Simon’s Pizza Being Tossed from Cobo after 30 Years: MyFoxDETROIT.com
By Diane Bukowski
DETROIT – The video above tells the tale of only one of the disastrous effects of the city’s loss of control of Cobo Hall, but it is a prime example of the vicious attack the corporate world has mounted on the predominantly Black residents and small business owners of this, the poorest city in the country.
Larry Simon with friend Maz (Facebook photo)
Larry and Sandy Simon’s family has owned Simon’s Pizza, located just behind the Joe Louis Statue in Cobo’s lobby, for 30 years. The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA), created despite an uproar from the community during former Mayor Ken Cockrel, Jr.’s short-lived administration, awarded Centerplate the concessions contract for all of Cobo in April, 2010.
The other Larry: Larry Alexander
“We were very impressed by the Centerplate team and their strategic approach to enhancing our brand and building our business,” said DRFCA CEO Larry Alexander at the time.
Centerplate is owned by a New York City-based private equity firm, Kohlberg & Company, LLC, worth $7 billion. Centerplate’s parent company is Volume Services America, headquartered either in Stamford Connecticut or Spartansburg, South Carolina according to which sources one references. Centerplate operates concessions, catering and merchandise services in over 130 sports facilities, convention centers and other entertainment venues in North America.
Former Mayor Ken Cockrel, Jr. announces Cobo Hall give-away in March, 2009, as Joe Louis turns his back in shame
“We always think that if you got some value and offerings to anybody, everybody should have the same equal opportunities out here as anybody else,” Larry Simon said at a rally to save his business June 7. “If you’re small, do you have the capital to move with us? We don’t know that, but whatever reason it is, we’re still confused as to why we were not renewed the contract.”
(Click on http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/28149296/index.html for video. Note: the report erroneously says that Centerplate just took over Simon’s contract.)
Drew Clora (l) with Oakland Co. Executive L. Brooks Patterson (center) and partner "Rick." A Patterson appointee sits on the Cobo Regional Authority Board. Wonder how Drew got the contracts?
Simon said he is looking into filing a lawsuit. His is the last Black-owned business in Cobo Hall. Since Centerplate took over, they have launched “Eatsville USA” on the Cobo concourse, according to a release. Eatsville includes the Detroit Beer Company and Lockhart’s BBQ among other businesses.
Drew Clora of Royal Oak owns The Detroit Beer Company and Lockhart’s BBQ as well as the Detroit Brewing Company and the Royal Oak Brewery. He says his BBQ restaurant is named after a small town in Texas.
Centerplate has also partnered with Andiamo to open the Vu Restaurant. Andiamo’s Dearborn workers just carried out a long and bitter strike against their employer, asking patrons to boycott the chain for unfair labor practices.
A Labor Notes article from June, 2010, noted, “Frightened wage-thieving owners shut down their restaurant when rowdy picketers from the Social Forum appeared. The Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan (ROC) has mobilized for months against Andiamo, a white-tablecloth Italian place in Dearborn, over its overtime-stealing, racial-discriminating ways.”
VOD ED: The comment below by Keith Hines is also in the comments section of this post, but I certainly thought it deserved being part of the entire story.
COMMENT FROM KEITH HINES
HELLO WORLD! ***Me KEITH*** ***DIAMOND-II Productions***
THEY HAVE GONE TOO FAR NOW! THEY JUST HAD TO GO MESSING WITH “MY FAMILY”!!! I WAS ONE OF THE #1st DELIVERY BOYS BACK IN 1975. I WAS THE ONE WHO DROVE THE “1974 TRICKED OUT MUSTANG.”
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR EACH OTHER AS A FAMILY, ALL THE WAY BACK TO “St CLAIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL” ON THE EAST SIDE OF DETROIT IN THE 60s.
THIS “COBO BATTLE” GOES BEYOND THE YOUR IMAGINATIONS AND WE HAVE TO “FIGHT THEM WITH OUR EDUCATION AND HISTORY BOOKS”.
1st MAYOR COBO WHO WAS A REPUBLICAN WHO RAN THE CITY OF DETROIT DURING ONE OF THE WORST TIMES IN HISTORY FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF ANY RACE BELOW A CERTAIN INCOME IN THE CITY OF DETROIT.
“THE DETROIT PLAN” WAS MADE PUBLIC ON NOVEMBER 18, 1946 BY “MAYOR EDWARD J. JEFFERIES, Jr.” AND “MAYOR COBO”(a republican) TOOK OFFICE IN THE FALL 1949.
“THE COBO ADMINISTRATION” WAS IN PLACE IN 1949 AND ” THE DISLOCATION WITHOUT RELOCATION POLICIES” A CLEAR AND DEFIANT ACTION DISPLAYING AND USING “THE COLOR OF LAW” IN A “CONCERTED ACTION” AGAINST “DETROIT’S CITIZENS” CAME FROM HIS OFFICE AND DEFYING THE “FEDERAL HOUSING ACT OF 1948″ WHICH WAS SIGNED BY “HARRY S. TRUMAN” ON JULY 15,1949 WHICH SQUARELY “PLACED A DUTY ON THE CITY TO PROVIDE “ACCOMMODATIONS” FOR RESIDENTS BEFORE EVICTING THEM”.
MAYOR COBO WAS QUOTED AS SAYING IN A RALLY TO THOSE CITIZENS PROTESTING EVICTIONS…“WE DON’T WANT THEM HERE” !!??
THE PROJECT WAS “LAFAYETTE PARK” AND THE I-75 FREEWAY.
THANKS TO “WALTER REUTHER” “PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS” WHICH DONATED $10,000.00 TO HELP FORM “A CITIZEN’S COMMITTEE” TO HELP THE DISPLACED RESIDENTS. OF COURSE “MAYOR COBO” DIDN’T LIKE THIS AND FOUGHT THE “UNITED AUTO WORKERS UNION” EVERY INCH OF THE WAY WHO MADE THEM INCLUDE IN THE NEW PLAN “AFFORDABLE HOUSING” IN THE “LAFAYETTE PARK PLAN”!!
WHEN THE “CITY OF DETROIT, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT” APPROVED THE PLANS FOR THE “COBO HALL EXPANSION PROJECT” THEN MAYOR “MAYOR COLEMAN YOUNG” MADE THEM INCLUDE “SIMONS PIZZA”/PATS PIZZA IN THE PLANS AND THE CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED WITH THEM INCLUDED “AS SHOWN” IN THE BLUEPRINTS!!
THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH HAVE THEY???
WHY DO THEY WANT “COBO”?? WHY NOT!! IT WAS NAMED AFTER “MAYOR COBO” ONE OF “THEIR GREATEST HEROES”??? “MAYOR COBO”
THIS INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM A BOOK CALLED
“DETROIT PERSPECTIVES” *Crossroads and Turning Points* Published In 1991
WRITTEN BY “WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS” Edited By “WILMA WOOD HENDERSON.”
“I” STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT “ALL DETROITERS” ESPECIALLY “OUR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS OBTAIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK AND ANOTHER BOOK CALLED “BARRON’S LAW DICTIONARY”
SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE OUR VIEWS AND OPINION’S ON A LEVEL THAT CAN HOLD “THE COURTS” “LIABLE” OF “LEGAL DETRIMENT” AND “A DISPLAY OF PREJUDICE” BY NOT MAINTAINING “THE LEGAL CONSIDERATION” GRANTED IN A “PROMISE” SUPPORTED BY “LEGAL DOCUMENTATION” AS FILED WITH “THE CITY OF DETROIT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT” IN “THE PLANNING AND COMPLETION” OF “THE COBO EXPANSION PROJECT” WHICH “INCLUDED AS “TENANT” “SIMONES/PATS PIZZA” TO FUNCTION, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS IN THE LOCATION “AS WRITTEN/DRAFTED” IN “THE FINAL APPROVED PLANS/DRAWINGS” WITH “THE ASSOCIATION” ACTING WITH AN “ABUSE OF PROCESS” TO “THE TENANT”, “SIMON’S PIZZA” WHO HAVE A “RIGHT OF TENANCY” AND ARE “NOT AGREEING” TO ANY ALTERATION OF “THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT” MADE WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT.”
“THE NEW AUTHORITIES” BY FUNCTIONING “NUISANCE PER SE” ALSO VIOLATE “THE RIGHTS OF THE TENANTS” BY NOT EVEN PROVIDING AN “OFFER OF APPRECIATION” TO THE TENANT, SO DEFYING “”THE “RIGHT” AS GRANTED BY “THE COURTS” “” IN “THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION” (Art. VI, #2) AND CLEARLY DEFYING WHAT IS KNOWN IN THE COURT AS “SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND” WITH “THE CITY OF DETROIT” AS HAVING “OWNERSHIP” OF “COBO” AS AN “ESTATE OWNED BY THE CITY OF DETROIT” AND “THE CITY OF DETROIT” IS “THE ACTUAL AUTHORITY” OF “THE REAL PROPERTY” “COBO HALL”!!
“I” HOPE THIS HELPS??
THE INDIANS WHO ONCE LIVED ON THE LAND WE NOW OCCUPY TRUSTINGLY, MAINLY SUPPORTED BY “THE NEW YOUNG INDIAN CHIEFS” SIGNED WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS A “20-YEAR RENEWABLE LAND CONCRACT” ONLY TO HAVE ARTICLE #4 “AMENDED” LATER TO A 5-YEAR GET OUT OF TOWN LAND GRAB THAT COULDN’T BE CONTESTED IN COURTS BECAUSE THE INDIANS WERE NOT CONSIDERED “AMERICANS” AND COULD NOT VOTE TO PROTEST ????
Take Care! ***Me KEITH*** ***Love*Peace*Out***
HELLO WORLD! ***Me KEITH*** ***DIAMOND-II Productions***
THEY HAVE GONE TOO FAR NOW! THEY JUST HAD TO GO MESSING WITH “MY FAMILY”!!! I WAS ONE OF THE #1st DELIVERY BOYS BACK IN 1975. I WAS THE ONE WHO DROVE THE “1974 TRICKED OUT MUSTANG”.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR EACH OTHER AS A FAMILY, ALL THE WAY BACK TO “St CLAIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL” ON THE EAST SIDE OF DETROIT IN THE 60s.
THIS “COBO BATTLE” GOES BEYOND THE YOUR IMAGINATIONS AND WE HAVE TO “FIGHT THEM WITH OUR EDUCATION AND HISTORY BOOKS”.
1st MAYOR COBO WHO WAS A REPUBLICAN WHO RAN THE CITY OF DETROIT DURING ONE OF THE WORST TIMES IN HISTORY FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF ANY RACE BELOW A CERTAIN INCOME IN THE CITY OF DETROIT.
“THE DETROIT PLAN” WAS MADE PUBLIC ON NOVEMBER 18, 1946 BY “MAYOR EDWARD J. JEFFERIES, Jr.” AND “MAYOR COBO”(a republican) TOOK OFFICE IN THE FALL 1949.
“THE COBO ADMINISTRATION” WAS IN PLACE IN 1949 AND ” THE DISLOCATION WITHOUT RELOCATION POLICIES” A CLEAR AND DEFIANT ACTION DISPLAYING AND USING “THE COLOR OF LAW” IN A “CONCERTED ACTION” AGAINST “DETROIT’S CITIZENS” CAME FROM HIS OFFICE AND DEFYING THE “FEDERAL HOUSING ACT OF 1948” WHICH WAS SIGNED BY “HARRY S. TRUMAN” ON JULY 15,1949 WHICH SQUARELY “PLACED A DUTY ON THE CITY TO PROVIDE “ACCOMMODATIONS” FOR RESIDENTS BEFORE EVICTING THEM”.
MAYOR COBO WAS QUOTED AS SAYING IN A RALLY TO THOSE CITIZENS PROTESTING EVICTIONS…
“WE DON’T WANT THEM HERE” !!??
THE PROJECT WAS “LAFAYETTE PARK” AND THE I-75 FREEWAY.
THANKS TO “WALTER REUTHER” “PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS” WHICH DONATED $10,000.00 TO HELP FORM “A CITIZEN’S COMMITTEE” TO HELP THE DISPLACED RESIDENTS. OF COURSE “MAYOR COBO” DIDN’T LIKE THIS AND FOUGHT THE “UNITED AUTO WORKERS UNION” EVERY INCH OF THE WAY WHO MADE THEM INCLUDE IN THE NEW PLAN “AFFORDABLE HOUSING” IN THE “LAFAYETTE PARK PLAN”!!
WHEN THE “CITY OF DETROIT, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT” APPROVED THE PLANS FOR THE “COBO HALL EXPANSION PROJECT” THEN MAYOR “MAYOR COLEMAN YOUNG” MADE THEM INCLUDE “SIMONS PIZZA”/PATS PIZZA IN THE PLANS AND THE CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED WITH THEM INCLUDED “AS SHOWN” IN THE BLUEPRINTS!!
THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH HAVE THEY???
WHY DO THEY WANT “COBO”?? WHY NOT!! IT WAS NAMED AFTER “MAYOR COBO” ONE OF “THEIR GREATEST HEROES”??? “MAYOR COBO”
THIS INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM A BOOK CALLED
“DETROIT PERSPECTIVES” *Crossroads and Turning Points* Published In 1991
WRITTEN BY “WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS” Edited By “WILMA WOOD HENDERSON”
“I” STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT “ALL DETROITERS” ESPECIALLY “OUR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS OBTAIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK AND ANOTHER BOOK CALLED “BARRON’S LAW DICTIONARY”
SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE OUR VIEWS AND OPINION’S ON A LEVEL THAT CAN HOLD “THE COURTS” “LIABLE” OF “LEGAL DETRIMENT” AND “A DISPLAY OF PREJUDICE” BY NOT MAINTAINING “THE LEGAL CONSIDERATION” GRANTED IN A “PROMISE” SUPPORTED BY “LEGAL DOCUMENTATION” AS FILED WITH “THE CITY OF DETROIT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT” IN “THE PLANNING AND COMPLETION” OF “THE COBO EXPANSION PROJECT” WHICH “INCLUDED AS “TENANT” “SIMONES/PATS PIZZA” TO FUNCTION, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS IN THE LOCATION “AS WRITTEN/DRAFTED” IN “THE FINAL APPROVED PLANS/DRAWINGS” WITH “THE ASSOCIATION” ACTING WITH AN “ABUSE OF PROCESS” TO “THE TENANT”, “SIMON’S PIZZA” WHO HAVE A “RIGHT OF TENANCY” AND ARE “NOT AGREEING” TO ANY ALTERATION OF “THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT” MADE WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT”.
“THE NEW AUTHORITIES” BY FUNCTIONING “NUISANCE PER SE” ALSO VIOLATE “THE RIGHTS OF THE TENANTS” BY NOT EVEN PROVIDING AN “OFFER OF APPRECIATION” TO THE TENANT, SO DEFYING “”THE “RIGHT” AS GRANTED BY “THE COURTS” “” IN “THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION” (Art. VI, #2) AND CLEARLY DEFYING WHAT IS KNOWN IN THE COURT AS “SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND” WITH “THE CITY OF DETROIT” AS HAVING “OWNERSHIP” OF “COBO” AS AN “ESTATE OWNED BY THE CITY OF DETROIT” AND “THE CITY OF DETROIT” IS “THE ACTUAL AUTHORITY” OF “THE REAL PROPERTY” “COBO HALL”!!
“I” HOPE THIS HELPS??
THE INDIANS WHO ONCE LIVED ON THE LAND WE NOW OCCUPY TRUSTINGLY, MAINLY SUPPORTED BY “THE NEW YOUNG INDIAN CHIEFS” SIGNED WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS A “#20-YEAR RENEWABLE LAND CONCRACT” ONLY TO HAVE ARTICLE #4 “AMENDED” LATER TO A #5-YEAR GET OUT OF TOWN LAND GRAB THAT COULDN’T BE CONTESTED IN COURTS BECAUSE THE INDIANS WERE NOT CONSIDERED “AMERICANS” AND COULD NOT VOTE TO PROTEST ????
Take Care! ***Me KEITH*** ***Love*Peace*Out***