Bring back The Green Door!

Judged:

Is it just me or does someone from the Meints family need to reopen the Green Door? That was the best place in the world and it was a landmark of Steamboat Rock. I sure do miss the Prime Rib, twice-baked potatoes, curly fries, chicken strips, tenderloin sandwiches, cheese soup, cheeseballs, and oh, those onion rings! When the new people bought it out it just wasn't the same. So, come on Meints', what do you say? Anyone agree with me and would you support The Green Door if it reopened?

owner

Judged:

if people had supported the green door it would still be open. It's for sale why don't you buy it.

owner

the meints don't own the green door they have not owned it for over 9years it has had 3 owners since then and none have been supported by the local community

sunflower

Are you sure it has had 3 since then? They haven't been supported by the local community because it wasn't the same since Dee retired. That's why someone from the same family needs to do it. The building may be condemned, so that would need some work. Obviously you must have a problem with the Green Door, though. Sorry if you didn't like it and don't support them, though. You must not have actually grown up in Steamboat though or you would agree!

owner

you must move with the times. people do retire you know the greendoor has had 3 owners since dee meints. don't you think if any of the meints family wanted to run the greendoor they would have had the first opportunity when dee retired? why do say it may be condemned? what is wrong with it do you know? you seem very well informed. Steamboat rock must welcome people from outside of their small town and support them when they come to open any business there. otherwise the whole town will continue it's downward trend.

Change

Bloomington, IL

If you miss the Green Door , why not buy it and hire folks to run it. Mrs Meints may have done a good job as original owner but times change. Change is good. People who are willing to take on a restaurant ( a hard job ) should be supported whether they are local folks or NOT ... because ultimately it brings business to and helps the community !!

sunflower

Judged:

What downward trend? Seens to me there is an upward trend, what with the schoolhouse, the highway, the ethanol plant and all. Do you have a problem with the town? If you have a problem with the town, maybe you should move. If you don't live in Steamboat, maybe you shouldn't badmouth it.

wildflower

steamboat sounds such a great place to live an ethanol plant that must be a big employer for the local people, and a new school, and highway is that running though steamboat or is it by-passing all the small towns? and how about that new bar that must be a great meeting place for all the people.

iagree

Judged:

I agree with sunflower. If you are going to be negative, you should move. Or shut up. You guys are both mean. Sunflower is just trying to be nice and compliment a business that used to be open in town and and you guys are just being plain bullies. I just spoke with Dee and some other of the family members about a week ago and had a great time reminiscing about the Green Door. In a small town, you just cannot be mean like that. You never know, if you continue to be mean, you just might be the next gossip topic at the Rock Stop.

city dweller

Corpus Christi, TX

Judged:

I've visted the green door and steamboat in the past and tried it both when Meints and some of the later owners had it.

I don't think owner and change were being mean or badmouthing the town. They are just pointing out that the orginal owner and family could have either stayed with the business or bought it back at some time.

They also pointed out that things don't stay the same and change happens. Perhaps if the town had supported the later owners the business would not have failed. This is a good point to make and to discuss.

iagree and sunflower - you sound very defensive. The fact is when new owners take a place over change will happen - some good some bad. You can't live in the past. Many small towns are suffering in this economy. Saying a town is on a downward trend is not bad mouthing - it is just an opinion.

Telling someone to shut up however, is very rude. Calling someone a bully is also rude.

And finally, threatening someone that they will be the next town gossip is a form of bullying. Gossip is also mean and rude. Why would you call someone a bully and mean and then threaten them with gossip? You contradict yourself.

The fact is you have a closed down restaurant in your town and the past cannot be brought back to life. Focus on the future and how you will attract businesses and new neighbors to your town - if that is what you want. If you do not want change or new additions to the community then so be it but then you will have to accept the fact your town will not have the Green Door back in its old form or a new form.

iagree

Judged:

City Dweller, just when did I tell someone to shut up? I also didn't threaten anyone with gossip, I merely pointed out that it could happen. I also didn't CALL anyone a bully, I said they were BEING bullies. I, too, would like to see someone reopen The Green Door. Now, is "owner" going to give me the same reply that he/she first gave sunflower? I seem to recall reading something like this: "if people had supported the green door it would still be open. It's for sale why don't you buy it." You neglected to say that it was a rude comment as well. However, as far as a discussion goes, city dweller, I will be happy to have this discussion with you. When you decide to move to Steamboat Rock rather than being a 'city dweller.'

city dweller

Corpus Christi, TX

Judged:

"City Dweller, just when did I tell someone to shut up?"

Um, well, just above my first post you said " you should move. Or shut up." You gave the former poster two options - move or shut up. So, you told them to shut up.

"I also didn't threaten anyone with gossip, I merely pointed out that it could happen."

No, not exactly. You said: "You never know, if you continue to be mean, you just might be the next gossip topic at the Rock Stop"

Sounds like a threat to me. I guess this is the town gossip spot? And you seem familliar with it....so, sounds like a threat to me.

I also didn't CALL anyone a bully, I said they were BEING bullies.

ok then - semantics, semantics. But isn't telling someone they are being a bully the same as saying they are a bully? When are being and doing two different things?

Now, is "owner" going to give me the same reply that he/she first gave sunflower?

I do not know and cannot answer for this poster.

I seem to recall reading something like this: "if people had supported the green door it would still be open. It's for sale why don't you buy it." You neglected to say that it was a rude comment as well.

I didn't neglect to say anything. I don't think the comment above is rude. Just my opinion. It is not name calling it is just stating that if anyone in the town wants the restaurant open they are free to buy it because it is for sale.

It sounds like an informational statement to me.

Why isn't anyone buying it? Could a group get together and purchase it and run it? Perhaps the original owner could be an unofficial advisor and help get it back to the way it was? Why couldn't this be an option for those that would like to see it open again and running as it was?

"as far as a discussion goes, city dweller, I will be happy to have this discussion with you. When you decide to move to Steamboat Rock rather than being a 'city dweller.'

Why do I have to live in SR to discuss this? All towns are having economic problems and are finding ways to attract business and opportunity and growth or would like to vary their businesses? Why is this just limited to this town. Why can't it be a general discussion? I'm confused why living in SR is the requirement for discussing the town and its betterment and future?

Thanks

Citydweller

owner

thanks city dweller

owner

the greendoor is for sale if sunflower or iagree or anyone else for that matter wants to buy it please call the owner I am sure that sunflower and iagree knows who it is

boatrockalumnus

Why don't they bring back Burn's Grocery and Stupp's DX? Miss seeing Bernie Heard at the bank! McDonald's hardware was convenient and Knight's Locker provided good processed meat. How bout Subrenia's Cafe? Or even Struck's Service Station. Those were the good old days!

rockette

Monroe, LA

OMG I forgot all about McDonald's!! Knight's Locker was great, I remember being fascinated when Jerry had an animal hung up in there. I remember when the bank got robbed and Bernie got tied up. And then there was Sheryl's Hair Fashionette. And then there were the ones in more recent times like videos by Lisa (Lisa Homeyer who rented videos on top of the hill), Lighthouse Associates, Zeke's Maid Rite, the cheese factory, Unique Products, Luiken & Sons. Anybody remember Tuffy Snittjer that was a regular fixture at Subrenia's? Anyone got any more memories?

boatrockalumnus

Tuffy Snittjer was one of the biggest BSers in Steamboat that I can remember. He told an unnamed friend and I that Lee Pieters was after us for shooting bottle rockets in his pasture, so my buddy and I ran away from home thinking we were in deep s*^t! We didn't make it far and we never quit hearing about that for years! Tuffy was an avid fishermen and I know he had married and had a step son back in the early 80's. Anyone remember Russel Holmes or Annie Doolard?

boatrockalumnus

OK, here's a memory; Who were the two best school cooks ever at SRHS? Esther Daleske and Eleanor Frerichs! Not far behind were Arlene Montgomery and Carol Hofer. Esther and Eleanor made the best cinnamon rolls that I'll always remember!

rockette

Russell Holmes!! What memories, Dad would take us to visit him and he would be there in the dark watching TV with a cigar or pipe and he always walked with 1 crutch! And Annie was the best lunch ticket lady, no offense to Patsy Klatt. Agreed on the cinnamon rolls, but then there was Arlene and Carol's mac n' cheese, and don't forget those donuts Eleanor made out of potatoes! Also, another memory is the juke box at Subrenia's. I would play Joan Jett & the Blackhearts over and over!!

boatrockalumnus