Posted on 06/08/2006 11:47:17 AM PDT by JZelle
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Bistec con queso? Not at Geno's Steaks.
An English-only ordering policy has thrust one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints into the national immigration debate.
Situated in a South Philadelphia immigrant neighborhood, Geno's - which together with its chief rival, Pat's King of Steaks, forms the epicenter of an area described as "ground zero for cheesesteaks" - has posted small signs telling customers, "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING `SPEAK ENGLISH.'"
"They don't know how lucky they are. All we're asking them to do is learn the English language," said Geno's owner Joseph Vento, 66. "We're out to help these people, but they've got to help themselves, too."
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.washingtontimes.com ...
Oh, is the poor widdle didikums upset because an American wants Americans to speak English? Poor disillusioned widdle baby.
Read the tagline and weep!
Kind of dumb if you ask me. I have no problem with businesses trying to grow profits by providing menus in other languages. This offends me as a capitalist.
Next time I have to be in Philly.. I'll be getting a cheesesteak from this place!
He tried ordering in French, but they told me to go F*** himself.
He tried ordering in French, but they told him to go F*** himself.
bump
Lol...now that is funny.
and who if I remember correctly got angry when cameras started snapping ...nobody orders swiss OR sliced tomato at either Pats or Genos. But I'm sure his advance team didn't know that.
I don't see how this is offensive. Multiple language menus are nice if you have a very cosmopolitan clientele, but if you don't, why bother? When I was in Japan, the best places with food had Japanese only menus. Either you learn to read it or go someplace else. That's part of capitalism too: you don't have to accept ALL clients. It's your business, run it as you see fit.
I know...should have put a smiley or some dern thing on the end of my post....
"I certainly wouldn't want a national audience to think it represented all of the wonderful cheesesteak makers in the whole city," said Meryl Levitz, president and chief executive of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. "This isn't representative of the Philadelphia attitude."
Contact Ms. Levitz and let her know EXACTLY what a 'national audience' thinks about 'English Only' at Geno's. Apparently she's out of touch.
http://www.gophila.com/Phila/ContactUs/
No, just the ones living in the United States.
Provolone wit' for me.
Meryl Levitz, president and chief executive of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. "This isn't representative of the Philadelphia attitude."
Hey, Meryl! What goes for Kerry goes double for you!
I've been to South Philly. One could make the argument that English was never spoken at Geno's.
They look like English speakers.
Running off potential customers is the Conservative Way to run a business.
There are only two places to get a "steak" , Genos and Pat's. Had hundreds of Pat's steaks and never a Genos.
My next time down, I'm breaking tradition.
And a word to the wise: There are INSTRUCTIONS on how to order posted at Pat's (probably at Genos too). READ THEM. You don't want some guys from Northeast gettin' on your case when you hold up the line at 3AM. I've seen it get ugly.
If you insist on acting like a tourist, asking questions and all, get your "cheesteak" at that place on South street that's checkerboard and chrome.
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