Steak Shop Gets Final Order to Go (Amish Power Politics)

Philly.com ^ | July 28, 2007 | Joseph Slobodzian

[gusopol3]

Olivieri and representatives of the market's Amish merchants met Wednesday with board president Ricardo Dunston, general manager Paul Steinke, and two leasing committee members.

The meeting was held after Amish merchant leaders supported Olivieri's request for the sit-down, threatening to cancel their annual Amish festival if Olivieri were evicted.

Olivieri, part of the third generation of the South Philadelphia family that claims to have invented the steak sandwich about 75 years ago

[neodad]

The meeting was held after Amish merchant leaders supported Olivieri's request for the sit-down, threatening to cancel their annual Amish festival if Olivieri were evicted.

You know, we joke about Amish here, but I wouldn't mess with them. Especially when they want a "sit-down".

[Jagman]

Throw the steak over the customer some cheese! We’ll show those Englishers whose boss!

[KarlInOhio]

What an amazingly information free article. Maybe this is a topic which is well covered in Philly so the author felt that only the most recent update needed to be written, but after reading it I don't have the slightest idea what is going on and why the Amish are involved.

Also, the article's writing style was "interesting". There are ten paragraphs in the article. Each one is one sentence long. No effort was made to flesh out any of the paragraphs with a second sentence.

[thegreatmalcolmx]

It’s called “Journalism Lite” 101.

[gusopol3]

Point well taken. (if you want to know, Reading Terminal Market is a high traffic commuter/tourist area near Phila Convention Center. Many of the stalls are occupied by the Amish, who bring in their goods daily. Oliveri had ruffled the feathers of city officials sufficiently over the years that he contended their cancellation of his lease was payback and appealed, but from this news, they rebuffed him. I posted only because of the non-stereotypic, to me, Amish response .)

[netmilsmom]

What did Oliveri do to ruffle the feathers?

[Roccus]

Don’t be messin’ with them Amish!

[brityank]

Yeah. You’d have to know sommat ‘bout the Philly scene to know what they’re saying. ;^)

Basically, the Reading Terminal Market is a large institution in town, and Rick’s Steaks, Olivieri’s business, is a favorite part of it. That they’re bringing in one of his competitors to take the space doesn’t sit well, and when he ran the markets tenant group he always stood up for the Amish. Landlord/Tenant squabbles in a coop.

Look here http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/merchants/ for an overview.

[Malacoda]

RTM tried to go upscale, raising the stall rents, changing (or canceling) leases and allotted spaces and evicting certain tenants. Olivieri organized the merchants and led the counter-fight.

The owners were a mite peeved, and when his lease came up, they told him it would not be renewed. Then they announced that his stall would be leased to one of his major competitors -- Tony Luke's steaks.

[gusopol3]

now that I've been thinking about it, was the men's room where the Amish boy saw the murder in Witness supposed to be in Reading Terminal?

[brityank]

“Screwing Philly Style” Ping.

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

About a year ago, I bought some ham. Next day I bought some bread. Then I had an idea, I’d put the ham between two slices of bread and thereby invented what I like to call a Ham Sandwich.

[gusopol3]

#9 and 10 posts have it better than I

[brityank]

Yes it was. Not a bad movie.

[Malacoda]

I thought the murder in “Witness” took place in 30th Street Station.

[gusopol3]

thanks, I just don’t remember

[gusopol3]

see # 16, I think he’s right.

[saganite]

Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen Weird Al Yankovich around in a while.

[spanalot]

no it was the train station.

[brityank]

Sorry; Mal is right. Guess my CRS is catching up, or I need more coffee.

[spanalot]

My favorite - “Tonight were gonna party like its 1699... —Fool!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsfVw9xxoNY

[gusopol3]

well, the Earl of Sandwich has gotten a lot of credit over the years, too. Good luck marketing your idea.

[CHEE]

Way back when I was coming of age I though a ham sandwich consisted of a good chunk of greasy ham tucked in a good old cold biscuit. This, or a fried egg sandwich with LOTS of black pepper, were often found in the Kayro Syrup can I carry to the field to chop Johnson Grass out of the peanuts and watermelons. They was sure delicious after several hours out between the furrow. We did jobs that Americans were PROUD to do.

[Salgak]

No, some of the other scenes showed that it was 30th Street Station, which only figures, as the train from Lancaster is an Amtrak, not a SEPTA Commuter. .

[Tribune7]

ping

[jiggyboy]

RTM tried to go upscale, raising the stall rents, changing (or canceling) leases and allotted spaces and evicting certain tenants.

Aha, yes I was thinking it was a private-industry version of eminent domain from the pretentious "more prominent" descriptor later in the article:

Market management said the move would bring a more prominent face to the market: Tony Luke's Old Philly Style Sandwiches.

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Too late! Your idea has already been 'stolen'...

Ham Sandwich