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John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City to Close, Owner Puts it Down to ‘Pandemic’ and ‘Idiot Politicians’
Long Island Post ^ | August 19, 2020 | Christian Murray

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections; US: New York
KEYWORDS: akadeblasio; andrewcuomo; billdeblasio; business; covod; johnbrownsmokehouse; longisland; newyork; newyorkcity
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Power mad mayors and govenors destroying their economies.
1 posted on 08/20/2020 10:49:47 AM PDT by 2banana
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To: 2banana

i.e. “not business friendly”.


2 posted on 08/20/2020 10:53:48 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The political war playing out in every country now: Globalists vs Nationalists)
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To: 2banana
Power mad mayors and govenors destroying their economies.

When they're re-elected, it will just reinforce their actions. And most will be re-elected, assuming they don't obtain higher office.

3 posted on 08/20/2020 10:54:09 AM PDT by CatOwner
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To: 2banana

At the current pace, I’d say it’s a five-star tax revenue mess by Thanksgiving.


4 posted on 08/20/2020 10:56:34 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: 2banana

Blaming all on Trump of course.


5 posted on 08/20/2020 10:57:37 AM PDT by SkyDancer (~ Pilots: Looking Down On People Since 1903 ~)
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To: 2banana

John Brown Smokehouse

I am getting hungry just reading that.


6 posted on 08/20/2020 10:58:07 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob (This is not /s. It is just as viable as any MSM 'information', maybe more so!)
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To: SkyDancer
Blaming all on Trump of course.

Sounds more like AOC and De Blasio. AOC is the one who drove Amazon out of Long Island City (northwestern Queens).

7 posted on 08/20/2020 11:05:41 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets ("Women's intuition" gave us the Salem witch trials and Kavanaugh hearings. Change my mind.)
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To: cuban leaf
Restaurants and bars taking big hits nationwide lots of closings.....anthing in the entertainment arena will continue being financially affected as long as politicians continue absusing their power to control people and their businesses.
8 posted on 08/20/2020 11:09:44 AM PDT by caww ( Trump - the most pro-life president in History !)
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To: 2banana

democrats sold their souls for short term power.


9 posted on 08/20/2020 11:09:50 AM PDT by boycott
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To: 2banana


10 posted on 08/20/2020 11:13:36 AM PDT by RomanSoldier19 (Game over, man! Game over! ; : rem ad triarios redisse is)
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To: caww

I’m a member of a musician’s forum (I’m mostly there for political discussions). The pain their is almost tangible.


11 posted on 08/20/2020 11:16:56 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The political war playing out in every country now: Globalists vs Nationalists)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Was just being snarky - but yeah, those two clowns plus Gov. Cuomo.


12 posted on 08/20/2020 11:17:27 AM PDT by SkyDancer (~ Pilots: Looking Down On People Since 1903 ~)
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To: 2banana
everyone hates these politicians,” Bowen claimed.

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.

13 posted on 08/20/2020 11:20:35 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (#openupstateny)
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To: cuban leaf

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.


14 posted on 08/20/2020 11:21:29 AM PDT by caww ( Trump - the most pro-life president in History !)
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To: 2banana

I would put “idiot politicians” as the primary cause.


15 posted on 08/20/2020 11:23:50 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: cuban leaf
"I’m a member of a musician’s forum (I’m mostly there for political discussions). The pain their is almost tangible."

I presume the musicians are very liberal and very uninformed like most the classical musicians I've know. I'm sure they are negatively impacted in a very big way but have they connected cause with effect?
16 posted on 08/20/2020 11:24:25 AM PDT by KamperKen
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To: 2banana

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.


17 posted on 08/20/2020 11:26:30 AM PDT by ncfool (Trump - Keep America Great 2020)
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To: 2banana

Idiot Politicians is perhaps an unneeded redundancy.


18 posted on 08/20/2020 11:27:58 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: 2banana

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


19 posted on 08/20/2020 11:33:19 AM PDT by ncfool (Trump - Keep America Great 2020)
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To: KamperKen

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. :)


20 posted on 08/20/2020 11:41:40 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The political war playing out in every country now: Globalists vs Nationalists)
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