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South Street West Emphasizes Cooperation At Monthly Meeting

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  • South Street West Emphasizes Cooperation At Monthly Meeting

    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
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