Tony Conforti has operated his business in Kansas City's City Market for 37 years. To me that means the guy has been loyal to the city through the many ups and many more downs that the City Market has been through. 37 years as a tenant means Tony was there when the mobbed up guys were killing each other and blowing up buildings. 37 years means Tony was there in the 80's when the city market and surrounding area was practically a wasteland. 37 years of loyalty, 37 years of being an anchor in an often struggling area. what do you suppose Tony received in the way of gratitude for his many years of paying rent and taxes to the city? A plaque? Gold watch? Thanks? Kiss my ass? The last choice is close, Tony is getting the boot. Come June 13th, barring a change of heart, (as if) , Tony has got to go.
You could argue that with change comes some unpleasant parting. If you believe the horse shit from the out of touch, clueless, Development /management firm Copaken, White & Blitt, the city market is on its way to being an entertainment and shopping destination, much like the drab cookie cutter crapola they developed all over southern JOCO. Maybe it is, maybe the wave of the future is for a bland sameness and more chain stores. And the Kansas City government in its over zealous attempt to be progressive, like an abused hooker , buys in to whatever pipe dream her latest pimp is selling.
I'm not knocking our neighbors to the west. I know in the past I've been a little rough on JOCO folks, but it was mostly all in fun, that said, if I want to live in Johnson County I'd move there, or to Lees Summit, or Blue Springs, two areas that are desperately trying to copy Johnson county. What makes me love this city is the history of it, the old buildings, the stories they tell.
The people calling the shots for the city don't care about the Tony's of the world. Sure they tell you they care, when they want your vote, or your money. They slide up on you just like a pimp. Instead of wearing a poorly made lime green suit from Harold Penners, they wear a shitty off the rack from men's wearhouse. And the mack they sling differs from the pimps , both in language and content, but the intent is the same. To turn a buck at someone else's expense.
If I seem to be taking the screwing of Tony Conforti personally, its because I am. I don't know the guy personally. Ive been inside his variety shop a dozen or so times over the past 20 years or so, but I don t know him. I know a lot of men like him though. They work hard, play by the rules and in the end so called progress rolls right over them. The City Market went through some progressive changes already, and it was a good thing. Empty buildings were turned in to lofts for the young upwardly mobile Abercrombie and Fitch-sters. But the heart of that area has always been the small business owners.
Ive spent many a pleasant weekend morning buying produce and browsing around Tony Confortis' store. And there have been other changes. The predominantly Italian owned businesses and the Columbus park area are now shared by Asian immigrants. It's a nice mix, and a change that was necessary to help the area thrive. But enough change already. Cant we have one place in Kansas City that still seems like Kansas City , rather than a mirror image of Overland park.
You could argue that with change comes some unpleasant parting. If you believe the horse shit from the out of touch, clueless, Development /management firm Copaken, White & Blitt, the city market is on its way to being an entertainment and shopping destination, much like the drab cookie cutter crapola they developed all over southern JOCO. Maybe it is, maybe the wave of the future is for a bland sameness and more chain stores. And the Kansas City government in its over zealous attempt to be progressive, like an abused hooker , buys in to whatever pipe dream her latest pimp is selling.
I'm not knocking our neighbors to the west. I know in the past I've been a little rough on JOCO folks, but it was mostly all in fun, that said, if I want to live in Johnson County I'd move there, or to Lees Summit, or Blue Springs, two areas that are desperately trying to copy Johnson county. What makes me love this city is the history of it, the old buildings, the stories they tell.
The people calling the shots for the city don't care about the Tony's of the world. Sure they tell you they care, when they want your vote, or your money. They slide up on you just like a pimp. Instead of wearing a poorly made lime green suit from Harold Penners, they wear a shitty off the rack from men's wearhouse. And the mack they sling differs from the pimps , both in language and content, but the intent is the same. To turn a buck at someone else's expense.
If I seem to be taking the screwing of Tony Conforti personally, its because I am. I don't know the guy personally. Ive been inside his variety shop a dozen or so times over the past 20 years or so, but I don t know him. I know a lot of men like him though. They work hard, play by the rules and in the end so called progress rolls right over them. The City Market went through some progressive changes already, and it was a good thing. Empty buildings were turned in to lofts for the young upwardly mobile Abercrombie and Fitch-sters. But the heart of that area has always been the small business owners.
Ive spent many a pleasant weekend morning buying produce and browsing around Tony Confortis' store. And there have been other changes. The predominantly Italian owned businesses and the Columbus park area are now shared by Asian immigrants. It's a nice mix, and a change that was necessary to help the area thrive. But enough change already. Cant we have one place in Kansas City that still seems like Kansas City , rather than a mirror image of Overland park.
I know the store and I even bought a couple of 2 dollar shirts from him (highlight of my wardrobe).I think that they are trying to set up the city market as the places for hipster s.o.b's who go there not to buy produce but because it's a part of their "lifestyle". shopping at the store full of cheap junk made in china doesn't fit in. maybe another "ethnic" store will look better there.
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of change I don't like either. I live in JoCo, but not in the plastic kingdom of Overland Park. Unfortunately, change comes to us all, even out here in the far reaches of Western Johnson County. Now we have those jerks that moved from Ov Pk to get more land and space and their kids ride their 4-wheelers over my "private" ground like they think it's a park. Piss on all of em.
ReplyDeleteThat sucks... and if it was an isolated case it would be bad, but this is almost becoming a standard for our metro.
ReplyDeleteAs for your issue Travel, post notices and maybe fire a couple warning shots. Yuppy bastiges...