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This appears to be someone’s house. I appreciate (and never want to discourage) entrepreneurialism, but has the health department cleared this facility to serve meals to the public? Seems a little sketchy
Seconding BAF’s inquiry. Has their kitchen been inspected?
Same question as @2 BAF, and @4 WarGibFA . And BAF thank you for putting it so well.
Why yall such busy bodies? If you don’t want the dinner, don’t order it.
Haha Shane – I’m with you!
@Shane…welcome to Church Hill–where EVERYONE thinks YOUR business is THEIR business.
I mean the health thing has a point, but seriously, what about your own kitchens–you serve food there. What’s the big deal if someone serves a meal out of theirs? It’s not like they’re turning this into a major restaurant thing or something.
@9
I serve food there but do not sell it to the public. When you start to sell to the public, there are laws and regulations that must be followed to help ensure that the food is stored and prepared safely. The law doesn’t excuse a “small” food seller just because any potential unsanitary practices might make fewer unsuspecting patrons ill. The facility must be inspected same as the Roosevelt or Alamo must be. That’s not being a busybody. That’s ensuring that food safety laws are being followed.
The issue with this isn’t the fact some one may be cooking out of an uninspected kitchen, it’s that this ad is shady and anyone in their right mind wouldn’t just walk into some house on cedar street , ” get a $10 pork chop.”
@11
Clearly @6, @7 and @9 would. Possibly @8 too.
I like the idea as well BUT as others have said her, and it is NOT being a busybody, is the fact that there are laws and regulations.
What if you serve food that makes someone seriously ill and possibly kills them? What would you think about it then? That is why there are food handling laws and licenses issued so health inspectors can come in and check on how food is being handled, kept, and that the cooking-prep areas are spotless. Look at the Food Reports on Channel 12 about various restaurants.
I don’t agree that EVERY food sold need a license because you have cake sale and jams and preserves, especially at local fairs and churches. If you do it as a retail business for profit or on a regular mass basis, then that is different.
Eric
I just want to say that this was my neighbor who had surgery and was out of work, rendering his paycheck near nothing. I have lived in Church Hill, and now Union Hill for seven years. No one has a gun to your head making you purchase this or any other food. Ad looks shady? Don’t buy it. Scared of Cedar Street (well, except for where Metzger’s is)? Don’t buy it.
It disgusts and saddens me to read some of the comments here. I truly feel sorry that you have never lived in a place where neighbors define neighborhood, on a block that looks out for each other, and have never truly experienced community beyond a monthly pow-wow at Union Market. YOU are the problem with this neighborhood, and YOU are the reason I am moving.
I’ll be damned if I’ll sit by idly while you anonymously whine and stomp your feet about it on the internet. This man has lived in the neighborhood longer than many of you have been alive. He looks out for the block, and heaven’s forbid we look out for him. I suppose next time you’d rather see someone panhandle in this situation instead of working and providing a good or service to make themselves whole?
Michael
@14 Michael, I get where you are coming from. I’ve lived in Church Hill for over thirty years. However, I would suggest that the way to handle this is that you all chip in and help him.I remember when someone on Franklin St. was eating dog food, and we all chipped in, took him meals and made sure his rent was paid. Chip in ten bucks a day, and get your neighbors to do same, instead of moving out, that might help. Thanks.
@14 Gettem!!
I’ve been around this type of dinner selling all my life but I do understand that it is common in some communities and not others, and the folks asking about kitchen inspections, etc. are just unfamiliar with the practice. I agree that if you don’t get it and don’t want it, don’t order a plate. Not a problem to be fixed at all. In my opinion. And by the way,the food I’ve gotten this way has always been delicious and basically un-gettable otherwise — except from my Mama’s kitchen.
Yep, another post that shows the douchiness of many of our Church Hill Neighbors.
And let me guess that most of these people who are scared of “home cooked meals” or going to cedar street are from the “Libby Hill District” and are the snotty (not all, but most) members of the CHA.
I totally understand the concerns about health inspections, but come on people, have you peeked through the window of Alamo Barbeque? That place is disgusting.
Have you looked at the health reports that Eric mentioned? Great, well named, high end chains even have multiple, multiple critical offenses. Do you think like this when you go to someone’s house for dinner? What about a cookout?
I like Church Hill because it’s so diverse. Most people are friendly; most people are not anal azzes. It’s the opposite of short pump.
I think it’s cool you can walk down the street with a glass of wine or beer, or smoke a bowl on your porch with about having the cops beat your Azz and take you to jail.
What are we becoming the new Snobby, uppity, Windsor farms or Monument Ave? I hope not.
I think there are too many people moving here for the wrong reasons. And, hey if you want a “SAFE” meal, go to McDonalds down on broad. Or wait, is that safe with the exceptional clientele and have you seen “Super Size me”?
Interesting. The same neighbor who was part of the contingent of folks vilifying anyone who was against the SUP for Buzzys. Now he wants to be difficult because he doesn’t agree with the way this dinner party is being organized near his turf.
Comments made about this subject were from both sides of the issue, (pro and con) …. don’ try to drive a wedge between people or split the community by inaccurately attributing comments, pro and/or con, to one side of the street or to a geograhic location. That is unfair and irresponsible to do so and does not positively contribute to our greater community. Stop creating and fostering unnecessary, “railroad tracks”, in our community.
@ Bragda
Please work within the system. Most social gatherings at my house do not incur a fee; but if yours does, please call it a “donation”. Your advertising this “ongoing” commercial enterprise will surely peak the interest of your neighbors and the City – you may need a business license for this; possibly health & building inspections; additional insurance; and of course, there is the tax man – have you heard of the outrageous meals tax in RVA (on top of state sales tax) – surely, you are aware of this. Also, additional problems will pop up if you choose to include alcohol.
Regardless, just remember: the “louder” you are, the more people will notice.
(Not trying to be a “busybody” here, you did ask for “thoughts” on the matter.)
Why do we always need to digress into name calling? Michael, I am very sorry about your neighbor. He sounds like a great guy and I am glad you let everyone know his situation, but it is not going to help him if the city comes in, shuts him down and fines him money he does not have. If he has always looked out after your street, maybe the neighbors can help him with the city so he is legal or start an online fundraiser. Regardless of the tone of a few of the post on this site there is a real spirit of generosity in this neighborhood and maybe collectively something could be done to help him. #18 – you do not have to live in the “Libby Hill District” to be snotty. That does not come with address, socioeconomic status, or neighborhood association membership. The CHA does not meet at Union Market and the one that does, doesn’t deserve that comment either. I doubt that most of the comments here came from the people you think because many of my neighbors won’t read this site because of the negative comments some people post. I think we will get much further with each other if we frame our comments with respect. If is possible to call people out and not be mean.
Hey folks,
I’ve taken the step of removing some names from some of the above comments. I don’t want CHPN to contribute to friction between neighbors.
John
On that theme, if there is someone who can crack out an authentic pad thai or nepalese masu, I would be at your place in a blink of an eye:). Some experiences, we just can not get outside.. on the other side Nothing will ever replace a meal and atmosphere at diner, bakery, pub, restaurant or bench with a take-away. Remember that even a weak coffee is better when being served then a strong one you have to make on your own.
As for the community..it has been such a wonderful one. I wish to put the street into a wee box and keep it as a treasured chest – for ever.
Occasional Squeaks are fine and as long as they are not threats – are considered – normal. Just like a good marriage.
It is never bad when people criticize as it also make people move and things change, adjust and adopt. The strength is the ability to change. Pandas are a good example.
Good day to everyone and hope some breeze gets to everyone of you.
No one is begrudging this person of trying to find ways to pay bills. If they would do it through a Church as a “kitchen”, even then they would need a license to prep foods even if the kitchen itself is licensed through the Health Department.. If it was a social gathering dinner then this is different. The problem is that they are advertising like a restaurant which crosses the line and definitely would require registering and so opening up a can of worms. Look at the woman who was doing the soups on 25th Street and what happened to her. Good intensions, bad planning.
Might be of some interest:
https://www.municode.com/library/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH18BUBURE_ARTVIIIFOFOES_DIV2FOES
A couple of things:
1. I have no fear of Cedar Street. I better not, anyway since the alley for my house enters on to it and I live north of it. So. not speaking for anyone else, I am not in the “Libby Hill District.”
2. Again, not speaking for anyone else, I would again note that I never want to discourage entrepreneurialism. I am essentially in a sole proprietor business. But I have never felt that because my business was small that I was somehow exempt from the laws and regulations that govern it. In this case, the person is essentially creating a commercial food establishment. I hope that this is a successful endeavor for him and I am sorry he is down on his luck. But being down on your luck or a very small business does not exempt you from following the law and the regulations. Maybe they are bad laws. Maybe they are unfair for people in this circumstance. If so, work to change them. But as they stand now, what this well-meaning individual is doing appears to be in violation of the City’s requirements. I don’t know the person in question, but many on here seem to know him. My recommendation–and I would help if I knew the person–is to help him get properly set up. Help him get the permit and inspection he might need. Help him make sure that he can run a business from that address. Help him be successful under the rules that exist so that we can all visit his restaurant (and it’s a restaurant whether he wants it to be or not) knowing that it meets the same minimum standards as anyplace else.
3. If this individual were to operate in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations, I would be glad to give his food a try. The kind of food he is serving is my kind of meal–basic, comfort food that I would love to see more of in the neighborhood. If his cooking is good, I will be a regular at that price. I just want to know that the City has looked at the place and it is not the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory–or at least at low risk of becoming it. It’s not a foolproof system, but at least it sets a baseline. That doesn’t seem much to ask of anyone.
Thank you all for your comments and thoughts. Just to clarify: the 2100 block of Cedar is in Union Hill and has nothing to do with CHA. I also want to say that we have chipped in a few dollars to help, and will continue to do so.
Please keep this in perspective. Kenneth, our neighbor, never knocked on anyone’s door to ask for money, or any other handout. He realized he was in a tough spot, and rather than play the harp of pity, took a skillset he has, and decided to put it to use to provide a good or service to help lift him out of that spot. The easy way is to ask for money, ask for a handout. The hard way is to make a good or provide a service and pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
When my friends and I visited Montreal, a stranger realized we were quite lost and asked where we were going. He walked us a good two miles (for about 30 minutes) and once we were at our destination, asked if we could spare some change. I think we are all much more willing to make an exchange that’s rooted in a good or service. Heck, what’s more American than that?
Kenneth was not putting a sob story out there or looking for pity, at all. If anything, I did that because the near sightedness I read here boiled over.
I just ask that the next time any of us want to jump to conclusions and be keyboard warriors of the sofa, just remember that we’re all people and we’re all neighbors. WE are OUR community. Not everything that is right is explicitly written down in legal code. Sometimes doing the right thing is something you know, and not something you’re told.
Michael
And finally, you (plural) have his number and Facebook, from the ad – empathy is free. Think of all the time spent reading and writing these comments when instead you (plural) could be offering encouragement and get to know your neighbor in the process!
Michael
I think the common thread here is that we do care and we are all concerned one way or another for Mr. Parker. Something like this goes beyond just being a neighbor. We want him to be successful and to be able to make ends meet. ANY of us could be in his position! But we also don’t want him to get into trouble and make things worse.
Is there any other talents he has to supplement income with? Or anyone here that can help guide him on the right road with fees and paperwork if he really wants to cook (which I am sure he is good at)? Or offer other guidance?
I am sure he must have a rollercoaster of emotions and at the same time I can’t imagine what he is going through. He *is* making an honest attempt rather than panhandling and I am sure just did not know all of the loopholes?
Maybe someone with church connections who could host him with an event to raise money through donations with his food rather than “sell” it? That way it won’t feel like a handout.