When more than 60 people showed up at the Wichita City Council meeting this week to protest the proposed displacement by Starbucks of minority-owned Sarah’s Ice Cream and Bakery at Mid-Continent Airport, council members got the message and instructed city staff to work it out. Given travelers’ stated desire for a Starbucks, the best outcome would be for the airport to have the benefit of both businesses. It certainly needs more such amenities. And the way this episode was handled suggests there is still a lack of sensitivity at City Hall to the concerns of the African-American community. That’s hard to believe, given the steps taken since 2003 in response to charges of institutional racism, including formation of a task force to review city relationships with minority contractors.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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18 Comments
Tell the yuppie scum to stay home.We don’t need no stinkin’ Starbucks… and we sure don’t need one every 10 feet like they have at Lambert (Poor way to waste the use of a) Field in St. Louis.
I’m with Mr. C — good chance for a little old fashioned competition here.
I don’t care if it’s Starbucks or not, or whether it’s minority owned or not, but they definitely need a real coffee shop at the airport.
We would WELCOME sarah’s in collyer…..
One place for good coffee is ok, but TWO places is an industry for us!
“And the way this episode was handled suggests there is still a lack of sensitivity at City Hall to the concerns of the African-American community.”
Rhonda, that’s a BS statement if anyone took the time to know the facts.
Fact: Sarah’s sublease with Host Marriott expired in April. Fact: Host Marriott has the concessions lease with the city. Fact: The DBE requirement is a “goal” not a mandate. Fact:
Dang it.
Fact: The Habtemariams made this a racial issue. Fact: The directions about terminating the lease were coming directly from the city manager.
Question: Since when is a black on black contract dispute a “lack of sensitivity?”
Ralph – well said. Those were my thoughts exactly. How can they figure that Kobe was being raciest?
Oh brother…the black community comes together–regardless of the possible profitablity of desires of the actual travelers at the airport. Let’s make this a race thing instead of what it is, a BUSINESS decision.
Sickening that so many people make race the issue so many times when it is NOT the issue.
BTW…I demand from this point forward to be called “European American”. Nope..wasn’t born there, any more than the “African Americans” were born in Africa either. This type of institutionalized racism has run its course and needs to be ended.
KFG…
“One place for good coffee is ok, but TWO places is an industry for us!”
C’mon farmgrrl.. you KNOW there isn’t enough water in Collyer for TWO coffee shops!!! LOL…Hmmmm… guess that’s not really funny if you think about it…
But REALLY… there are ENOUGH Starbuck’s in Wichita.. we need to support our LOCAL businesses…
“we need to support our LOCAL businesses… ”
I do when they’re good. However, places like Sarah’s and Angelo’s aren’t good. Sarah’s in particular has not been clean any of the times I’ve been there.
Then Todd, go take your freakin’ Purell and go somewhere else, then.Sarah’s is the only thing that makes ICT even bearable.
Why thank you, mr.cont. Sarah’s is basically a dump. I hope a cleaner, better run business comes in and drives them out.
If you want to pay $4 for a cup of ersatz coffee that wouldn’t get a fly high, fine.Just don’t force me to.
I don’t believe I’m forcing you to do anything at all. Are you crying?
I am not crying. I am simply voicing my disapproval of what is happening here… a friendly, local business–the only place I can go to at ICT without worrying about whether I’ll have enough money for the rest of the trip–is threatened with replacement by someplace I hate vehemently.That really sops my gravy.The only thing worse would be replacing it with a Super Target.
Minorities will always bitch and play the race card because that is the only card they have to play!
Ian T. Santiago: Blog Realist
When did Wichita get an Airport?
Oh, but mrc a super target would be good for you because they are such big supporters for the democrats!