travel on 2nd street.

"You all sound a little fascist and classist..."

A WINNAH!!!! Pick any item from the top shelf, from the giant Tweetybird, over.

I'll leave it at this for now...just go to the meeting. If this makes it through, and you truly think more evil corporarte establishments are not far behind, then take more people to the meetings than you had last time. The planning board is a democratic process. Nothing will be accomplished if you don't participate in it.