originally posted: Sat, March 10, 2007 - 10:16 AM
I did not start this post as an editorial, so if you do not care about the Heartside neighborhood,
feel free to move along to something more intriguing. That being said, if you are still reading,
you must care something about the neighborhood. We commence; I do not frequent Casey's
as often as I would if I could afford to eat out. However...

The implications associated with the closing of Casey's reach far beyond a temporal
point in space and time. And far beyond the loss of an inexpensive, friendly place
to eat and socialize. First things first:

1. Does Casey wish to continue serving the Heartside Community?
2. a) Has Dwelling Place, Inc. and/or our Public Safety officer negotiated with Casey to solve community problems?
b) Have the principal parties involved explored any alternative locations to better facilitate quashing
the problematic social concerns?
3. What steps have the the HDNA/HTC/Heartside.Downtown Business District, et all, taken in this matter, if any...

The first question being the most important. The anecdotal feedback I have received from neighbors
who go to Casey's every morning runs along the lines of Casey not being all that enthused about
continuing to operate in the location/manner he has to date. These same neighbors over the last
two years have said that if Casey closes, he has no plans to reopen in another location.
It is common knowledge that Casey is not livin large off the restaurant. In fact, if it were not for
the $10 church, Casey would not be able to pay the wage price point for prep services.
Additionally, the community breakfasts Casey and area philanthropists host are 100% funded
by donation/volunteer labor. That being said, Casey's own comments run along these lines,
"I'm in my seventies, if I close my restaurant, what would I do?" This is Casey's life's work
and it is worth something.

What is of greater concern to this author is the strain Degage will incur as a result of being
'the only game in town' between the hours of 6:00 and 10:00-ish. Questions 2 & 3 above
come into sharp focus when looking at the near future in our neighborhood. Being a regular
visitor to Degage in the early evening, I am increasingly uncomfortable at Degage. I belong to the
eat and run contingent.

I will say this to all parties concerned with the improvement and safety of our neighborhood; the GRPD do
a pretty good job of upholding their end of Heartside's reputation as a safe neighborhood. The missions,
Degage and God's Kitchen are not going away, nor do the Heartside community wish them to.
It is time for ALL parties interested in the safety and ambience of our little 'burb to work together
to insure that any business or service agency who wishes to become or remain a
part of the fabric of Heartside has all the opportunity to do so.

The first step in this process is for ALL interested parties to sit down at the table,
roll up their sleeves and do some tangible community cooperation. The sub-sub-sub dividing of
our neighborhood into little, exclusive niches who do not work together with the other cultures
in the neighborhood is the very ideology which will kill the revitalization effort before it has
a chance to fully bloom into the model integrated community we all dream of.
I digress...

Casey's restaurant, if he chooses and only he can choose, could be the model for creative community
problem solving. It is his decision and his alone. Casey has the option to appeal to the neighbors
directly. If he decides he wishes to relocate in the neighborhood, he has only to ask his patrons
and neighbors for help. The community will honor his request, even leap at the opportunity to
return the kindness he has shown us, back to him with vigor.

However...

Those of you who make a living, hobby or passively participate in public, illegal activities which harm
a fabulous neighborhood be aware that Casey's closing will not be forgotten. Sooner or later, those of us
who believe in this most unique of mixed-use neighborhoods, will be fed up. Our intolerance will turn
on you and there will not be an alleyway, parking lot, abandoned building or doorway left that you can
misuse and abuse for your own self indulgent gain. Nobody profits from your narcissistic lifestyle,
not even you.

My gut feeling is that when the wave of the negative impact from Casey's closing hits Degage's shores,
things will change. The loss of the only restaurant in the fast food price point will drive all those
dollars out of our neighborhood. Burger Regent, The Golden Humpback and Your Southern Uncle
none of whom have their corporate headquarters in South West Michigan, will be the windfall
beneficiaries. Sad to say, it will be too late for Casey's and his patrons.

Perhaps the neighbors who eat at Casey's on a regular basis would be willing to do a little fact finding
and report here for the benefit of all? Then and only then, will the neighborhood be able to
speak and act with one voice according to Casey's wishes and what is best for the future
of the neighborhood.

Thanks for reading, scrape together two bucks and go to Casey's before March 30, 2007,
tell him Thank You. And TIP Jana, Leslie and Sandy. THEY will be unemployed too.

in response to: Support Efforts for Casey's Restaurant

GrandRapids.tribe.net/listing...e178ed4e

One way you can show your support of Casey is to join your
neighbors protesting the closing of Casey's Restaurant.
They have been out front since the announcement and
press coverage earlier this month.
They would be glad to see you out there with them.
Join them every day except Sunday.

Show your support for Casey's Restaurant in a big way
and don't forget to TIP Shelly, Leslie and Sandy!