Comments on Restonian: News blog from Reston, Virginia, the mauve-colored New Town (tm): A Thanksgiving Miracle: Compare Foods to Open at T...

I thought this thread was about an 'ethnic'...

2010-09-04T19:38:11.187-04:00

I thought this thread was about an 'ethnic' supermarket that opened up off of Wiehle Avenue. It's gotten way off track, with these dueling diatribes about race, gangs, politics, etc. All relevant to modern American life, but the question is whether Compare Foods is a good place to shop.

I have lived down the street for quite a while and was very disappointed when the Giant closed in late 2007. Then 'Fresh' World moved in; that place was truly horrible and had atrocious customer service. One time I went there and found that they were out of orange juice! I can't say that I have ever gone to a supermarket that didn't have orange juice, and I pointed this out to the 15 year old kid working at the customer 'service' desk, who apparently didn't know English too well (BTW he wasn't Hispanic), and he pointed down to indicate that this was such a place. Though you could buy a gallon of cattle blood for your cooking needs. Unbelievable. Not too surprisingly, not-so-Fresh World went out of business several weeks later.

Finally, almost a year later, Compare Foods opened. They actually spent some money and renovated the old Giant store, as opposed to not-so-Fresh World, whose owners didn't even seem to make the effort to have someone mop the floors.

Compare Foods is not Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, or Giant for that matter, but from my experience they have good customer service and have a decent selection. Of course, they have a lot of Latino foods (that's a large portion of their clientele, after all), but they also have some organic foods and upscale brands. They also have a large selection of produce, seafood and wines. Prices are comparable to Giant; if you want bargains and are willing to drive for 20 minutes, go to Costco, but this place is convenient. Simply put, the store's selection reflects the demands of their customers, who are largely Hispanic, and the demographics of this part of Reston.

I think that it is absolutely absurd that anyone who lives nearby and plans to stay here, or who is a homeowner regardless of whether they intend to stay, could possibly say that it would be better to have a vacant store at the Tall Oaks shopping center. Really? A supermarket is the flagship store at many shopping centers, and the absence of such a store has a major impact on other businesses, property values and the neighborhood. Who would want to buy a home near a nearly vacant shopping center? I wouldn't.

In a few years, the metro station will open within walking distance of the store. This should be a major benefit for the older part of Reston, which has been overtaken by the Town Center and the area north of Baron Cameron. Until then, let's have some of the basic services and amenities that any neighborhood, including an increasingly diverse one, should expect.

When is this place going to open? Any news?

2010-04-11T13:14:29.538-04:00

When is this place going to open? Any news?

Sorry, delayed opening . . .

2010-02-15T08:41:09.159-05:00

Sorry, delayed opening . . .

I heard the store has failed inspections, which ha...

2010-02-15T08:40:32.937-05:00

I heard the store has failed inspections, which have delayed closing . . .

Reverse Discrimination by Hispanic Supermarket Pro...

2009-11-27T13:00:58.687-05:00

Reverse Discrimination by Hispanic Supermarket Prompts Settlement:

http://www.virginiabusinesslitigationlawyer.com/2009/05/reverse-discrimination-by-hisp.html

Store is still not open - Sign advertising (two of...

2009-11-21T20:53:11.534-05:00

Store is still not open - Sign advertising (two of them)for baker employ is SPANISH ONLY TEXT - if they keep this crap up I'll never shop there - And I was looking forward to it

Attention everyone! Does anyone know if the Redbo...

2009-11-16T21:19:13.488-05:00

Attention everyone! Does anyone know if the Redbox will remain in the store? Holla!

Everyone hush now...

2009-11-16T21:16:56.793-05:00

Everyone hush now...

It's interesting how often racism is assumed b...

2009-11-12T17:42:43.724-05:00

It's interesting how often racism is assumed based on differing perceptions of the situation. My sister works in rental property management. She laments that she's had more than one black applicant accuse her of racial discrimination when she declines a rental application, although she explains that they failed either the credit or criminal background check. I've never asked her, though, if she's ever had this kind of problem with other ethnic and racial groups.

2:48 says, "So, maybe we need to realize ther...

2009-11-12T16:20:08.829-05:00

2:48 says, "So, maybe we need to realize there are many different angles to diversity and race, and that honest people can legitimately have differences of opinion on those issues without being labeled racist".

Perhaps they "can" but often they are called racist anyway.. and it can have lasting personal impact even if, and especially if unjustified.. except of course when one can hide behind a screen name.

This is why this nation can not have a rational discussion on the topic, and it will remain in the shadows for as far as the eye can see.. pity...

Brooklyn, I agree, but remember these posts are a...

2009-11-12T09:39:54.769-05:00

Brooklyn,

I agree, but remember these posts are all in response to the opening of a Latino grocery store. There's obviously nothing gang-oriented about this place- I used to go to the old international market all the time, and though it got pretty run-down at the end, the people who shopped there were perfectly nice.

I think *that's* why people are crying racism- because the opening of this store has people automatically jumping to "gangs" and "lawn care". It's the implication that all our Latino neighbors are devaluing the area. And if you read the first several posts, people (or maybe just one person?) are clearly saying that.

Bravo to you both, Anonymous @ 4:15 and Brooklyn B...

2009-11-12T08:56:25.887-05:00

Bravo to you both, Anonymous @ 4:15 and Brooklyn Bridge Salesman! You two perfectly summarized my own feelings on the issue in far fewer words than my own verbose self could have spewed forth! :-)

very well written-

2009-11-11T17:23:21.223-05:00

very well written-

In all this back and forth about racism, diversity...

2009-11-11T14:48:44.035-05:00

In all this back and forth about racism, diversity, etc. -- allow me to focus on it from a different perspective. Hidden in plain sight in all these postings is one that perhaps gets to the heart of the matter:

Anon 10:25 of November 10 said
"at least back then Reston was not filled with gangs and illegals."

Bingo. I think it's not racial or ethnic differences, but rather socio-economic differences that drive the unease about "diversity". If, for example, you are white and living a relatively comfortable middle-class life in Reston in a neighborhood of $500,000+ detached houses (or an equally middle-class townhouse or condo community) you are probably not going to be uncomfortable having black, Latino, or Asian neighbors on your street or in your building. Why? Because they are as affluent as you, have just as much a stake in their home as you do, and probably share your basic values.

But if you see people (especially in low-income housing) who from their behavior and/or dress are probably gang members or homie wanna-be's, or if you see day laborers (at least some of whom almost certainly are illegal immigrants)congregating on Elden Street, you may in fact feel disturbed or even threatened by what you see. Feeling this way does not necessarily make someone a racist.

I came of age in a fairly tough lower middle-class neighborhood in one of New York City's outer boroughs in the 1960's and 1970's. My neighborhood had once been overwhelmingly white ethnic in nature but by the mid 1970's was predominantly black. Even if the two races didn't really mix socially, we were all civil to each other, and almost all the black neighbors on my street were more than decent (more so than a couple of my white neighbors). I think that, as lower middle class homeowners, deep down both groups shared many fundamental values. But I also don't think any of the white ethnics were too enthralled by the out-of-area black and Latino students from the ghetto neighborhoods elsewhere in the borough who came every day to attend the public high school in our neighborhood. Again, this negative reaction to them wasn't based primarily on race (although I won't deny that race played no role whatsoever) so much as on the disruptive or even criminal behavior and actions some of them displayed that mirrored their upbringing in a poor ghetto.

So, maybe we need to realize there are many different angles to diversity and race, and that honest people can legitimately have differences of opinion on those issues without being labeled racist.

Racism occurs whenever skin color is used as a “we...

2009-11-11T13:09:40.196-05:00

Racism occurs whenever skin color is used as a “weapon” or a means to gain advantage. Racists come in all colors… not restricted to only whites…

10:22 ?

2009-11-11T12:45:01.954-05:00

10:22 ?

Bingo 4:15!

2009-11-11T07:22:31.470-05:00

Bingo 4:15!

I agree with you on that, 10:22. But my humor so ...

2009-11-11T07:21:00.286-05:00

I agree with you on that, 10:22. But my humor so far has been directed at ethnic and racial groups that are part of my ancestry. Because these groups are part of my family lineage and because my jokes have been directed within my ancestry, my comments are not inherently racist. Basic logic, actually, which is a shade of grey that your racist-tinted glasses apparently doesn't allow you to see.

But while we're casting aspersions, I submit that you are actually the racist. I believe that your agenda is to control the conversation for the group. I believe that you are attempting to play the "white guilt" card, thus eliminating any discussion of race that doesn't conform to your own. Maybe you should look inside of yourself, 10:22.

Any twat that tells me whats not funny is a twat

2009-11-11T01:10:13.522-05:00

Any twat that tells me whats not funny is a twat

Anon 4:15, it is quite possible for your humor to ...

2009-11-10T22:22:47.636-05:00

Anon 4:15, it is quite possible for your humor to be racist, because from your posting, it seems quite likely that you are racist, ergo your humor is as well.

Anon 4:15 Amen, and thank you.

2009-11-10T21:26:15.591-05:00

Anon 4:15

Amen, and thank you.

I agree 100% with everything you have said. And gu...

2009-11-10T19:41:38.808-05:00

I agree 100% with everything you have said. And guess what, I am not white i am half black and half korean.

Thanks again for the post 4:15, bravo!

I'm happy to have a young black family in the ...

2009-11-10T16:15:50.456-05:00

I'm happy to have a young black family in the White House as well, even if one of the adults is only half-black and the other is less than 100% black. Maybe we should change the name to the Black and White House or maybe the Mulatto House?

The problem is that ethnic and racist humor is okay as long as the butt of the joke are whites. I can imagine the hue and cry that would go up if any white comedian were to carry on about non-whites the way that George Lopez or Carlos Mencia or even David Chappelle carry on about whites. A perfect example is political humor. George Bush was regularly lampooned as "Chimpie" in the WaPo and nobody thought about it. However, the second that Obama was portrayed as a chimpanzee, the whole black political establishment acted as if there had been a high-tech lynching.

The sword cuts both ways. If you can't take it, then don't dish it out.

BTW, I'm also a mixed breed, which includes relatives from Spain and its colonies. Because I am part of the ethnic/racial group, it is impossible for my humor to be characterized as racist. It's like one black on the bus calling another one "Nigger". (Yes, this has happened too often on my bus.) It's tasteless perhaps, but it's not inherently racist.

If they were going to imitate a Mediterranean city...

2009-11-10T15:31:29.897-05:00

If they were going to imitate a Mediterranean city like Portofino, they could've chosen more vibrant colors.

Hot latino always welcome to move into neighborhoo...

2009-11-10T15:29:31.550-05:00

Hot latino always welcome to move into neighborhood. Dress appropriate as always.

http://www.inquisitr.com/46763/geisy-arruda-photo-video/