Support Mom and Pop

[rcinlv]

I'm all for supporting the Mom and Pop businesses, whatever they may be- not because I'm some hippie with an agenda, but because I find the personal attention that a Principal will provide outweighs the uniformity of the chain product. In the fed section, we talk about the great workmanship of the artisan hatmakers out there and what absolute (self-edited word) the HatCo's are producing. The same extends to every industry.

Say- does this thread warrant another- "Favorite Mom and Pop restaurants where I live"!?

Cheers,

RC

 

[Hawkcigar]

One of my favorite things about living in a university town is the wide variety of locally owned businesses. We have a big selection of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bookstores and other businesses. We also have our share of chain places but we tend to go to the mom and pop places a lot.

My favorite breakfast place is right here.
Hamburg Inn in Iowa City
The style of the website is pretty indicative of the style of the place. lol

 

[LizzieMaine]

Favorite mom-and-pop --

http://www.rocklandcafe.com

It's a very ordinary downtown lunch room -- with absolutely no trace of hipness, irony, or self-conscious manufactured retroness. It's a working-people's place, where working people eat inexpensive food, where the waitresses call you "honey" not because they're trying to be cute but because that's the way they actually talk, and there really is a genuine Mom and Pop running the place -- mom waits tables, and pop is at the grill. It is what it is, and that's all that it is, and that's exactly the kind of place I like.

 

[Rosie]

There are lots of Mom and Pop places springing up in my neighborhood after a few closed down a bit ago. I try my absolute best to patronize them over the big chains though I do admit I'm a sucker for Dunkin' Donuts hot chocolate and french crullers on Saturday morning.

But for most other things, I go the independent route, pharmacy, variety store, grocery store for the most part. My puppy and I even walk more than our share of streets so that I can shop at the farmer's market during the weekend.

 

[redavis001]

If anyone ever comes to central oklahoma there are a couple nice MandP places we could go. One has awsome BBQ the other has awsome burgers. Both are "real" in the sense of not being contrived (like say chilis) but organic american sort of spots. Real nice places. Plus the barber next to the "air conditioned" diner has been in buisness for over 100 years and in the same family too.

 

[Elaina]

Redavis, that's one of the reasons it takes me about 10 hours to go visit my Aunt in Sapulpa. There's a M&P we always stop at, and have since we moved out of there.

 

[Mahinatakataka]

Sweet Little Towns

I've been to Iowa City and other US towns with mainstreets and frontstreets with "Mom and Pop" businesses. There's something really vibrant and magical about these places, and because they've blocked off streets for pedestrian traffic or been vigilant about slowing down the traffic or directing it the right, you don't feel like you're taking your life in your hands crossing the street.

We love finding a place where we can do some shopping, have a good "cup o' joe" at someone's cafe, pick up a new book at an independent bookstore, and then have a good dinner somewhere nearby. And if we can a small cinema house, that just completes the evening perfectly

 

[Brian Sheridan]

This "Mom and Pop" thing always raise some interesting questions.

We chose not to shop at Wal-mart because of the impact it has on the economy, how management treats the employees, and its global purchasing methods.

However, my wife and I can make that choice because we are doing okay financially.

Poorer people need Wal-Mart because it makes their dollars go farther. Also, in an economically depressed area of town where a giant department store building sat empty for YEARs, Wal-mart put in a super-center. No other company would have taken that chance. It gave people steady jobs and people didn't have to travel far for goods.

Starbucks is another example. Sure its coffee is way overpriced but the company gives its employee health insurance and the company does what it can to be good environmental and global citizens. I don't mind paying a little more but, then again, I am fortunate to be able to do so.

As for a local diner, we have one that looks right out of the 1930's. The problem is its prices are way to high and the food is never that good. I'll go there for some nostalgia but little else.


BRS

 

[Twitch]

While I've done the same thing avoiding "chain" eateries I've found some pretty dismal independents out there too which have poor service, less actual food and dingy atmospheres. One thing chains learned is cleanliness, quick service and a variety of dishes. I'm not talking McDonalds but true resturants. Tony Roma, Cocos, Sizzler, Black Angus and such. They can attract quality food preparers and they get it right by repeated production.

Its one thing to go to a place that says "no Coke, Pepsi" and another to say "no milkshakes, milk, no rootbeer, orange soda.

That said my favorite establishments are independents that have certain things on their menus which are out of the norm and well prepared. I can't, however, be joyous eating in a place that looks like it was painted last during WW II, no matter how great the food is.

 

[Haversack]

A few years back when I was regualrly travelling a fair bit in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, I developed a few tricks for finding good local places to eat as opposed to national or larger chains: If there is a local place that appears to have been there a while in business in sight of one or more of the big chains, it probably has something going for it. If it has obviously local vehicles parked in front, (sheriff cruiser, crummies, contractors vans), even more so. I've also had better luck in small towns either a bit off the freeways or on regular highways. After a while, you build up a map of decent places to eat.

Haversack.

 

[Scary Mc]

I condsider myself luck to live where I do. We have a healty, if small, downtown area that has many small privately owned businesses and restauraunts. We patronize our small businesses as much as possible and only shop at the chains if absolutely have to.
If you want chains and such you need to drive to the outskirts of town.

Within two miles of out 1920's Craftsman house we have at least 4 locally owned coffe houses. A starbucks recently opened in the 'burbs and they are not doing well.:eusa_clap

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Another Mom and Pop Closing =(

I got a letter today (I'm in their database as a buyer) from the local crafts store where I get my supplies. They are going out of business after 15 years, and it is signed by the couple that own it. I always tried to go there instead of the corporate giant Michael's. They offered more variety including items from local vendors, and special orders were no problem.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Favorite mom-and-pop --

http://www.rocklandcafe.com

It's a very ordinary downtown lunch room -- with absolutely no trace of hipness, irony, or self-conscious manufactured retroness. It's a working-people's place, where working people eat inexpensive food, where the waitresses call you "honey" not because they're trying to be cute but because that's the way they actually talk, and there really is a genuine Mom and Pop running the place -- mom waits tables, and pop is at the grill. It is what it is, and that's all that it is, and that's exactly the kind of place I like.

Lizzie, that place looks incredible! I also like your review of it.

 

[Mahinatakataka]

Grand Junction

I condsider myself luck to live where I do. We have a healty, if small, downtown area that has many small privately owned businesses and restauraunts. We patronize our small businesses as much as possible and only shop at the chains if absolutely have to.
If you want chains and such you need to drive to the outskirts of town.

Within two miles of out 1920's Craftsman house we have at least 4 locally owned coffe houses. A starbucks recently opened in the 'burbs and they are not doing well.:eusa_clap

Oh, I love those Craftsman houses. Sweet Sounds like Grand Junction has a few things figured out...

Sorry to hear about the crafts store, PSG. I hope the Mom and Pops can continue to hold on as the chains become more ubiquitious.

 

[Fletch]

Lizzie, that place looks incredible! I also like your review of it.

I would be a regular.

"It is what it is, and that's all that it is." I'll have the spinach! Toot toooot!

 

[OldSkoolFrat]

There is a place in my Hometown of Huntsville Alabama, Mullins, they still allow smoking in the counter area.