Guest post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman
By now, many people have either seen the KSTP video or read the Strib article about how five businesses along West Broadway were busted for selling stolen merchandise. (JNS policy is usually to not link to Strib stories, since the links can go dead over time. However, this is the only article I found that lists the names and addresses of the businesses in question.) I've taken the liberty of expanding on the Strib's list and providing images so readers know which businesses specifically are involved.
So which businesses are they? Read more to find out...
First up, the photo above is of Best Wireless, at 931 West Broadway.
Not too far away is Digital City, at 905 West Broadway.
Farther down the street, two businesses are located in the same building. We've got Janine's Foods, at 1510 West Broadway.
And CNS Wireless at 1506 West Broadway.
Finally, at 1120 West Broadway is the Broadway Car Wash.
While I was at both Janine's Foods and the Broadway Car Wash, I had people yelling at me about taking pictures. My standard reply of "I'm taking pictures of buildings, not people," which I used back when the EcoVillage was full of ne'er-do-wells, did not calm these folks down in the least. As much as I hate to cast aspersions or declare a business as unsavory based on who is hanging around, this experience did not say good things about either business.
Furthermore, the Broadway Car Wash was the subject of a successful neighborhood intervention earlier this year. Now I'm even more relieved that they didn't get their zoning variance approved to put a drive-through in this building.
In fairness to the owners of these businesses, it's not clear whether this activity was done with the owners' blessing or knowledge, or if it was done by some rogue employees. But now JNS readers know which businesses are at issue, and can decide where to spend their dollars accordingly.
20 comments:
wow. i may start thinking twice about buying my cellular phones, baby formula, detergent and razors from the car wash.
I should point out that the business name is the Broadway Car Wash, although it is also a gas station/convenience store. So the sale of some household items there makes at least some sense.
LOL @ veg*nation.
As I read the Hawkman's post I thought "I bet NONE of the JNS readers are spending their money at any of these stores"
So... are we?? Any JNS readers spent any money at any of these stores, and if yes, where/what store and why?
I don't recall ever spending money at any of these stores. Once, a friend suggested going into the cell phone store and looking for a better deal than I get with AT&T (their cellular blows) but my reply was, like, "I'm not going in that THUG STORE."
I'm so glad to see my gut was right. I wasn't doing business with any of these stores to begin with, so it's not going to hurt much when I say THE BOYCOTT IS ON, BABY! Wish I had all day to stand out front with a sign saying, "SHAME ON (FILL IN THE BLANK) FOR BUYING STOLEN GOODS."
Oh, wait. They haven't been convicted, yet. So insert the word "allegedly."
By the way Jeff...way to go on the meta-tags. Way to feed these thugs to a hungry search engine!
John - are you sure your friend suggested THAT wireless store? Or just A (any other) wireless store???
Just sayin'...'cause REAL friends don't let friends support 'hood stores. :-)
That carwash has to be the most uninviting looking business ever. I also have not been in any of those businesses since I moved to the Northside.
Megan G.,
Well, COUNSELOR, I can see where--reconstructing the conversation--that interpretation is plausible. Maybe it was just about getting a better deal SOMEWHERE, generally, and it was the site of the wireless hood store that spurred the conversation.
But you're right: friends don't let friends support hood stores that traffic in stolen goods.
Dyna Sez...
Hood stores have been serving as fences for over a decade- I remember a similar bust a few years back. If you watch the hood stores, you'll note that the usual food wholesalers trucks never appear at the hood store.
And even if they actually pay for their merchandise, the hood stores tend to sell crap. Back when I worked for Continental Baking we would regularly find hood stores selling stale bread they bought in our thrift stores at full price if not higher. It got so bad that the owner of a bunch of hood stores even bought one of Continental Baking's old bread trucks to haul the stale bread to the stores. I found out about this when I came across said truck with a whole rack of bread having busted out the door... apparently Continental didn't give them the lock bars needed to keep the load in place with the truck!
Dyna,
Keep the hood store stories coming! FUNNY!
In a few 'dang, my gas is down to fumes' moments,' I've had to hop into the Broadway Car Wash. Never got a good vibe in there, myself and couldn't really fathom why/how it stays in business. But here's hoping to better days ahead.
Kudos to the cops!
Isn't this the same Gas Station/Car Wash that was applying for an easement to use the alley so they could expand there business last year?
And who was that in the news video with that dapper bow tie? I don't think I have ever seen any shoppers along Broadway dressed so smartly.
That would be Mike Christenson of CPED. And yes, the link in this post about the car wash goes back to that business's application for a variance.
One of the stores that was raided--Digital City--sits on the board of the West Broadway Coalition.
George Shannon. The specific guy from Digital City is named George Shannon.
So.. if Digital City has a position on WBC board, and Digital City is part of a theft resale ring, which is probably not the only illegal/illegitimate activity they participate in, probably not a stretch to say there is some gang activity or involvement there.. then does that mean the gangs have a position on the WBC? That the gangs have infiltrated public policy... like Al Flowers hanging around gang members, and
Al Flowers being on all sorts of committees and groups and going to public meetings, often regarding police.. what exactly is going on here??
I think this needs further investigation.. we better bring in McNulty, Kima, Freamon, Lt. Daniels and even "Prez" Pryzbylewski.
without throwing out names, and looking biased, there are some very reputable stores in NoMi. If a cop car is parked out front, it tends to be on the up and up. Sure, we might get a free cup of coffee out of it, but if they're inviting random stops by police, they're not going to be up to too much shenanigans.
-just a cop
I am dispaointed to read the the Broadway Car Wash property on the city website list as taxpayer Randall W Lane
http://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/PiApp/GeneralInfoRpt.aspx?PIN=27288
the same name for the address for randy lane and sons. http://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/PiApp/GeneralInfoRpt.aspx?PIN=19822
I am so disappointed the broadway car wash is a big pain and they did not even sholvel there walk. I cannt belief they would allow all the loitering and crime over there.
sorry my last comment about Broadway Car Wash was about James on Broadway Car wash at 1524 West Broadway.
WELL... Another BLOG filled with HATE, concerns, STEREOTYPES, JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDES, loving people, GREAT IDEAS, horrible intentions, BUT yet people have the freedom of speech TO DO WHAT? talk some more? FIVE YEARS LATER... TALK SOME MORE??? where is the ACTION? "NOMI" hahahaha "smile in your face" type of people on this blog is the problem... IF YOU CARE SO MUCH DO SOMETHING. Go pick up that sign stand in front of that BUTT UGLY GAS STATION (that i do agree on) AND MAKE SOME NOISE. THIS BLOG IS ALL TALK NO ACTION.
NOW JOHNNY, the in your face attitude is needed in this city ill give you that, otherwise some people will walk pass a pile of S$%T instead of cleaning it up. but if you put as much effort as you do into down talking Mpls, MAYBE YOU WILL SEE A CHANGE< just maybe.
ok, now i feel better.
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