Retail coming to Philadelphia (McDonald: assault, worth, traffic)

[cpomp]

The CapitalOne coffee shop at 17th and Walnut is moving. This opens a prime corner for a prime retailer.

I am thinking Sprint lol.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

The CapitalOne coffee shop at 17th and Walnut is moving. This opens a prime corner for a prime retailer.

I am thinking Sprint lol.

Where are they moving to??

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Saxby's is owned locally afaik. That might give them a bigger stake in how they are perceived. You would think Wawa would believe the same thing. I've never been in the Starbucks you mention. But I've witnessed the ones at 15th and Latimer and 18th and Spruce toss out bums. La Colombe never has the problem. Neither does Good Karma or one coffee shop I like, near my residence, Mugshots.

I've been to the 15th/Latimer and 18th/Spruce and you're right, there isn't a big problem there. The 18th/Spruce location is nice. For some reason, 12th/Walnut attracts this problem but then again so does that strip of Walnut in general. The COSI there has outdoor seating which can be a problem as these street people will either occupy the chairs and hit customers sitting outside up for money; Moriarity's has an issue with its outdoor seating and creepy panhandlers as well.

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by Kamms

I've been to the 15th/Latimer and 18th/Spruce and you're right, there isn't a big problem there. The 18th/Spruce location is nice. For some reason, 12th/Walnut attracts this problem but then again so does that strip of Walnut in general. The COSI there has outdoor seating which can be a problem as these street people will either occupy the chairs and hit customers sitting outside up for money; Moriarity's has an issue with its outdoor seating and creepy panhandlers as well.

Could be because there is that methadone clinic on the 1200 block of Locust.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by rotodome

Could be because there is that methadone clinic on the 1200 block of Locust.

I know what you're saying, but a lot of these guys don't seem to be from there, but who knows. Many seem to be professional street, money grubbing, hassling white folks (or Asians etc) in Center City types.

[asiandudeyo]

Originally Posted by Kamms

I was going to add Starbucks as well. Surprised to hear that Starbucks was throwing bums out.

The last time I sat in the Starbucks at 12th/Walnut, two (2) black guys, not all that young either, were charging up their phones and coordinating a meeting with someone over the phone. I know this is hard to believe but they were loud and obnoxious; the entire store could hear them. Of course I was right next to them. Fortunately their meeting was rescheduled for the Wendy's at 11th/Walnut and they loudly and obnoxiously left the store oblivious and uncaring about the paying customers.

As I turned away from them, a ''street'' guy was at the same time cleaning out the coffee station of supplies. Not by hand either, he was removing the metal containers from the embedded holders and emptying the entire contents in his bag. No more sugar, sweeteners, stirrers or napkins for the paying customers.

I mentioned all this to the manager; a nice somewhat older white woman. She stated when she says anything to these people she hears the ''racism/racist'' issue. I stated to her ''who cares?'' (since race has nothing to do with this and only is used as an excuse for this crap).

Apparently Starbucks corporate office does. So Starbucks headquarters is to blame for tolerating this b.s. This is the same Starbucks corp office that tried to have that ''let's talk about racial issues'' baloney campaign that flopped. Saxby's has good coffee and, at least so far, is not having a homeless or thug hangout issue. I don't like Starbucks drinks anymore, especially the coffee, so for me it may be a stop for a newspaper only and out the door I go.

Depending on which Starbucks you go to.
The one in Walnut and 12th is homeless haven at certain hours.
The one inside Barnes and Nobles is the same. A certain gentleman would actually camp inside one of the bathroom stall. But then B&N got smart and get rid of the main bathroom door altogether. So these bums wont have "privacy".

And FYI COSI had been closing forever.

[asiandudeyo]

Speaking of retailers, I notice Walgreens by the Gallery close down. Same with the McDonalds across the street from it.
The question is why do they close McDonalds?

And have anybody visited Rikumo? They opened last week I think?

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Where are they moving to??

Across the street into the lobby of the Latham Building.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Kamms

I've been to the 15th/Latimer and 18th/Spruce and you're right, there isn't a big problem there. The 18th/Spruce location is nice. For some reason, 12th/Walnut attracts this problem but then again so does that strip of Walnut in general. The COSI there has outdoor seating which can be a problem as these street people will either occupy the chairs and hit customers sitting outside up for money; Moriarity's has an issue with its outdoor seating and creepy panhandlers as well.

Believe or not it's still better than it used to be. Panhandlers used to hang right in front of Jeff, across from Wendy's, at the NE corner of 11th and Walnut. The awful, all night diner, The Savoy, that was at SW corner of 11th and Locust is gone.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Kamms

I know what you're saying, but a lot of these guys don't seem to be from there, but who knows. Many seem to be professional street, money grubbing, hassling white folks (or Asians etc) in Center City types.

Ah.... I'm not white and I get hassled a fair amount. It's more about perceived wealth of the hassle-ee, or whether they think some folks are easy targets. Maybe it's my white hair which might make them think I'm a kindly old lady. That's pretty laughable....

The street ones don't bother me as much as the people who beg on the MFL or the BSL. On the street I can walk past, or say, "I have nothing to spare.", which is true. I don't have extra cash at all and I'm not giving anything to bums, ever. On pub trans you are "captive" wrt their latest tale of woe.