Maybe you heard that Uncle Harry’s Fig Garden Village location has closed. Not because the location wasn’t doing well or because Uncle Harry’s didn’t want to renew their lease. They did.
But the owners of Fig Garden, based in New York, wanted them out in favor of some national high-end paper store (wedding invites and such). Uncle Harry’s was not shy in posting about this in their window:
This Is Not The First Time
A very similar thing happened to the Ripe Tomato (you remember that place?) when Pieology wanted their spot, their local ass was encouraged to leave by the owners.
This has got some people fired up about these big city folk chipping away at the local charm of Fig Garden Village. I’m not real happy with it either.
But I am not at a point where I will protest by not shopping or eating at Fig Garden. Not yet. Hell, Jack’s Urban Eats just got taps, bro!! How can I give up on it now?!
*fist pump* @JacksUrbanEats in Fig Garden now has taps!! With actual good beer like @hopbeer!! It's the little things that make you happy. pic.twitter.com/QOe5lTJ0bp
— Mike Seay (@thefresnan) May 1, 2017
But there is a tipping point somewhere. A line of demarcation. A point at which they push out one too many local shops in favor of a national chain.
Will it be Wassabi’s? The Elbow Room? Hungry Bear? Patio Cafe? Yeah, maybe it would be Patio Cafe. I’m really not sure. But they are starting to piss me off and a lot of other people too.
What would the tipping point be for you? Is there one?
Joshua Tehee (of the Fresno Bee) and I have a discussion about this on this month’s Flowing With Famous podcast. Listen in here.
