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You're kidding right? So many people gripe and complain about chain restaurants coming to lower Puna and "ruining" it (they even picketed frequently when Woodland Center was being built).
Now a group like Keaau Youth Business Center - who actually HELPS our youth when so many parents/teachers/officials can't or won't - is trying to give kids real world experience and you bitch that it won;t be a Taco Bell.
We should have a fast food mainland chain offering unhealthy food instead of a group aimed at helping our youth gain invaluable experience for future careers. Unbelievable.....and inexcusable.
For the record - I's not affiliated with the Keaau group. Just support the idea of anyone helping youth in this day and age.
quote:
Originally posted by afwjam
It could have been the most perfect taco bell. Sigh.
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The property owner could get a nice tax deduction for renting it to a non profit on a month to month while waiting for a more permanent tenant. That could be a better deal for the landlord than letting it just sit empty.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
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This life is not a fantasy life, it's the real world. And this world, especially in the U.S. runs on good ole' hard cash.
Although many parts of Pahoa can be readily compared to the Appalachian mountains, where poverty is king and domestic violence incidents rules the day, such a high profile property is not the place for it.
A chain, specifically Red Lobster or IHOP, would be a better fit for food and economic attraction; the youth group should be placed in a school cafeteria after school hours for practice/training and preparation and their goods and services sold at open/outdoor markets and established restaurants.
You know, much like the high schools, and incidentally more recently you can include the junior high schools, once the "Pahoa" youth find out the "Kea'au" youth are there, there will be war.
edited: forgot the d at the end of the word placed.
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Amazing how there are so many variations of Puna, different factions fighting amongst themselves, "us vs them" with religious fervor...
It's hardly the mainland corporate fast-food chain's "fault" that "charitable contribution" is a better deal for the landlord than letting the property sit empty. Corporates go where the money is; note that even Hilo doesn't have every variety of fast-food, nor are there any fast-casual (Applebee's or similar).
County certainly helps force the issue by making it "difficult": that vacant KFC was very likely the only available certified commercial kitchen space anywhere on the east side. KYBC might very well have wanted something a little "closer to home", but who knows how much time/money that might take?
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KYBC serves youth from all over Puna, not just Kea'au. They have the right to set up shop wherever zoning works for them, they may be better able to run a going concern at that location than KFC did. Why is it that "the youth group should be placed in a school cafeteria after school hours for practice/training and preparation and their goods and services sold at open/outdoor markets and established restaurants." They have the right to do continue to do what they have been successful at so far, and to expand it into a real restaurant. The culinary arts program has an excellent reputation and they are trying to work with kids who are feeling disenfranchised by the standard DOE program. If they can succeed where KFC failed power to them!
The building is too small for something like a Red Lobster, and the local market wouldn't even support a fat food chain, so I doubt it would support a sit down chain restaurant anyway.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
Agreee with Carol ... + The prolly gonna do some good Mex too !
Kids .... WE WANT REAL CARNE ASADA !!!
aloha,
pog
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I dont see anyone crying for the loss of KFC. That was some of the worst fast food chicken i can ever remember. The colonel must have rolled over in his grave.
What I would give for a Louisiana Pop eyes.
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I will wish the Keaau Youth Business Center every success. It will be great to have such a local enterprise replace a mainland chain.
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