SOUTH STREET WEST EMPHASIZES COOPERATION AT MONTHLY MEETING
Nicole Contosta
Philadelphia Center City Weekly Press
30.SEP.09
Like all successful business corridors, the South Street West Business
Association meets regularly and it assembled last Monday, September
21st, as it has for over forty years to discuss pertinent issues. Its
agenda included a request to support both opening a wine bar along
the 1500 block as well supporting the move of Pico de Gallo to a new
location. It also rallied around the Jamaican Jerk Hut, the livelihood
of which has been in jeopardy ever since L & I put the kibosh on its
outside seating the previous spring.
Slated to open on November 15th, Jet Bar, will serve as a "more
accessible, friendly and little less aloof," wine bar said owner Jill
Weber when presenting her plan before other business owners.
"It’s for people who live, work, eat or pass through the neighborhood
to stop and have a glass of wine before shopping or dining at one of
the BYOB’s such as Pumpkin, Novita Bistro or the Jamaican Jerk Hut,"
explained Weber.
Working in partnership with other surrounding business rests high
on Weber’s priorities, actually. For example, while Jet Bar will
serve food, Weber characterizes the cuisine, as little dishes, which
will be prepared across the street at Philadelphia Kitchen Share. The
purpose is to complement the wines offered. But, Weber welcomes nearby
restaurants to contribute by having some of their fare included-
augmenting the wine selection. And the selection of wine available
will prove worldly.
As an archeologist by trade, Weber describes herself as a Jet Setter
of sorts from her travels to Armenia, Hungary, Turkey, Syria, and
Denmark- hence the bar’s name. "People don’t often think of those
regions as ones that have good wines, though the opposite is true."
Reception of the Jet Bar’s addition to the corridor was met by
resounding enthusiasm from other business owners in attendance.
The Jet Bar will not offer outdoor seating, "B ber, adding, that
due to Pennsylvania State law, it will be prohibited from selling
take-out wine.
The issue of take-out beverages caused tensions to flare when
Mike Ortega, who owns Pico de Gallo at 1501 South, explained his
attempts over the last year to move his business, along with its
liquor license across the street to 1500 South St. Serving burritos,
tacos and other Mexican fare to locals, Pico de Gallo also sells six
packs to go for $15. While the beer sold at Pico de Gallo is neither
packaged in a forty container or of the high alcohol content variety,
nearby business owner Jim Campbell, of the Architectural firm Campbell,
Thomas & Co., expressed some opposition during the past year. According
to Campbell, even though Ortega doesn’t sell the above-mentioned beers
nothing could prevent a new owner down the line from selling it if
Ortega sells the business. The new owner explained Campbell, would
be able to pick-up the old liquor license and sell whatever he wanted.
Campbell, whose business has been located on the 1500 block of South
Street since 1976, contends that in the past, former bars selling high
alcohol content beer, contributed to blight on the corridor. That’s
why, through a series of zoning hearings, Campbell requested that
Ortega sign a proviso pledging not sell it.
Although Ortega agreed to sign the proviso at Monday’s meeting,
SSWBA President Jesse Frisby, who owns Jesse’s Ladies Shoppe, and
former Secretary Eve Lewis, expressed disbelief that Ortega hadn’t
spoken with the organization before "it became so political," said
Lewis adding that it was the first time anyone in the room ever heard
anything about the conflict.
Since, under Campbell and Council President Verna’s Office, Ten
Stone and Omega Pizza have signed similar provisos, Lewis thought
the next logical step would entail enacting a precedent prohibiting
all future businesses from selling high alcohol content take out,
"so no one felt like they were being singled out," said Lewis.
In response, Frisby added that the upcoming meeting to address the
subject with the organization.
Towards the meeting’s close, SSWBA then showed tremendous support for
the Jamaican Jerk Hut. The restaurant’s side yard was recently closed
by L & I. The trouble began last spring, said the current owner,
Lisa Wilson, when L & I, received a complaint from a resident at the
Symphony House. The Jerk Hut showcases live musical performances on
weekend nights, though they conclude at approximately 9:30 p.m. The
Jerk Hut, which doesn’t own the yard, has had permission to use it
since its first owner opened the restaurant. The problem? The side
yard was never zoned for the use of live entertainment.
According to Lisa, " the restaurant cannot survive without the side
yard. The money we make on the outdoors lasts us through the winter
season."
While the Jamaican Jerk Hut is scheduled to go before the Zoning Board
of Adjustments (ZBA) on November 10th, other business owners were
encouraged to attend the next South of South Neighborhood Association’s
Zoning hearing on Wednesday, October 21st in order to garner the
neighborhood’s views before seeking a variance from the ZBA. It was
also suggested that the Jamaican Jerk Hut could apply for special event
permits, which would allow it to host outdoors events in the interim.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
