Eat At Joe's is apparently moving up in the world: we got our first press release today. Alas, the news was for ill: Broad Street Coffee Roasters is closing its doors. Here's the scoop from Our Man On Pettigrew Street:
After nearly 25 years of serving the Research Triangle Area and the Southeastern US, the venerable Broad Street Coffee Roasters closed its doors on Friday, October 22. Originally founded in the 1980s, Broad Street Coffee Roasters pioneered the specialty coffee industry in the Southeast; its founder and President, Larry Hayes, was one of the earliest presidents of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the major trade group for gourmet coffees. At one time Broad Street Coffee Roasters was the largest supplier of specialty coffee in North Carolina, and many of the Triangle's most famous restaurants opened with it. Originally started in Carrboro, NC, Broad Street Coffee Roasters has filled the Downtown Durham, NC area for the last ten years with the intoxicating aroma of roasting coffee.
Terry Mancour, former VP of Broad Street Coffee Roasters, cited "unavoidable circumstances" that forced the closing. While not naming specifics, he mentioned last year's closing of Fowler's [now re-opened -- Ed.], as well as a dramatic increase in competition and higher transportation and health care costs, as factors in the decision. "We're not happy with this outcome, but we did everything we could to stay open. We fought the good fight, against overwhelming odds and brutal competition, and in the end we just didn't have what was needed to survive. In a way, we are a victim of our own success: most of our major competitors are former Broad Street people. I want to thank the thousands of customers and consumers who have expressed their support and given us their business over the years. Broad Street was a genuine Triangle institution, and it kills me that it's over."
go for it, larry; hows the hair? sort of a gobierno blago kind-oh thingo you got o going on o...you know? but listen, you need to click on comment feed at the top sometimes; sometimes joe lets things simmer on the comment feed afore he lets 'em onto the regular grind page--thats what I've figured out, anyway; of course the joe will let me know whether or no I be right-oh.
but i've read some of these posts; some of them are concerned with you; what do you have to say for yourself? painting over murals...burned beans...green beans...bad hair days or bad hair decades? we need to know sweetheart and we need to know quick; shake it up and pour, we aint got all day.
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 19 December 2008 at 21:14
I don't have comment moderation turned on, so comments should show up essentially immediately, unless they get marked as spam. If they do get marked as spam erroneously and I notice, I have I think 30 days to publish the comment before it gets automatically deleted. But, like I said, I didn't see anything from Larry in the spam bin. I imagine something went awry before the comment got into TypePad.
Posted by: Joe Eater | 21 December 2008 at 10:45
sounds like more green beans, larry...from you, not joe.
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 21 December 2008 at 20:09
The beat poets should have known that one day that stream of conscious hipster moralizing would wind up in the mouths of rednecks. It's bad enough reading it in the original: Translate it into the lexicon of an addled sixties refugee with anger issues, and you've got an audition for Soldier of Fortune.
I kept thinking your anonymous poster was the hog who hangs out in front of Whole Foods who looks like a refugee from a Breughel painting. He's always accosting people, and attacking them with his racist/homophobic diatribes. Not to mention the hail of partially chewed food shooting from between the stumps of his yellow teeth. But then I realized this guy can only dictate, and can't possibly sweep enough funeral home driveways to get access to a computer.
I think you've got yourself a performance artist. I'm going with Laurie Anderson.
You're in the big leagues, Joe.
Posted by: coozledad | 25 December 2008 at 14:27
coozledad - I'm reminded of something David Cronenberg said when he was told that he was king of "biomorphic horror." He supposedly answered something like "Biomorphic horror: it's a small world, but I'm king of it." :)
Posted by: Joe Eater | 25 December 2008 at 17:14
homophobe; fear of mankind? thats the latin throw of it, anyway. are you afraid of mankind? the man with the "yellow teeth", maybe? because you equate him with "moralizing"? are you afraid of morals? why do you equate "moralising" with a man you consider to be a "racist/homophobe". what does this say about your conception of morals? about you? are you a "cracker"? or someting else that should the else be said would probably result in the sayer being booted by the joe...and what would that say about tolerance, freedom of speech via the world wide web or otherwise? here's something: the biggest treat to the freedom of speech is the abuse of the freedom of speech. here's something else: tolerance is not the same as acceptance (addendii: the essence of tyranny is forcing people to accept--not merely tolerate--the intolerable; acceptance meaning support, to give support and assent to vocally, materially)... you go ponder now, y'hear?
racist; what does the word mean, really? racist is to race as guitarist is to guitar? if you're going to play race, then you'd better learn to play a whole lot better than you have here. my advice: let race alone and be content with...content. do reposte when you come up with something.
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 25 December 2008 at 19:01
Ahhh, Grasscracker. You cannot leave the monastery until you learn what is the essence of tolerance. Until you learn that the highest form of tolerance proceeds from the knowledge that to be truly tolerant, one must not only tolerate the intolerant, but become intolerant oneself, you must stay here and continue washing the dishes. This is the benign sutra of hatred,er... love.
Now repeat after me.
Obama is a mooslim.If Jesus were alive,you'd know him by the impeccable cut of his suit, and gays make God mad. Got it?
Now go wash the fucking dishes.
Posted by: coozledad | 26 December 2008 at 10:04
leave the booze alone, boozledad; you'll feel better.
score no more pot for rahmmy emmanuel---
---and then the two of you can go see the obammy whose facade/demeanor/temperment is the product of the subliminally vicious cult-producing anti-culture of cocaine/cocaine rehab...in tandem with some industrial strength psycho-politico whatever
...the obama: body by soloflex, president by pretense.
what is this fool? 47 years of age with a wife and a couple of girls and he's president elect but he actually takes the time---no, actually takes the thought to take the time (which is what is so distressing; wait: I forgot. the obamam is beyond thought)--to pump up the bod with god knows what and show it off like trade? you know, the democratic party gave us a choice between a whorehouse madam and a pimp; we already pretty much had the whorehouse; the madam has sold the keys to the whorehouse for an international cruise---to the pimp, and so now we shall have a pimp. that means out on the streets with the law and God and everybody, you know? oh. you dont know.
hey, its gonna get really bad. really, really, really bad. you know? oh. you dont know.
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 26 December 2008 at 18:48
we need to keep focus. but first we adress this "laurie anderson" suposition; I am not laurie anderson. but I do remember her having invented a table that you could sit at like a cofee table and lean upon with your elbows, cradling your head in your hands, your hands over your ears, and voila hear music via vibration---which is what sound is---rather than by vibration via electic wire via speaker paper/diaphragm. do you get the picture?
now about this business of "stream of conciousness moralising","hipsters"... and "rednecks" taking up same---I think this is the drift of the earlier post submitted for pondering by repostier boozledad: that backwards and deficient "rednecks" fifty years after the flawlessly prescient edge of "beatnik/hipsters" such as Keroac (?) communicating via "stream of conciousness", finally begin to engage in "stream of conciousness" themselves. but I think boozles got it bass-ackwards. what? keroac? canadian? french? speaking, writing (stream of cociousness, moral or otherwise) in... english. gee, what language/culture continuum did all them rednecks come from and out of and proceed from and go forth? to victory after victory (the marine corps was at one time not so long ago almost exclusively southern; the culture of it is still undeniably inarguably of a peculiarly southern miltary psyche)...
...but canada was a big supporter of the confederacy, and "rednecks" dont say "idee" for "idea" for nothing, so let keroac---
the only beatnik to be so-but-just-barely-good at what he did so as to have the quality of what he did do to transcend the crud (read, beatnik) he rose upon--
let keroac do his thing; but the space between him and all them "rednecks" ain't even there. which is the way I remember him wanting it to be. he didnt wind up in rocky mount nc for nothing.
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 27 December 2008 at 16:50
stream of conciousness. james joyce? the irish boy who went nearly blind from looking too intently upon the light? cant hardly blame him. ireland so damned cold and all; curse of the world is that what you run to for comfort what kills you; always having to learn over and over that nothing here is ever going to hold you because this beautiful hell aint where you really be from anyway; theres who you are and then theres who you have to be to be who you are. catwoman knew all about it. south carolina. ava gardner knew all about it. north carolina. sou cairlighna nor cairlighna; yella high, high yella; adieu, mon bella bella belle...
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 28 December 2008 at 14:13
and the thought police are speechless? what gives? buyers remorse with the obama? guilt? oh. I know. new years eve resolution. no more booze. ok. good luck and say a prayer everday and do not do not do not if possible go to A.A. I mean nothing bad by that; AA does a lot of ood for them that really need it; and them that really need it will be there. but put another way: them that dont really need to be there shouldnt be there. and you know who you are. just step away from the booze or the dope or the whatever it is that has your best self by the poor old helpless body you know the who you really are has so much wonderful more to do with than...let me stop before the musick collapses into cacophony.
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 02 January 2009 at 20:51
oozledad, silent; geologybeotch, silent; larry hayes...all silent;joe.... also silent: is joe oozledad is geologybeotch is larry hayes? all one in the same? what nitemare on loony street have I stumbled into? paint me a mural, larry; wait. cover up your signs; wait. you decorated my life? whose life? interiours by psychoprofits, inc.? make me a cup of coffee, joe. wait. what kind of coffee? thars gold in dem dar beans...or something else? sorta? cookbooks by byotch geology? wait a minute...what's cooking today, my little accountanette? coozledaddy knows and cares and loves loves loves your coozle; wait a minute...porn-orchards paying off dividends unsearchable? the great leap forward...into oblivion. say hello to casino royale hah aha hah...and hah.
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 06 January 2009 at 19:05
dear larry. when you post you have to scroll down and put in the little letters in the little box; this is a feature to discourage multiple automatic postings, spam, etc. try again. dont let these clowns have the last word...
Posted by: doitright | 11 January 2009 at 19:26
repostier "geology byotch" (7-12-08) calls me a coward and insinuates other things besides; so where and when may I make the pleasure of your acquaintance? I can clear things up for you very quickly.
sincerely,
onlymyhairdresserknows
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 11 January 2009 at 19:39
and now my sources tell me that a warrant is out for the arrest of larry hayes...about the mural thing. I googled up the incident, and I have to tell you: that was a hell of a job; execution, audacity...A+number one all the way. what was all that? guerilla zen comedy revenge? too bad the buttons are beyond all that, larry; they'll put the bracelets on you anyway---but...maybe you can work out a deal. hey, we live in a world where a guy named madoff can make like the grench and make off with everything but christmas and not even think of bringing back the toys and whatsis and poppers and STILL walk around new york like whats it all about---so get on the bat-phone, boy, and call up one of them lesbo dispute settlement center-types and cut a deal...I'll be bqack with moire advice, pally; we'll get you golden again before its all done.
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 14 January 2009 at 20:33
How about another comment from Larry Hayes since all of you back their just seem to love to, beat a dead horse, Wadda ya say Joe?
Posted by: Larry Hayes | 09 February 2009 at 12:40
So sorry, I really meant to say back there not their -- anyway are you still wasting your time writing about the food scene? Do you have time to hear a little more about real coffee?
Posted by: Larry Hayes | 09 February 2009 at 12:43
Let's start with your, so-called, favorite coffee from BSCR. You thought that the coffee from Kawai was really hot stuff. Sorry to say Joey that it was and always has been rather mediocre stuff. I do not mean to put you down but I do believe that I have forgotten more about coffee than you will ever, likely, know. There are some fine coffees from Hawaii but I would not have put them in the hands of the likes of someone like your buddy.
Posted by: Larry Hayes | 09 February 2009 at 12:54
Of course, with your name and face clearly visible on Facebook, if the local authorities and looking for anyone it would probably be a bean counter such as yourself, someone no doubt cooking the books for some third class accounting firm.
Posted by: Larry Hayes | 09 February 2009 at 12:58
Has a cat got your tongue Joe? You are usually just so skilled at skewering your correspondents.
Posted by: Larry Hayes | 09 February 2009 at 13:00
Probably, you've just found another specialty coffee roaster with a twisted employee to get your free coffee from Joe. Now you should realize that the coffee was never free, really, we were just waiting to be able to send you a certified billing statement. I hope you haven't consumed too much coffee this morning?
Posted by: Larry Hayes | 09 February 2009 at 13:05
Over and out joe and try to get some rest -- debits and credits are a whole lot harder to understand than a simple task like roasting coffee. If I were you, I think I would actually re-read some of the comments written by some of my real employees and as far a Bill goes, yeah he worked in Durham for a while as a part-timer but I will say he hasn't got a clue. He sort of reminds me of you except you at least did realize that the coffees we put into the market were real coffees from a real and honest business, we didn't ever approach being a mid-list specialty coffee roasting outfit. I hope you are learning a few things today. If you would like some real Hawaii coffee just use your keyboard and type in Hawaii Cloud Forest Coffee and if you are lucky and if you have $24.00 you may get to experience a coffee that lives up to my standards. You only want the medium roast, its grown at an altitude of about 2,600 to 3,000 feet and processed, and roasted locally on the Hamakua Coast. The property is followed by all the right buzz words concerning marketing. It's organic, it's shade grown. The owner's have built habitat for native ducks and geese and the property is shaded by Koa trees which the rulers of early Hawaii considered rather sacred. You'll need to add another $7.00 to have the coffee arrive in about three days after the roast date for shipping through your local Durham Post Office. The whole operation is, shall we say first rate.
So there you have it Joe -- a mini-education and good luck with those Facebook types and yes I think you are more like a Taurus and not at all like an Aries so what can I say further but good luck to you, 'cause you'll probably be needing some good luck in these unlucky times. Meanwhile, I'll be having my coffee in the sunshine and enjoying the fine weather and water in islands. So buena suerte Joe, and write if you get work!
Posted by: Larry Hayes | 09 February 2009 at 13:25
Whatever!
Posted by: Larry Hayes | 09 February 2009 at 13:52
Ok, look. Any more hostile, off topic, threatening, ad hominem, or spammy comments, and I'm shutting off comments on this post, starting comment moderation for the whole blog, or whatever it takes. I don't need this crap. I've tried to leave comments open out of some sense of some sense of fairness, but that's evidently not working.
Posted by: Joe Eater | 09 February 2009 at 15:20
good too have you back, larry; congratulations and what about the mural?
Posted by: onlymyhairdresserknows | 17 February 2009 at 20:34
Ok, enough. Thread locked.
Posted by: Joe Eater | 17 February 2009 at 21:02