Geno's Steaks in Philly? Better speak English Options

[dauss]

English only at Philly cheesesteak joint

Bistec con queso? Not at Geno's Steaks.

An English-only ordering policy has thrust one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints into the national immigration debate.

Situated in a South Philadelphia immigrant neighborhood, Geno's — which together with its chief rival, Pat's King of Steaks, forms the epicenter of an area described as "ground zero for cheesesteaks" — has posted small signs telling customers, "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING `SPEAK ENGLISH.'"

"They don't know how lucky they are. All we're asking them to do is learn the English language," said Geno's owner Joseph Vento, 66. "We're out to help these people, but they've got to help themselves, too."

Vento, whose grandparents struggled to learn English after immigrating from Sicily in the 1920s, said he posted the sign about six months ago amid concerns over immigration reform and the increasing number of customers who could not order in English when they wanted Philly's gooey, greasy specialty — fried steak, sliced or chopped, in a long roll, with cheese and fried onions.

Of course, it's not as if native Philadelphians speak the King's English either. A Philadelphian might order a cheesesteak by saying something like, "Yo, gimme a cheesesteak wit, will youse?" ("Wit," or "with," means with fried onions.) To which the counterman might reply: "Youse want fries widdat?"

The traditionally Italian community near Geno's has become more diverse over the decades. Immigrants from Asia and Latin America have moved in, joining longtime residents and young professionals seeking reasonably priced rowhouses. In the past 10 years, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Mexican immigrants — many of them here illegally, community leaders say — have settled in South Philly.

Vento said his staff is glad to help non-native speakers order in English and has never turned someone away because of a language barrier.

But the policy has "really upset a lot of a people," said Brad Baldia of Day Without An Immigrant, a coalition of immigrant groups. "For some people, I think we're just going to say, `Le gusta Pat's.'"

Juntos, a Hispanic neighborhood organization, said it plans to send people to Geno's to try to order in Spanish and may pursue court action, depending on what happens.

"His grandparents encountered the same racism and the same xenophobia," said Peter Bloom, the group's director. "Why would he begin that process over again?"

Vento said he has gotten plenty of criticism and threats. One person told him they hoped one his many neon signs flames out and burns the place down, he said. But he said he plans to hold his ground.

Customers placing orders on a recent morning seemed unfazed.

Angelica Marquez, 22 and originally from Puerto Rico, ordered in well-spoken English, but said some of her relatives struggle with the language. "They always come and just say `cheesesteak,'" Marquez said, adding that the policy "bothers her some" but not enough to keep her away.

When a non-English speaking customer showed up at the window a short time later, a clerk patiently coached him through the process. Eventually, both said "cheesesteak."

Vento, a short, fiery man with a ninth-grade education, arms covered in tattoos and a large diamond ring in his ear, also sells "freedom fries" to protest France's opposition to the Iraq war. He rails against Mumia Abu-Jamal, the black man who was convicted of killing police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981 and has become a cause celebre among some death penalty opponents. Memorials to Faulkner are posted at his shop.

Those who market the city, often using images of Geno's and other famous steak shops, are watching with concern.

"I certainly wouldn't want a national audience to think it represented all of the wonderful cheesesteak makers in the whole city," said Meryl Levitz, president and chief executive of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. "This isn't representative of the Philadelphia attitude."

Competitors are seizing on the controversy.

Tony Luke's issued a statement saying it welcomes all customers "whether or not they speak a `wit' of English."

And a manager at Pat's, Kathy Smith, said of Geno's English-only policy: "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life. I'd rather listen to the Spanish than the foul language of the college students."

[Spectatrix]

It sounds like they're patient with customers who don't speak English, so I don't have a problem with their policy.

[jonathan83]

It sounds like they're patient with customers who don't speak English, so I don't have a problem with their policy.

agreed. if anything, they're helping them learn english words.

[Spectatrix]

From a legal standpoint, I wouldn't have a problem with it even if they were rude as fuck to immigrants... I think business should have a right to employee whomever they want and serve whomever they want (they do have the latter right, more or less). However, from a personal standpoint I'm glad that they're being patient and polite to those who don't speak English. I think by making them (and coaching them to) order in English, they're helping immigrants acclimate beter to the US.

Even though English isn't officially our national language, it is in practice. Many immigrants understand that and are glad to learn English, especially those from Asia (including India and the Middle East). I haven't really known many immigrants from Europe, but I imagine they're the same. What I don't get then is why Mexican immigrants have a problem with learning English. Many don't, but the ones that do... god they're making a ruckus about it.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Jun 9 2006, 11:06 AM

[schwab]

yeah that is exactly the problem, tourists who go to this restaurant (from other countries) i am sure try to order it in english, I cannot see any japanese guy walk up and try to order it in japanese, but I can see some mexican guy trying to order it in spanish, just expecting us to speak his language

[celebritygooner]

Why is this news?

[Spectatrix]

Why is this news?

Because immigration legislation is a hot-button issue right now.

[GOB]

i wonder how long before the first attempted lawsuit by the aclu or some other lib-bag organization

[Spectatrix]

I really doubt the ACLU would take a case related to this.

[GOB]

YES BUT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO CHEESESTEAK EVEN IF THEY DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH OKKAY???

[pysex]

right on geno!

[woody]

i wonder how long before the first attempted lawsuit by the aclu or some other lib-bag organization

doesn't the rest. have the right to refuse service to anyone?

[Spectatrix]

doesn't the rest. have the right to refuse service to anyone?

It depends on the reason for refusal. Basically, the refusal has to be to protect a business interest. e.g., if some customers are being disruptive, the business can kick 'em out because otherwise they'd be driving off other customers. With this, they could probably say that requiring customers to order in English means that they don't have to hire bilingual employees. Even if the ACLU did pick up this case, I don't think it would go anywhere. If a court said that the restaurant had to accept orders in other languages, in effect they'd be saying that the restaurant had to have employees for every language in the world, which would just be absurd.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Jun 12 2006, 12:21 AM

[chook]

I could see a more liberal judge requring menues to be bilingual with the second being the secondary language of the area, but even that seems overkill. Just do a picture menu with all the condiments and have people point to them and have the universal thumbs up/down. Or gert' out of my country damn commie!!!!