Yesterday's Morning Call tells the story of a wonderful smoked-on-site barbecue venue coming to the former Shula's. Beyond the spin by J.B. Reilly and the Morning Call, there are many factors to digest. We learned that while Lafayette Ambassador bank will be made mostly whole from the Shula bankruptcy, the other creditors will be getting peanuts. We understand that because the deal will include the former restaurant equipment and liquor license, the new operator will be going in virtually for nothing. But, there is more to this story, which you will not learn anywhere else.
Years ago, I told the story of Jerry's coffee house, cooking an occasional egg on a George Foreman grill. The city made that poor little immigrant install a $40K exhaust system. Readers of this blog know that I refer to Strata Lofts as the plywood palace, because they allowed J.B. Reilly to build using plywood, under the thin fake brick facade. We learn now that below this palace for millennials, they will allow the new barbecue pit to operate a smoke house. If that's not enough of a hazard, there will be an open fire pit outside, between the Strata Lofts and the PennRose apartments. If that was the little immigrant Jerry's plan, they would imprison him for even mentioning a fire pit.
ADDENDUM: The Morning Call followed through today with yet another article on the coming barbeque restaurant, this time featuring their plans, including a robust take-out service. I can see where 7th and Linden would be a convenient location for takeout, especially for the suburbanites. I expect the Call to outdo themselves promoting Reilly's latest offering.
Having lived in the South for many years, have had several types of BBQ. In South Carolina, where I went to college and grad school, it's pork-based with a heavy mustard sauce. That BBQ is an acquired taste that I never managed to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIn Georgia and Alabama, its also pork-based but with a ketchup type sauce. It's OK but nothing to write home about. Texas has both pork and beef BBQ with a hotter, spicier sauce than in GA or AL. The best we found was actually in Kansas City. Arthur Bryants we were told was the best, but from several trips there over the years, a hole-in-the-wall place called The Smokehouse we enjoyed the best.
Now taste is a personal preference, but one common thing we found among them all is that the fancy places generally have lesser-quality food, while the hole-in-the wall places are far better. Baked Beans, cole slaw, cornbread are a must as well. The best place in Atlanta, for example, is a ramshackle place on Virginia Avenue, near the Delta Airlines HQ which is across the runway on the north side of the runway from where passengers use the airport terminal on the south side. It looks like a shack but when you see the smoke billowing out from behind the building, you have to move fast because when all the BBQ is sold, he closes. He also sells some to a local supermarket nearby occasionally so we would stop there occasionally to see if the had any to buy.
I suspect this place in Allentown is going to be one of the fancy-smancy places. Atlanta has a lot of those. And generally, they all suck. All sizzle and no steak. So we'll see what happens here in Allentown. I have my doubts, but we'll see.
Also I wouldn't want to live above this place in an apartment.......
dave@6:49, yes, the tenants above will, at best, be smelling a lot of BBQ smoke. however, i will not be hosting any further comments on BBQ, per se.
ReplyDeleteDig deeper, MM. There's more to this story and it includes BABY GOT QUE and the SUGAR HILL JAZZ location...
ReplyDelete- Alfonso Todd
alfonso@12:41, i know that the owner of the Sugar Hill has managed to position himself well over the years. he was a partnering landlord for a select group of small business grants that pawlowski handed out five years ago, assuring him rent. however, i'm responding here as an editorial about this blog. it is not my preference to dig deeper. Although, I have broken a few stories over the years, I prefer to contrast current news with my historical perspective.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I have to think you are referring to me, Mark Smith, because I am the owner of the Sugar Hill Jazz House. I have never received a dime from Pawlowski or any city organization. What I have done, I have done on my own and/or with partners. Not a cent has been subsidized by any one or any government body. Let alone one that assures me income. I have spent 35 years doing real estate in downtown Allentown, a lot of it, when no one else would. I am building a restaurant that is NOT in the NIZ using my and my partners own money. Just like the rest of the small projects I have done that benefited mostly the low income community. I resent you spreading false information about me (assuming it is me you are referring to), or anyone else for that matter. Business is tough enough without having to deal with attention seeking blowhards spreading false information. You are invited to call my involvement in the city of Allentown. You can then put our conversation on your "blog".
ReplyDeleteMorris Taylor seems to be the new Chosen One in Allentown.
ReplyDeletemark, what i was referring to was a number of storefronts on hamilton street which were outfitted with redwood fronts and rented to merchants who received a grant from pawlowski, i know that ron coleman was a principal, and as his partner, i assumed that you were also. please correct if wrong. i'm stepping out and will respond upon return
ReplyDeleteWell said, Mike Smith!
ReplyDeleteHey Julio, did you not vote for this garbage kickback deal?
Delete"In a 6-1 committee of the whole vote in April 2014, city council approved allocating $1.4 million in capital improvement funds, derived from the water/sewer lease, to acquire park lands at the two locations. Jeanette Eichenwald was the only one to vote against the allocation plan."
Go crawl under a rock you pos.
assassin@12:44, julio takes great umbrage at some of my comments about him, but i sign them. although you're welcome to comment at this blog with a pseudonym, please refrain from comments like your last sentence. they do not contribute to or foster a dialogue.
ReplyDelete