Mind you, I did text the Mayor and asked him if they had closed their doors but the Mayor never replied. Must be a really sensitive subject. Yesterday I drove by to see if there was any truth to the rumor and to my surprise they were in fact closed.
This morning I was scanning through my feed reader and saw an article in the Daily Times about it, so I clicked on the link and read one of the most crybaby, ridiculous articles I had ever seen, especially for a Sunday paper. A Facebook Page has been created so every one can stay in touch, PLEASE!
The SOB's, (Daily Times) won't give all that press for businesses opening to help boost the businesses and local economy but they'll go on and on about how so many people are heartbroken over the closing of this joint.
Many know Mayor Ireton frequented this business but there's a long time rumor that they'll be relocating to the old Bistro at the West end of the Downtown Plaza. Not that I personally care because I thought the food sucked and abusing the name "ITALY" and implying they were anything of the sort was an insult to those who actually deliver true Italian cuisine.
While mum's the word as to why they actually closed their doors, my guess is that they'll reopen soon in another location. Everyone knows they're more of a local bar scene and crappy pizza than an actual restaurant. Mind you, I'm not saying that's all bad and keep in mind, this is just my own personal opinion.
Hopefully, (should they actually relocate to the Plaza) they change their name to, oh, I don't know, something like, Rainbows and Loafers.
What the Daily Times also conveniently forgot to mention that they OC Kabob also seems to have closed their doors as well. They weren't open on Saturday evening either.
Its unfortunate that businesses are closing their doors. Flavors certainly had a decent crowd, (more so than any other local Downtown business) so it is a mystery as to why they chose to go this route. Perhaps their lease was up and they chose not to renew it.
56 comments:
They should rename it JMB/PHS Reunion Center Classes 00-07.
Sorry to hear that another business is gone.
Thought they had good food , however , I don't care too much for Italian food , mostly pasta and a lot of fat foods.
I guess another thorn in the side of downtown.
Build it and they will come does not apply to Salisbury,especially downtown. Make it clean and safe paticularly at night and they will come.
You know as someone who was a regular at this bar, I'm rather insulted by this article.
A Face Book community was created so we can all keep in touch and figure out where we can all go next in the mean time. We were a community both there when we gather for a drink and anywhere else we happened to run in to one another. Many of us work together and Flavors was where we went because it was one of the few places in town where you can get a cheap beer, see a decent live act and be around a group of people who weren't going to get in to drunken brawls or try to shoot the place up. No one there tolerated that. If you acted like an idiot, you got tossed by the bouncer, the bartender and any helpful regular standing near by.
You were right on one thing though: Flavors had a decent crowd, better than most in bars in Salisbury. I would say the best. Yes there was the rare fight, but never with a regular.
The people there are some of the best around and I count a large number them as my friends. Sure, you think that the pizza may not be that great but you can say that about most of the places in town. I liked it. It was filling and tasty. Maybe because I'm not Italian or from New York, but I never had any problems with the food there.
I was wondering when you would be writing about the closing of Flavors and surprised it didn't come sooner. I was also hoping for a less insulting article to the people who called that place home. For a lot of us, it was our "Cheers". Yea we know you're not a fan of the Mayor. Maybe knowing that, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he didn't text you back. Also, I can tell you right now, no one really knows the reason it closed, even a lot of the employees don't even know.
And I don't even want to know what you meant by the "Rainbow and Loafers" comment.
I never ate there but walked over there at least 3 to 4 times a week for an iced tea to go for my lunch. The employees there were some of the nicest people I have ever met! The minute I opened the door, someone would smile and another one would go back and get my tea without me even having to order. No sugar no lemon and they never once gave me the wrong iced tea. I sure do miss them at lunch time!
It is sad you have to be so negative about one of the few places in town where there was a good community.
OC Kabob has been doing a great trade since it opened. Let's hope that hasn't closed already. What is wrong with this town?
I think the negative post was because Jim Ireton goes there, or because they wouldn't advertise on his blog. I have eaten there on occasion, and I am not gay, or a loafer. The food was fine, and so was the service.
I'm sure for many, this place was a great place to get together and enjoy a cheap beer and pizza. They never offered an environment in which I'd want to bring my Wife or Family. Perhaps the single group finds it refreshing and that's cool.
IF you want to remain in business and be successful, you have to cater to every one. Flavors did not do that.
Let me explain a little further. I had a restautrant in Crofton, MD. that sat next to the biggest restaurant in Anne Arundel County. Everyone said, you're crazy to open right next to Jaspers.
Well, we were packed 7 days and nights a week. When I sold the business, I sold it for a very nice profit and they are still in business today.
That being said, I know what I'm talking about and I have a proven success record, even with the biggest restaurant/bar sitting right next door.
When you start catoring to just one crowd of people, (perhaps the single crowd) you're going to fail. We had a huge lunch crowd, a huge dinner crowd and after 9:00 PM we turned into a local bar with 4 pool tables. We never had fights because we controlled the environment and we didn't serve drunks, period. We were never desperate for the almighty dollar. We also served no alcoholic beers ON TAP. Trust me, when it comes from the tap you really cannot tell the difference, especially if you had a few beers beforehand.
Anyhow, it can be done no matter what the challenges are. I can tell you one thing, you HAVE to be at your business 7 days a week at the busiest times or you will fail.
anonymous 9:01, come on now, that's just completely wrong. I have nothing against Jim Ireton personally.
As for Flavors not advertising on Salisbury News, that too is a load of crap.
One of the thins I take pride in is the FACT that we selectively take on advertisers WE BELIEVE IN! We're not out for the almighty dollar and we're not whores selling advertising. Our advertisers come to us and WE pick and choose who we will or will not accept.
Flavors of Italy never once came to us for an ad. HOWEVER, every single time they ASKED us to promote and event, WE DID IT for the good of the local economy.
Know for a fact people, we only accept quality advertisers and business people. We are NOT the Metropolitain or the Daily Times.
By your reasoning, Seacrets should be closed by now. They certainly do not cater to families. Many restaurants and clubs cater to specific groups and do quite well. They don't have to be generic to succeed.
anonymous 9:17, you are absolutely WRONG!
Clearly you are NOT a regular at Seacrets.
I lived on the water in West Ocean City and regularly too the Family to Seacrets during the daytime and early evening for lunch and dinner.
Like I said earlier, you need to cater to every one and Seacrets does exactly that. They have a completely seperate dining area, obviously you've never been in it.
In my restaurant, (mentioned earlier) we stopped serving food at 9 PM. This would eliminate the "Family" atmosphere and by 10:00 PM the bar crowd would start coming in. IF you happened to come in before 9 PM, you had better behave or we simply removed you from our business, respecting the Family atmosphere we had earned.
Seacrets is successful because you know what to expect there and they provide all sorts of different experiences in one location. Flavors failed to do that.
Joe you think they would survive in Flatbush? Hehehehehe
Joe, as usual, you're WRONG!
And, as usual, you're too DUMB to admit it.
anonymous 9:34, Let's see, I retired at 40 years old, YOU?
I guess that makes me "DUMB".
Get some more coca and see where it leads you.
There's no comparison to a restaurant/bar in a resort area and one in downtown Salisbury, Anon 9:17. At any given time for approximately 90 days Seacret's has 200,000 people within 5 miles of it. Probably around 99$ of those people are on vacation which is a major factor also.
I heard one of the family members had sticky fingers if you know what I mean!
Also the Fountains has been sold it appears and after a visit to check it out I must say how disapointed I was with the food and service. To top it off it appeared that two of the new owners were screaming at a patron in the parking lot as I was leaving. It is a shame about Flavors as a business and with business in this town in general.
Joe-
1. The post is over top funny ,glad to see you are still writing local articles.
2.The comments are Great!
3.C.R. said I don't know what you mean by Rainbows and Loafers. C.R. as a regular at Flavors I have very strong feeling that you are both!
4.This is what SBYNews is ALL about I just love it.
I heard Chef Fred's has been sold too. Sorry to hear about The Fountains. I was going to give it a try.
Joe, as usual you fail to grasp the most important aspect of the social interaction, and that is liking people.
I know you have had your problems with people liking you, what with your being a blowhard conservative idiot with an ego that is based on the flimsiest of premises (money), but you've got to understand that Flavors was the place that you could go any night of the week and know that your friends were going to be there. Im sure you had friends before you became a money grubbing assmuncher, but it's hard to remember things from when you were 3.
The real problem that I have with this "journalism" of yours is that as it is simply opinion, you're not held to any standard of truth or fact so the reader has to assume that you reject both. If you gave a damn about the truth you'd have to give honest opinions (like how your wife deserved to lose her Zoo job and you've still got a stick up your ass about that one).
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if this was the 1800's or early 1900's we would have run your ass out of town on a rail years ago, covered in tar and feathers. I hope you drown in your own bile, you miserable piece of shit.
I'm sorry it's closed. I wish the people who owned it and worked there well.
If they are moving into the old Bistro space, then shame on them for this drama to everyone as a marketing stunt.
If it's because they ran into some kind of trouble, well, see the first statement.
You are right about how the Daily Times will do a piece like this while doing nothing to help a business get started or prosper. Guess success just isn't news.
Their editorial today was ridiculous. This whole city and everyone who works for it should hinge on that stupid intersection? Tell you what, spend the money instead on teaching people how to cross a street.
The people of Salisbury are glad the council did its best to keep cops on the street. The Daily Times is more concerned about their Board of Education connection. That paper is just sleazy any more in my opinion.
To the first anonymous 10:32, was it the RAINBOW or LOAFER comment that took you over the top? LMAO!
By the way, you cannot ever claim that I have ever stated I was a journalist. You wet pants liberals keep trying to shove that down my throat as if I've ever made such a statement but I will continue to call each and every one of you out as LIARS. I am a Blogger with an OPINION. YOU are desperate LIARS who will make up just about anything to try to make me look bad.
Funny part is, tens of thousands of people come to us and next to no one goes to you. We have kicked the Daily Times ass, they know it and you know it. Salisbury News is the biggest and most frequently talked about item this Town has seen in many years and that drives people like you nuts.
The TRUTH, (for once) is killing you guys as well. Today's Daily Times is ONCE AGAIN a crybaby leftist joke with a twist of rainbow flavors to it.
I ate there once and that was enough for me. Never cared to go back again.
Flavors pizza was more authentic Italian like you get in Italy not NJ or NY. Nothing wrong with those it but not true Italian.
Flavors had the best people working their, always made you feel welcome. Maybe that is more the rainbow way.
I see this as more a result of the recession.
Is it just me or did anyone else think that Flavors was a gay bar? Not that there is anything wrong with that, but when my wife and i went in there on a friday evening, we got the impression that it was a fruit festival.
I think our downtown can't survive because of the mess that surrounds it. You have the transit right behind OC Kabob, which brings out the best people, and then that gross flea market. But, seriously, parking downtown is difficult if there is too big a crowd,and no one wants to walk too far since the bums hang out on the river walk.
10:25 am:
Really now? Insults? I thought this blog was supposed to be better than that?
And for the record: I saw families in there all the time. Maybe not as often as others but still. There are plenty of businesses that cater to a certain crowd. Look at Break Time. You can't even get in there even during the day if you are under 21.
Drew, THAT is why they/we call it NY Style Pizza, NOT Italian style pizza.
Their food was NOTHING like Italian style food.
Nice try though.
CR, really, you saw families in there all the time, eh. Well, IF that were the case their doors would still be open, THEY ARE NOT.
You liberals always have an excuse but when you look at the truth/reality, you're a bunch of liars because they are now closed for business.
As for Break Time, I tip my hat to that business. They do an excellent job with the rules that they are bound to, no one under 21. They should have the right to allow families in during the daytime and thats all there is to that. However, under the liquor license they currently have they cannot.
You don't see them bellyaching. They make up for it by serving top quality food at a very reasonable price.
If you patronize their business at the right time you'll have a fantastic dining experience. If you go there after 8 pm, well, you get what you get, a bar crowd.
I highly doubt the Flavors crowd would ever survive at Breaktime for obvious reasons.
Flavors was owned By Nick Hess who is a life long resident of this area and was in the U S Navy when he bought the place. I think Nic is deployed, but not sure. The lunches were good. The place was exactly what is was suppose to be. This became a regular for the older guys who have a drink at 5 and also for the group in the 20's to Late 30's. Don't know of any real trouble there, just sorry they did not make enough to stay open.
Joe I am dissappointed how you attacked the quality of food. It was what it was. There are things that the best Italian Restaurant in town do that are not to hot compared to the same so called dish I have had in Rome or Sorrento or even New Jersey.
The many lunches and few times I have been there for dinner were always good, and the service was fine.
Do you really have to beat every body up?
Sorry we have lost another business in Salisbury. Appreciate that Nic and Family gave it as good a shot as they could. I hope they did not loose a lot of money in the deal. His entire family, Including his Mom and Dad and syblings are good hard working people and he has served our country well for several years.
As to Anon 11:07 and downtown parking. For the few and far between events that are downtown we have never found parking to be a problem. With 2 free hours across from the library how easy can it be? The problem is that people want to park on the doorstep of where they are going. Once the law offices and banks close at 5, if you can't find parking you are not looking. That is one of the weakest excuses for the downtown not surviving in my book.
anonymous 11:43, I'm pretty confident that if I were to shut Salisbury News down today, you and many others would be saying all kinds of reasons why it failed.
I have had numerous businesses in the past and each and every one of them was a financial success. If it was just ONE business I'd probably say your comment might be accurate. However, that is not the case.
I too feel it is unfortunate that they have closed their doors and have only given my OPINION as to why this may have happened.
You, (and every one else) have the right to their opinion.
Heck, someone just tried to claim they knew who I was back on the western shore and stated I used to give out "ecstacy" like it was candy. The Idiot doesn't even realize that that drug wasn't even around back in the late 80's and early 90's.
Not only have I never done drugs in my entire life, people will try to say ANYTING to defame me. Look, this is an opinionated Blog. I have the right to my opinion and like I said, you, (and others) have the right to yours.
To the dummy who said he wasn't "a loafer," glad you aren't a shoe since that's the kind of loafer referred to in the Rainbows and Loafers phrase, not a lazy person.
"Rainbow" refers to the gay movement.
"Loafer" refers to gay people, as in "I think he's a little light in the loafers."
Loafer can also refer to the preferred shoe of pre-deck shoe preppy footwear, with preppy-dressing often associated with gay men.
Joe, I read your blog and love it more than I hate it, but really, the gay slam was not necessary.
rainbows and loafers.... love it, keep up the good work!
anonymous 12:10, don't piss on my head and then tell me its raining!
This business was not a Family environment. There is nothing wrong with a gay bar but please, pissing on every ones head and saying its raining is the same as saying this wasn't a gay environment.
Now, that being said, there's nothing wrong with that but I chose not to patronize that business. If you're trying to make claim that there wasn't a push to completely change the environment there to one specific group, I'd say you're nuts.
That has been the BIGGEST discussion over the past several, (yes, I said SEVERAL) years. Many feel that IF the entire Downtown was turned into a gay community, business would be thriving.
Clearly the first attempt at such has failed and some of you want to shoot the messanger. I call it the way I see it. I have NO problemn with gay people. I LIKE the fact that I can choose the environment I choose to patronize and Flavors is NOT one of them.
Now, are YOU man enough to use your real name, (like I always do) and call it the way you see it. Hell no, you won't.
When you see me out and about, at least you know what you're getting should you strike up a conversation. Many of you LOVE to hide behind anonymous because you're too afraid someone might think badly of you because of how you feel or think. Not me, I am what I am and I have no problem IF you don't like me.
Flavors was not a gay bar. It was a bar with a strong sense of community where judges, lawyers, business owners, teachers, workers, musicians, artists, and anyone else who cared could coexist.
Gay people were not out of place there because we all cared for each other as people, not labels.
As for the drug comment, (not saying you did or sold drugs) "Ecstacy", "X", (MDMA) not being around in the 80s and 90s, it was invented in 1912, was used in the 70s, and was definitely around in the 80s and 90s.
Even if this is an opinion blog, any time you make a statement as fact, you need to back it up as fact. Here's a somewhat credible source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecstasy_(drug)
As for the Flavors source, I am/have been an unbiased patron of Flavors, Break Time, and a few other local bars. I drink iced tea or 1 beer. I'm not gay, and a I'm political free thinker. I have taked to you a few times, Joe, and you were out with your camera at the original 3rd Friday. We (the Downtown Salisbury patrons) appreciate your support, but not your attacks.
Michael Perry II
Flavors was a place that all people went to. I'm sorry to see it is closing. The owners are very nice people. I heard Nick is overseas serving our country. Maybe they closed for personal reasons? Who knows! I for one will miss it. Best wishes to the owners and staff.
Joe, in your previous comment, you stated that you "like the fact that [you] can choose the environment [you] choose to patronize and Flavors is NOT one of them", so what makes you such an expert on the goings-on of Flavors? You don't go there, so why are you automatically passing judgment and making assumptions about the crowd that went there. Flavors was as much a gay bar as it was a straight bar, if you're going to label it. But really, what is the point of labeling something. That is precisely what was great about Flavors- you couldn't put a label on it because it was everything. The only common thread throughout all of its patrons was a mutual love and respect for others, free of judgment. For you, Joe, to not only judge and label a group of people, but to do so without even knowing the truth of the matter, is just poor form, and a damn shame. Maybe it's a good thing you didn't go to Flavors, your judgmental kind is not welcomed.
People - get over yourself! It wasn't a "gay bar". It was a place where everyone went to have a good time. It's like any other place, you choose to go and if you like it, you come back. Plain and simple.
Go! Magazine features a lot of the new restaurants that open around the area. OC Kabob was in it not too long after they had opened.
Hey Joe. Flavors closed because they lost their liquor license. When a facility has a liquor license they must also have a percentage of food sold. This did not happen so the board took the license. They did not know how to cook the books as others in salisbury do. We ate at OC Kabobs Friday Night..food was great as usual. Seemed to have plenty of customers..we will miss them.
As far as Chef Freds we will have Georgia House as owners. Brenda and Chef Fred will still be there. We wish them well. As far as the Fountains go I never liked their food. A beautiful building and grounds BUT when we have an event we feel nickle and dimed. They need a new person booking the events..someone who makes you feel they want to spend the money and to get their moneys worth. They wont make it by yelling at the customers on the parking lot...reserve that for the Bar scene..IN Baltimore.
You know what - 4 years ago a few kids had a dream and opened a restaurant, converted it into a bar/restaurant and they made the business grow with their talent, their friendliness, their great staff selection. It was a place where literally "everybody knows your name". Congratulations to them for helping out this small town grow in business. Sorry to hear they are closing. They will be missed.
as a lifetime resident of salisbury i feel i can speak to the continued failing of our downtown.
1. it has NEVER been business friendly in the city.
2. unfortunately the LEADERS past and present didn't have a vision and wouldn't research cities of our size and personality (college towns) that were thriving to see what and how they became a great town.
3. as time went on we continually got excuses as to why it would never work. at first it was the mall then big box stores and then walmart/sams.
4. why are there towns all over the eastern shore, maryland and the country that are thriving? what's the secret? there must be something they are doing right.
5. we are not a business friendly town; we are not a retail friendly town. we just couldn't seem to "get it together". NO VISION and NO ECONOMIC common sense.
6. our current leadership does not have vision or understand how business and the economy works.
7. pocomoke city and berlin are thriving. i know there are many more but not our downtown salisbury. the sad part is we truly have so much to offer and it's being wasted.
8. let's pray we get TRUE leadership in the future and then maybe we can make it work for ALL of us.
Flavors had established a nice loyal following, they showcased lots of local music, they made a decent pizza... They should have hired real managers, counted inventory, and not given away the bar for free to all their "regulars" and they probably would have still been around.
The Bars that are popular because they give away free drinks, or have the cheapest drinks, always seem to tank. I am sure it was fun while it lasted...
I think the point people are missing is that Flavors was lavished with this article while DT allows other local businesses to die on the vine.
Part of the reason this *COULD* be true is a lot of DT writers hung out at Flavors. They were a spot for underpaid writers to get drunk at and attempt to meet with the opposite sex...errr... sometimes the same sex.
What I found interesting was how it was described as a place of debauchery in the DT article. That's probably not going to get you a lot of business in an area where the population at large either goes to church or at the very least has morals influenced heavily by church. That's not a knock on them- I don't go to church- just an observation of the market niche they were attempting to fill and thrive on seems to be to be excessively limited in our area.
The above comment about Seacrets doesn't hold up because- they are in OC a totally different market. OC gets upwards toward 500,000 people on July 4th weekend. Has Salisbury EVER had any single event in its history when that many people were in town? EVER? Seriously, GA, I'd like to know. I do not think they have. And they certainly do not have a summer population anywhere near OC. So businesses like Seacrets or even Flavors can exist in that market because the dynamics and population is totally different.
as a lifetime resident of salisbury i feel i can speak to the continued failing of our downtown.
1. it has NEVER been business friendly in the city.
2. unfortunately the LEADERS past and present didn't have a vision and wouldn't research cities of our size and personality (college towns) that were thriving to see what and how they became a great town.
3. as time went on we continually got excuses as to why it would never work. at first it was the mall then big box stores and then walmart/sams.
4. why are there towns all over the eastern shore, maryland and the country that are thriving? what's the secret? there must be something they are doing right.
5. we are not a business friendly town; we are not a retail friendly town. we just couldn't seem to "get it together". NO VISION and NO ECONOMIC common sense.
6. our current leadership does not have vision or understand how business and the economy works.
7. pocomoke city and berlin are thriving. i know there are many more but not our downtown salisbury. the sad part is we truly have so much to offer and it's being wasted.
8. let's pray we get TRUE leadership in the future and then maybe we can make it work for ALL of us.
As a COME HERE-YUP!!!!!!!!!
I agree 5:10 another downtown failing business isn't big news. Downtown is dead unless you need to pay a fine, go to court or need an attorney.
If their were money to be made downtown frachises would be standing in line to open up.
How much has Urban Salisbury spent on downtown since it's conception? Nothing has changed.
Market Street does well because of their reputation and a location on the water.
To the person who commented at 1:51 - that is incorrect. Flavors DID NOT lose their liquor license. It is still valid. Are people just making up stories now?
Michael Perry II 12:51 PM and JH 1:12 PM.
Two great posts!
Michael-"We all cared for each other as people, not labels".
JH-"The only common thread throughout all of its patrons was a mutual love and respect for others, free of judgement".
I am not gay but that really doesn't matter. The world would be in much better shape if eveyone loved and respected each other.
I have to laugh, as always, this blog is more gossip then anything else. Not only are the people born and breed here, gossip, but this area seems to attrack similar types, like from jersey......LOL, no one here seems to have a clue about Flavors or any other establishment......LOL
I always had a blast at Flavors. They had the best bands & bartenders in town. I don't agree that they had crappy pizza at all. Flavors had the only brick over pizza in town & they made a damn good Pie, Stromboli, & Calzones in it. I feel bad for the always kind workers there. Joe I know you have this one all wrong. This was truly a great place. Breaktime has steroid ridden A-hole bouncers & charge $10 for local bands that you could see at Flavors for free, Market St is fun but always to pricey & packed with tools, & I never liked dodging bullets at Brew River. My opinion was that it was always a fun time & people were always friendly. I will miss Flavors, there aren’t any other local places that offer such a comfortable atmosphere. P.S. I always felt 100% comfortable bringing my family there.
anonymous 2:22, that's not true. Mambo Italiano has a brick oven and their pizza is FAR better than Flavors ever was.
joe albero is gay with aids
OC Kabob has never closed. They are open every day at 4 p.m. for dinner. Their food is AMAZING!!!
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