Probably not good for business, but he does have a point.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/14788804.htm
Cheesesteak impresario Joey Vento is more than ready for his close-up.
The brash owner of Geno's Steaks has sparked new controversy after two weeks of nearly nonstop national attention for signs posted near his take-out window that declare: "This is AMERICA. WHEN ORDERING, 'SPEAK ENGLISH.' "....
A city agency charged with investigating discrimination plans to file a complaint Monday that questions the legality of the signs, which Vento has said are directed at the Mexican immigrants in Geno's South Philadelphia neighborhood.
Mary Catherine Roper, a spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the signs straddle a line between free speech and discrimination.
Geno's "has a right to express its opinion, however offensive," she said. "But there are specific limitations on places of public accommodation, because they are supposed to be available to everyone."
Councilman Jim Kenney called the signs a "divisive and mean-spirited" blow to the city's image and this week asked Vento to remove them. Scores of Inquirer readers have said they would boycott the shop for its "Speak English" directive, while many others said they would buy Vento's steaks in solidarity.
Vento told The Inquirer last month that he could not serve non-English speakers: "If you can't tell me what you want," he said, "I can't serve you."
He has since insisted to other media outlets that he has never refused a customer due to a language barrier. On Good Morning America, he said he coaches non-English-speakers on the nuances of Cheez Whiz and provolone. And he characterized the signs, posted six months ago when illegal immigration became a hot-button issue, as tough love meant to help newcomers assimilate.
"You're giving them a crutch" if you don't demand English, Vento told ABC.
****************
But the "Speak English" placards are not aimed at tourists, according to the Ventos.
They were all over this on the radio this morning. I guess props to Geno's for creating more advertising and buzz around his chain. However, it's probably insulting to many people...especially those who have are foreign, but speak English with an accent.
More business for Pat's, I guess
"NO se habla espanol" would be a gentler way of putting it.
I don't even respond to customers that refuse to speak english to me when I know for a fact they speak english.
wouldn't it be easier to have an English-Spanish menu and have the people who don't speak english just point at what they want? I guess he wants the publicity
Gee, I wonder if he would ever think of doing this if everyone was speaking Italian like in the old neighborhood.
I've found that American currency language always works for me. I haven't found too many businesses that don't speak dead presidents.
Gee, I wonder if he would ever think of doing this if everyone was speaking Italian like in the old neighborhood.
The only time I hate customers talking to me in Spanish is when it's those rich white jerks from Mexico. Because they expect you to know it
Yo quiero taco bell.
That is so ed up! It's like all Mexican restaurants asking for everyone to order in Spanish, Chinese restaurants in Chinese, Italian restaurants in Italian, etc...
Be Honest. If you went to France, and saw a sign that said "This is France, order in French.", would you really be all that shocked?
That's a pretty stupid analogy OSC ... He's not saying, "This is American food, please order in English." He's saying, this is AMERICA, please order in English. If I were to visit somewhere, I'd atleast attempt to speak in their native tongue, especially if ordering food. The US needs to just break down and make English the native language, and crap like this would go away ...
I would be likeand then
and then
yes.
way to reel in the tourist dollar.
I've had plenty of non-english speaking customers at the verious places I've worked. Mexican, polish, easr african, korean.....
if they are paying we figure out a way to understand one another.
Actually, I'd be expecting a sign that says "This is France, if you don't speak French then don't try to order in French because we don't want you nuts butchering our language. We probably speak better English than you anyway."
Yes very! It's way too stupid.
Now a sign saying "This is France, we don't serve ketchup with our food" would be entirely plausible.
If I go to Germany, while it's true that most people speak English, in the event I run into an establishment where they don't speak English, am I supposed to be offended or something? It's a privilege to have them speak my language, not a right.
The same thing goes for Spanish-speakers in the United States.
I was in Japan a few years back and pretty much only knew konichiwa and arogato. Restaurants that were in tourists areas, they had either pictures or fake plastic food out and you just pointed to it, and they brought it to you for tourists. Not very hard to do, and very non-discriminatory.
It doesn't matter if the signs are "not meant for tourists". They do no specify "this applies to immigrants only". If I am a tourist, I will be damned if I give you my money if I saw a sign like that. I mean, seriously. How can he tell which are living there as immigrants and which are tourists? Answer: you can't. So what is the point, other than being an asshole?
How can he tell which are living there as immigrants and which are tourists?
If they can't speak English, does he expect them to read it?
Get a damn person that speaks Spanish then to take orders. Geez.
I saw some Japanese tourists in Center City once taking pictures of the architecture!
Not at all ... it's rather ethnocentric to assume that in a foreign county these people need to be speaking anything other than their native tongue. I'd just be afraid if I tried to order anything other than an enchilada in a different language, I'd end up with something covered in magical unicorn mayonnaise.
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