jane jacobs, your country needs you more than ever

[dhex]

well, not entirely, but i was tipped to this:

http://twitter.com/SaveUnionSqNYC

a few thoughts:

1) tgi fridays = yuck.
2) there are already a million chain stores in union square.
3) how much of this is an aesthetic issue and how much of it is merely social class/signaling is impossible to tell...but the lack of similar uproar over a pret a manger up the block (another chain store, with a mcdonald's stake in it, no less) says a few things.
4) it is amazing how social media has enabled - nay, empowered - morons.
5) unrelated: the duane reade rebranding is quite possibly the ugliest and most poorly-executed in the history of corporate identity.

union square is certainly far more hectic than it was 10 years ago, but there sure ain't a lack of non-chain shitty things to enjoy there.

[FortNinety]

http://eater.com/archives/2009/08/apocalypse_fridays_saving_union_sq_one_tweet_at_a_time.php#reader_comments

Never have the comments section of anything been so filled with wisdom, or at the very least common sense.

4) it is amazing how social media has enabled - nay, empowered - morons.

Ain't that the truth.

[Fitz]

I'm supposed to get my tits in a twist because a major chain restaurant is going into a location that was held by a failed attempt at creating a chain of restaurants?

Eh???

[dhex]

yes.

also zen palate is supposedly opening up a burger chain?

[FortNinety]

Seriously? So long as they bring back those yam fries, I'll go.

[FortNinety]

So I've decided to ask this person directly what their deal is. Thus far, it's off to a great start...

Hey, mind explaining to me how TGI Fridays is any different than all the other chains that's already there?

Friday's different than other USQ chains cause of what it stands for.Right now USQ at least has some local vibe w/ greenmarket.

Please clarify "what it stands for". And how exactly will Fridays interfere with greenmarket?

Umm... there's already Babies R Us, Radio Shack, Starbucks, McDonalds, Petco, Staples, Best Buy... the list goes on. They're all corporate entities and haven't affected the greenmarket whatsoever.

[FortNinety]

Another difference b/t Fridays & other USQ chains is last time we checked tourists didn't buy flat screens at USQ's Circuit City.

[FortNinety]

So you honestly believe that the throngs of unwashed, NYU transplants are any better than tourists? Seriously?

Who, btw, with all their hanging out and not doing much has already effectively turned the place into one giant mall already

We're on a slippery slope of USQ becoming the next Herald or Times Sq. At least now there are a couple reasons to visit USQ. Soon maybe none

Oh God.

[dhex]

a frothy mixture of class friction and aesthetic fear.

yum.

[The Drunken Samurai]

Fox Mulder - post-abduction

[FortNinety]

I'm also dying to know of these reasons for visiting USQ, at least yours

yes, we would much prefer an NYU college town vibe compared to the low class, anywhere USA feel of Manhattan Mall & Times Sq

REASON 4: Because T.G.I. Friday's is the chain of choice of Kevin Federline. http://alturl.com/vfxo -- @FortNinety i think that says it all

[pilot]

Calling the "new" Times Square low class rings of "I know no NYC history prior to 2005"

[Fitz]

Is there an option on Twitter to give people Swirlies for pushing stupid agendas?

[dhex]

Calling the "new" Times Square low class rings of "I know no NYC history prior to 2005"

well, there's "low class" aka "crime" and there's "low class" aka "shops at wal-mart".

[loopback]

and typically your urban/urbane class/Kultcha Warrior is far more concerned about preventing the invasion of the latter. areas that are low-class in the criminal sense have the stamp of 'authenticity' to them that a Wal-Mart can never have. shooting galleries and porno booths (as long as they aren't in their neighborhoods, of course) lend a city a certain 'flair'.