When I landed in Pittsburgh three years ago, and by landed I mean pulled in and by pulled in I mean, I took the very last of the old Greyhound buses, I was immediately taken aback by the sudden, expansive view of the city. I remember very clearly the mountain in front of my face, going down a dark tunnel, talking with a fellow passenger about their disdain for the Pirates and then being simply awe-struck at the sunlit opening; shining down upon the point and lighting up the river and what I later learned to be PPG Place and the Highmark buildings.
This place has a charm.
Since I've been here, my work environment has been confined to 6th street in downtown, otherwise known as the "Cultural District" and down the street from PNC Park. I have worked for three employers on that street and have had to handle a wide customer base during that time. These three employers are small business owners, each with a restaurant, specializing in a specific cuisine but it should be noted that there is two of a kind on 6th street.
Two Greek places: Christos which boasts a more upscale vibe and Salonika's Gyros, an Americanized bar and grille which boasts more business due to their prices and manner of service.
Two Indian places: India Palace, the bigger of the two, is able to house a larger customer base at one-time and has a more friendly, colorful vibe and Indian Spices, a much smaller place in desperate need of decor. Both with a buffet, both with the same food, both who serve the same customers.
Two "swanky" bars: Well, now it's one, but I'll mention it anyway. Oliver Twist, cool name, friendly staff, live bands on the weekend and an upscale bar if one is tired of the hotel bars and Melange, a once was swanky bar with complicated, very expensive food, drinks but was bigger and could serve more people. Melange was also able to open their windows which is a favorite feature of this otherwise beautiful location.
Two American-Italian places: Giovanni's, the one that's been around longest and boasts a loyal clientele, their people are usually nice and they have a high volume joint with a decent sized menu and then there's Milano's across the street. Bar upstairs, more places to sit and dine in. Both places deliver and they're always on the move.
Two American dive bars: Red Beards bar and grille is new on 6th street but they have a location in Mount Washington one block away from Grandview overlooking the city. The downtown location has a nice bar, a few tables to sit outside and they make a great sandwich. DoubleDay's is a smaller dive where people pack in for the buffalo shrimp and beer. Not to mention some awesome burgers!
Surrounding Neighborhood:
Sixth and Penn: This is an upscale bar and eatery with tiny portions and high prices, marketing towards a more high paying customer. They have a charming little bar inside the eatery as well as a place to sit in front of their gas/wood-fired ovens in the back where some of the nicest chefs can chat with the customers if they so wished. They also have seating on the roof when the weather permits.
Bravo Franco: An upscale Italian eatery with wine service and a bar. From what I've seen, it's a much quieter dining experience for the well-to-do customer. People tend to go in just before the shows. Reservations recommended.
Meat and Potatoes: Exactly as the name suggests, a gastropub with an island bar, smoker in the alley where they harass people with the amazing smell of hickory smocked meats and a nice place to sit outside. This would also be accurately described as a sort of but not really barbeque place for people with money. The food is risky but enjoyed. They also serve brunch which is a huge hit with the people working in the surrounding office buildings.
Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine: The man who owns Giovanni's is opening a sit-down restaurant across the street. He's not open yet, but we can already tell from the renovations that he is planning on marketing to a very upscale customer base.
Starbucks: This is a small Starbucks so don't be fooled. They serve all the classics and is the only place open before 10pm on this block.
Vocelli's: A pizza-by-the slice place that mainly delivers. They have no substantial seating.
Subway: A national fast-food chain that sells subs and salads.
Fu Lai: The only stand-alone Chinese place for several blocks in the opposite direction with the exception of Wok and Grill, located in 5th avenue place.
Fifth Avenue Place: There is a food court on the second floor with, basically, mall food with the exception of Au Bon Pan and Cafe Amante. Au Bon Pan and Fifth Avenue Beanery are the only places open at 6am serving breakfast items. Fifth Avenue Place has a "bridge" that connects it to the Highmark building.
Charley's Grilled subs: Exactly as the name suggests plus cheese fries.
Flamers: This is a joint venture that has an Americanized Mexican menu complete with edible taco salads and on the other side, they serve American food: Burgers, wings, etc.
Fresh Corner: Paninis, salads, wraps and any combination thereof.
Sbarro: Fast Italian food. Pizza, pasta, giant calzones
Wok and Grill: A Half-Chinese Half-Japanese eatery.
The Cabaret: A late night entertainment venue and bar where people can enjoy a drink and a show located in Theater Square.
That's a lot, and that's just one block.
And this is the block I will be concentrating on.
As someone who has worked in this area for the passed three years, I have noticed and heard customers voicing their frustrations about this particular block. I have divided these customers, along with their concerns, into a few categories:
The office crowd: These people have voiced concern over lack of variety and the absence of better breakfast places. Many of them get up at 5am and are in downtown, ready to work by at least 7am and they want breakfast. I've asked them if Au Bon Pan and Starbucks was enough and they all give me a resounding "No!".
East Indian Office crowd: Many of these people also want breakfast, but they want something specifically Indian. I have suggested to the owner of India Palace to, perhaps, do a very small breakfast menu but he says there's not enough of a clientele to open earlier in the day.
The Theater Crowd: These people want more variety. Everyone sees the lack of "something else" on and around the 6th street block and I agree with them. Many of these people are loyal clients of the venues already present, but, even they want to add some variety to their outings.
The "Fast" Theater crowd: These people not only want variety but they need speed. These are the people who may have been looking for parking or may have only 15 minutes before a show starts. I also notice that, despite them wanting fast, they also want to sit down for a few minutes while they eat. These people generally go to Salonika's as they can get something simple very quickly, or, they will go to Milano's for a slice of pizza.
The Bar Crowd: Since Oliver Twist, DoubleDay's, and Red Beard's stay open until at least 2am, you can bet there are people stumbling out of those bars hungry and still wanting to stay awake. If anyone has the patience to take on this crowd, It would be a great niche! Even if it's just take-out orders.
The Dessert Crowd: After customers see a show at one of the local theaters, they want to sit down and enjoy coffee, desert and to wind down. To discuss what they saw and to catch up with friends. Something simple with a nice, calming atmosphere.
The Game Crowd: These people are marching along 6th to and from a game, either at Heinz Field or PNC Park. Sometimes, they're even coming out of Concerts held at Stage AE or at Heinz Field. They generally want simpler food so Pizza, Gyros, burgers go well with this crowd. They're also with their kids; a lot of places around this area don't have a kids menu. they generally make compromises with their menus.
The Lunch Crowd: They love a good sit-down place. India Palace, Indian Spices, Milano's, Salonika's and now Red Beard's do very well with this crowd. They have still expressed frustration with the lack of variety on the street.
The Budget Crowd: If there is one thing 6th street is, it is diverse. Just because it's in the Cultural District, doesn't mean that people of the lower-income brackets don't come to partake of this street's cuisine. Offering healthier, tastier options at competitive prices could and would certainly go over well with this crowd. Especially any who may be out with their children.
Filling the gaps:
Breakfast: Breakfast is the number one gap that I can't stress enough. There are other options the farther into Market Square one gets, but not much. McDonalds, Wendy's, Dunkin Donuts, Another Starbucks, Einstein's Bagels and a Crazy Mocha. As you can see, we are missing: a simple diner with pancakes, waffles and fresh coffee. We are missing smoothy bars, fresh fruits, oats and vegan friendly cuisine. We are missing fusion that has the ability to offer a variety of breads to the East Indian customers that travel here all the time.
Possible solution? A small fusion place that is open for breakfast and lunch that serves fresh fruity chutneys, fresh paratha, eggs, bacon, and maybe run a special for vegans and meat-eaters alike. A breakfast place on its own would be a wonderful addition to this little sliver of Downtown.
Asian: Where does one go in Downtown for fresh fish and amazing Asian food? Why, they'd have to walk all the way McCormick and Schmicks or the Westin. If they wanted Japanese food, they'd have to go to Station Square on the other side of the city! A sushi bar on or close to 6th street would be a welcome and celebrated addition to the neighborhood. If there is one thing that Pittsburgh is lacking in, it's Asian food!
Possible Solution? A place that specialized in just sushi, and nothing else, would be amazing. Also, a gap exists for another type of Asian food. Authentic Korean Barbecue closer to Downtown would be a welcome change of pace.
Mexican: Who doesn't like tacos? And fresh tacos with homemade salsas and tortillas? Yum! Not only would a Mexican place be a welcome addition, it can also add to the street food scene. A Mexican place could and would offer cuisine to every customer type, be a fun and vibrant place and would add much needed color and culture to the Cultural district.
Possible Solution? A Mexican place that offered breakfast, lunch and dinner of the finest, (yet affordable) south of the border cuisine would be exactly what the Cultural district needs! And if you're feeling fun and festive, a Mariachi Band for Cinco De Mayo would be an awesome opportunity to drive in curious customers from all walks of life! 6th street screams "$3.00 Tacos" to anyone going to the games!
Pierogies: If there is one thing that Pittsburgh loves, it's pierogies. Imagine a venue that handmade fresh, made to order Pierogies right in the middle of the Cultural district? You'd be tempting people from across the city with the very mention of your name! I singled this out as a specialty because it doesn't make sense that the places around 6th don't do more of this. Pierogies exist on the menus of several places, but not as THE thing they specialize in. These are fast, easy, popular, and a savvy business professional wouldn't have a problem working in a small venue to push such a grand product. The words you want to hear are "Just like Grandma used to make!"
Buffalo Wings: I, personally, adore buffalo wings and I'm sad that there are not more places around Pittsburgh that specialize in buffalo wings. There is Quaker Steak and Lube in Oakland...that's it. There's not even a Wing Stop in this city! What travesty! Wings are fast, fun and cater to the Bar Crowd, low budget crowd and the Sports crowd!
Vegan: Vegan and Gluten free places are few and far between but business owners help them; but there is no place that can be safely called truly Vegan except for, perhaps, Sree's. A small Indian place that is located on Liberty Avenue. But what if you're Vegan and don't want Indian today? What if you want a nice sandwich? Or hand-tossed salads with your favorite veggies and trimmings? This crowd, however, is very small.
Barbecue: I don't think I would call Meat and Potatoes Barbecue, so having said that, there is no, actual barbecue around the Cultural District. I believe there was at one point, but not since I've been there. Barbecue would be awesome and a tempting treat for all the carnivores in the city, especially if that Barbecue were made with homemade sauce, trimmings and a Texan who knows their meat! (Ha! I'm kidding Pittsburgh...sort of.)
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
One thing I will mention is that the businesses around 6th street lack a certain creativity and spark. While the people can be pleasant, the Cultural District is named this for a reason. Culture. Bringing more and different culture to this street would be a welcome change of pace no matter what. Adding variety and by being different will, by its very nature, bring you customers. Sheer curiosity can be your initial marketing tool, but then, quality, price and word of mouth will grow your business further into flourishing. Homemade is this cities thing and the good people of Pittsburgh expect and deserve no less. If you give them that, you will get bountiful returns!
So come to Pittsburgh, why not?
- Beverly Wagner
AKA Djwaglmuffin (the Comicker!)
Showing posts with label food service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food service. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
My life at work
Right now, I’m a waitress at an Indian joint in the Pitt. I’ve been there since Feb. 2011 and, at the beginning, it wasn’t so bad. I make $8.00 an hour with no tips and I average 10 hours a week.
But these hours are spread out in such a way that I’m spending a lot of time on public transportation getting from home to work and visa-verse.
The work environment began to degrade when my coworker, a student from India, started working with us. He came around when my bosses and their entire family went to India for 6 weeks leaving me with the welfare of the restaurant. We did very well and everything went smoothly but, again, the quality of the environment began to get worse. They started neglecting me as a candidate for anything extra curricular like catering or deliveries around downtown and cut my hours to give this other guy more even though he was in school. Lately, it’s been really bad. This happens all the time but here’s one example: Last week I had asked for some time off for my chest. I had gotten so angry, so irritated with their attitude and the boredom of sitting around in downtown all the time that I had to slightly change my routine just so I wouldn’t end up in the hospital. They said OK (plus I haven’t had any real time off since I started working there.).
They called me in for Monday night because coworker had a class to go to. I wasn’t happy about it but I went in anyway. While there, it went from bad to worse. Boss-lady came in and we’re usually pretty busy with deliveries and with in-house orders so but she likes to try and do everything because she believes that nothing will get done if she’s not doing it. 3 sets of regular customers came in, I knew them all and I knew what they ordered except one of them, this time, wanted to change up their order a bit so I ended up fielding a few questions. Now, I’m not Indian but I know the food at the restaurant and I know the menu and how big everything is. They asked me a question and as I was answering, boss-lady runs over, bumps her body into mine causing me to stumble off to the side a bit and says “What’s the problem?” I say “There is no problem, they were just wondering about portion sizes” and she raises her hand in my face and says “don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of this.” I turned away, put my pen and book down and then the phone rings for a delivery. As soon as I go to pick it up she says “Hey! I’ll get it.”
Now. This happens a lot to which I have to ask myself “Do you even want me here?” And it’s putting a real damper on my attitude.
The week before last she called me in to work on some time off and at first I was like “No, I have some things I want to get done.” And she says “but don’t you need the money?”
I thought. “$16.00? really. Maybe not.” And then she starts guilt tripping a little bit like “Fine, I’ll just deal with it.” I got annoyed and said I would be there. When I got there, she fucked around with me the entire 2 hours I was there. I know it doesn’t seem like a long time but when people are dicking you around it feels like a thousand years.
She was first yelling and screaming at me about how fast I was going with customers. At lunch time we do a pretty big buffet and we get a lot of people all the time during lunch so there’s always a lot to do and there’s no set priority of what to do first. We just have to do what we can when we’re in front of it or thinking about it. I have developed my own little system to handle customers and get as much done as possible.
So I was at the register handling the people leaving. She walked over to the register, stood there and watched me. Now, remember, every seat in the restaurant was full with the exception of the people leaving. Instead of going away and doing something else like I would have done she just stood there watching me. I finally looked over and asked “What’s the matter?”
She said “Here, let me do this.”
I said “Why? I got it and it’s getting done…”
She says “Bev, just go do something else.”
Ok, fine. I dropped my pen and walked away. As I was cleaning tables in the back she came to me and told me I needed to pay closer attention the people coming into the restaurant. I just said OK and kept working.
But I think the final straw was when I asked her if I could leave at the time I normally leave after lunch. She said, and I quote:
“No. You need to stay until 3 because I have things I need to get done today.” and she walked away from me muttering under her breath “I’ve been trying to get out of here for the passed hour.”
I was stunned. Simply stunned. She called ME in on MY day off to help her when I ALSO had things to do but the world had to stop for her? What? I said, OK and asked her if I could at least eat since there was nobody else in the restaurant. She said yes but that I had to “Hurry up in case people show up.”
I’m thinking. Every time I eat and we’re still open, even if I’ve been dismissed for a few hours, I get up and help anyone in the place plus people coming in. That’s just the way I am. I’ll interrupt my lunch for people and it’s been like that since I was working there.
I go to the back, pick up a place while slightly cussing under my breath and Boss-man (her husband) comes out and just laughs at me like “What’s the matter.”
I said “Nothing” and kept working to throw a little bit of food on my plate. Boss-lady comes back there and they start screaming at each other in Panjaub and she comes storming out of the kitchen yelling at me: “FINE Beverly, you can leave! Not like I had things to do today.”
Consider camel back broken. I dropped my plate and left. Chest pain and all.
Now, look. I know it’s unprofessional to diss your bosses and job but fuck all that. A couple of months ago I asked for an increase in my pay. Boss-man is all like “What? Like a bonus or something.” And I said Yes.
“Just something to help me save a little bit of money. winter is coming and I want to have something put away for food and such since I can’t get on food stamps.”
He said OK.
His idea of a bonus is $8.00-$20.00 and when he gives me $20.00 he won’t give me anything extra on the following check.
I have some people telling me to quit. I have some people telling to stay since it’s $100.00 plus or minus every week but to be honest, I want to quit. And Badly. I have a second job, one where I make more than my weeks pay from the Indian joint in two days. (if that made any sense). Even with the second job, all of the money I make is going straight to rent and bills plus the occasional home cooked meal. If I’m not too tired and annoyed to make myself something.
I’ve packed on 25 pounds, developed chest pain, have grown to hate customer service and have developed prejudice against Indian people and their culture. I have a severe negative emotional reaction to anything Indian and my love of being around new people has been hindered. I think customer service, especially with food, is a good opportunity to meet lots of cool people, and I have. Popular musicians from the orchestra, conductors, directors; I’ve met politicians and activists; I’ve met people from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Israel. So, lots of interesting people, lots of cool stories from all of them. But I’m at the end. I really can’t do this anymore.
I’m afraid I’ll be stuck and that I’ll end up as a low end waitress for the rest of my days. I’ve been contemplating suicide and destroying things and even reenlisting in the military. I almost punched a hole in my wall yesterday amidst sobbing like a little kid. I’m having severe emotional breakdowns and headaches on a daily basis. My art has stagnated and it rains all the time…I’m tired of this and, honestly, not sure what to do. I have been looking for other jobs and work but no call backs and when I go in to check they’ve already filled positions or something. I’ve been persistent and everything else. I would like to go back to school but can’t settle on a major and it’s coming out in my grades. I’m bored with the classes I’m taking and the degree I want is just novelty. I thought about opening a business but my credit is so bad I don’t think I can…plus in this economy what would be the point?
I haven’t stood up for myself because of the way I go about it. It’s been bottled up for so long that if I do release it’ll be super bad. Violent even but I can’t let these people walk all over me anymore. And a lot of this anxiety is stemming from boredom! I’M BORED!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)