Want that Cheese Steak? You better be able to speak english.

[keggerz]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198757,00.html

 

Philadelphia's Geno's Steaks Adopts English-Only Ordering Policy

 

PHILADELPHIA — 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."

 

Vento, whose grandparents struggled to learn English after immigrating from Sicily in the 1920s, said he posted the sign about six months ago amid concerns over immigration reform and the increasing number of customers who could not order in English when they wanted Philly's gooey, greasy specialty -- fried steak, sliced or chopped, in a long roll, with cheese and fried onions.

 

Of course, it's not as if native Philadelphians speak the King's English either. A Philadelphian might order a cheesesteak by saying something like, "Yo, gimme a cheesesteak wit, will youse?" ("Wit," or "with," means with fried onions.) To which the counterman might reply: "Youse want fries widdat?"

 

The traditionally Italian community near Geno's has become more diverse over the decades. Immigrants from Asia and Latin America have moved in, joining longtime residents and young professionals seeking reasonably priced rowhouses. In the past 10 years, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Mexican immigrants -- many of them here illegally, community leaders say -- have settled in South Philly.

 

Vento said his staff is glad to help non-native speakers order in English and has never turned someone away because of a language barrier.

 

But the policy has "really upset a lot of a people," said Brad Baldia of Day Without An Immigrant, a coalition of immigrant groups. "For some people, I think we're just going to say, `Le gusta Pat's."'

 

Juntos, a Hispanic neighborhood organization, said it plans to send people to Geno's to try to order in Spanish and may pursue court action, depending on what happens.

 

"His grandparents encountered the same racism and the same xenophobia," said Peter Bloom, the group's director. "Why would he begin that process over again?"

 

Vento said he has gotten plenty of criticism and threats. One person told him they hoped one his many neon signs flames out and burns the place down, he said. But he said he plans to hold his ground.

 

Customers placing orders on a recent morning seemed unfazed.

 

Angelica Marquez, 22 and originally from Puerto Rico, ordered in well-spoken English, but said some of her relatives struggle with the language. "They always come and just say `cheesesteak,"' Marquez said, adding that the policy "bothers her some" but not enough to keep her away.

 

When a non-English speaking customer showed up at the window a short time later, a clerk patiently coached him through the process. Eventually, both said "cheesesteak."

 

Vento, a short, fiery man with a ninth-grade education, arms covered in tattoos and a large diamond ring in his ear, also sells "freedom fries" to protest France's opposition to the Iraq war. He rails against Mumia Abu-Jamal, the black man who was convicted of killing police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981 and has become a cause celebre among some death penalty opponents. Memorials to Faulkner are posted at his shop.

 

Those who market the city, often using images of Geno's and other famous steak shops, are watching with concern.

 

"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."

 

Competitors are seizing on the controversy.

 

Tony Luke's issued a statement saying it welcomes all customers "whether or not they speak a `wit' of English."

 

And a manager at Pat's, Kathy Smith, said of Geno's English-only policy: "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life. I'd rather listen to the Spanish than the foul language of the college students."

[Big John]

 

From last year

 

[keggerz]

From last year

hmmm and i was just watching them on CNN talk to the guy and he said he put the sign up about 6 months ago

[aqualung]

Buon per lui.

[HowboutthemCowboys]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198757,00.html

 

Philadelphia's Geno's Steaks Adopts English-Only Ordering Policy

 

PHILADELPHIA — 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."'

Allow me to be the first to say.......

[SheikYerbuti]

Allow me to be the first to say.......

 

And I'll be the first to say. . . .

 

ghey.

 

BTW - only a moron would spend $7 for a Geno's cheesesteak. . . .they suck.

[isleseeya]

Buon per lui.

 

 

Bravo , parla italiano molto bene

Edited December 18, 2007 by isleseeya

[Clubfoothead]

Juntos, a Hispanic neighborhood organization, said it plans to send people to Geno's to try to order in Spanish and may pursue court action, depending on what happens.

 

What kind of legal action would that be I wonder?

[aqualung]

Bravo , parla italiano molto bene

 

Grazie, un piccolo.

[Avernus]

And I'll be the first to say. . . .

 

ghey.

 

BTW - only a moron would spend $7 for a Geno's cheesesteak. . . .they suck.

 

that's why you go to Chinks and call it a day...

 

I don't like geno's or Pat's nearly as much as Chinks...

[isleseeya]

Grazie, un piccolo.

 

anche io ..buona notte

[yo mama]

Probably less of a story than it should be. Sounds like the store is willing to teach patrons how to order what they want in English. It'd be more objectionable if they turned people away without trying to teach them the English that Geno says he wants them to learn. Though I'm sure the non-English speakers don't see it this way, Geno is trying to help immigrants assimilate into this culture more effectively. Its not like they are turning away folks because they have the wrong skin color (which would be discriminatory).

[AtomicCEO]

What kind of legal action would that be I wonder?

 

News fodder.

 

A reason for lots of people to be indignant about their opinions.

[TDFFFreak]

Probably less of a story than it should be. Sounds like the store is willing to teach patrons how to order what they want in English. It'd be more objectionable if they turned people away without trying to teach them the English that Geno says he wants them to learn. Though I'm sure the non-English speakers don't see it this way, Geno is trying to help immigrants assimilate into this culture more effectively. Its not like they are turning away folks because they have the wrong skin color (which would be discriminatory).

Pretty much how I feel. The goal seems fairly clear in helping the non-English speaker rather than offending or denying service; however, I can see how this may be hurtful to some.

 

I guess the ultimate question is "how much does an immigrant have to assimilate to feel welcome and a part of America?"

Edited December 18, 2007 by TDFFFreak

[evil_gop_liars]

I sure hope this doesn't become the norm. My favorite local restaurants are Thai, Vietnamese and of course the taco wagons. I don't want to learn three different languages to go have lunch.

[yo mama]

I guess the ultimate question is "how much does an immigrant have to assimilate to feel welcome and a part of America?"

You mean possesing language skills sufficient to secure food?

[TDFFFreak]

You mean possesing language skills sufficient to secure food?

Would pointing to menu item be an okay solution?

[SheikYerbuti]

You mean possesing language skills sufficient to secure food?

 

Like the guys at Gino's can't figure out what people go to their craphole for? Here's how you order there:

 

Put up 1 finger = "Give me 1 cheesesteak"

Put up 2 fingers = "Give me 2 cheesesteaks"

Put up 5 fingers = "Give me 5 cheesesteaks"

 

And isn't there a big sign either there or at Pat's telling their customers to bastardize the English language by saying "Wit' Wiz" if you want your sandwich "with Cheese Wiz"?

 

This is a true story: About a year ago, the Shiekette, my best friend and I went to both Pat's and Gino's and got a steak sandwich from each ($7 a piece) and tried them both as a taste test. Afterward we went shopping at the Ikea by the waterfront. Passing by the food court, they were offering cheesesteak sandwiches there for $4.50. We tried one. The Ikea food court sandwich had more meat, better bread and was almost half the price.

[wiegie]

The Ikea food court sandwich had more meat, better bread and was almost half the price.

Yes--but you have to order in Swedish.

[McNasty]

Yes--but you have to order in Swedish.

 

Then, you have to put your sandwich together yourself at home with an allen wrench.

[detlef]

Yes--but you have to order in Swedish.

 

Then, you have to put your sandwich together yourself at home with an allen wrench.

 

And that's why I come to the huddle.

 

As for the story at hand, f' him. Chalk this up as another yahoo pissing and moaning about pressing 1 for English. Of course, it's his place and he can do what he wants. If there's enough people lining up for a crappy sandwich that he can afford to turn business away, that's fine.

[chester]

I don't understand why you have to establish a policy?

If somebody walks into my establishment and doesn't speak english, I can't help them.

I'm not disriminating or being rude, I simply don't understand them. If they can get their point across with gestures, cool, they can have whatever they want.

[isleseeya]

Then, you have to put your sandwich together yourself at home with an allen wrench.

 

[detlef]

I don't understand why you have to establish a policy?

If somebody walks into my establishment and doesn't speak english, I can't help them.

I'm not disriminating or being rude, I simply don't understand them. If they can get their point across with gestures, cool, they can have whatever they want.

I think the issue here is that dude is trying to make a statement. Like you, if somebody comes in who doesn't speak a language that any of us speak and they can't convey what they want, they're SOL. Of course, if it seemed as if a bunch of people who all spoke the same language that I didn't speak, it would be pretty damned foolish of me not to find an employee(s) who could help these people. That's just a matter of adapting to a changing market. I could dig my heels in and complain about how easy immigrants have it now, but in the mean time, those dollars would be going elsewhere. To a place where the owner was a bit more savvy than I.

 

This, more than any other reason, makes me irritated when commies complain about businesses rewarding applicants who are bi-lingual. They're trying to impose their values on my livelihood.

[darin3]

Bravo , parla italiano molto bene

Mangia mi cazzo.