Posted on 08/20/2020 10:49:47 AM PDT by 2banana
The owner of John Brown Smokehouse is closing his Long Island City restaurant citing the pandemic and “idiot politicians” as the reason.
Josh Bowen, who opened the restaurant at 10-43 44th Dr. eight years ago, said his lease had come to an end and that it made little sense to renew it at a time when there is so much uncertainty surrounding COVID-19.
The venue, best known for its traditional sweet and smoky style barbecue, has yet to close and he will be making announcement as to a closing date soon.
“It is bittersweet to leave 44th Dr but between COVID and our idiot local politicians, nothing will ever flourish there for decades,” Bowen wrote, referring to the elected officials who opposed the Amazon HQ2 development—after initially calling for it to come to Long Island City.
Bowen, a fierce advocate for the Amazon deal, got into a public spat on twitter with local elected officials over their change of heart. He said that these spats, however, didn’t lead to a decline in business.
“It didn’t put a dent in business because everyone hates these politicians,” Bowen claimed.
Bowen, however, said that their anti-business rhetoric has put a damper on the growth of 44th Drive.
“We thought the neighborhood would grow around us, and it was, until the worst political regime in modern memory started doing things other than cashing donor checks,” Bowen wrote.
(Excerpt) Read more at licpost.com ...
i.e. “not business friendly”.
When they're re-elected, it will just reinforce their actions. And most will be re-elected, assuming they don't obtain higher office.
At the current pace, I’d say it’s a five-star tax revenue mess by Thanksgiving.
Blaming all on Trump of course.
John Brown Smokehouse
I am getting hungry just reading that.
Sounds more like AOC and De Blasio. AOC is the one who drove Amazon out of Long Island City (northwestern Queens).
democrats sold their souls for short term power.
I’m a member of a musician’s forum (I’m mostly there for political discussions). The pain their is almost tangible.
Was just being snarky - but yeah, those two clowns plus Gov. Cuomo.
The BIG reason Trump was elected and will be re-elected. People hate politicians, can't blame them. The corruption of politicians of both stripes is so widespread voters are disgusted and mad.
I’m sure it is....they have no place to work their gigs let alone be discovered, and ‘time’ is very important in their art.
I would put “idiot politicians” as the primary cause.
Sad to see this happen. My son who happens to be from Kansas City would go there on Sundays and watch the Kansas City Chiefs. John Brown tried to have Kansas City style barbecue.
Idiot Politicians is perhaps an unneeded redundancy.
I believe that the owner of this restaurant named it after the famous John Brown from Kansas. John Brown raiders during the Civil War.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragic_Prelude
Yes, very liberal. And a lot of them are very well informed, in the way that Reagan described them, “...know so much that isn’t so.” The hubris is neck deep.
But holy cow they are getting testy lately. :)
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