This past week, Q-line asked: “What impact, if any, do think the opening of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. on the pier will have?”
Here are your responses: ✆ “Now that the damage has been done, life will go on as usual. It always seems to. It’s less than desirable but the powers that be have overwhelmed the popular vote as is usual these days.” ✆ “The success of every restaurant depends on the restaurant’s table and seating capacity and with good food, fair prices are capable of keeping these tables full during operating hours. The Santa Monica Pier is a habitat of various races and cultural individuals as well it should be. Whether they all enjoy shrimp will remain to be seen. I realize there was a quarrel between the DeSimone family and the city of Santa Monica that led to the closing of the Boathouse. Still, I do not believe that any local business people wanted to open a restaurant on the pier. Had they wanted to, they would have.” ✆ “I think it’s wonderful that we now have a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. opening up on the pier. I used to be a landlord in this town of Santa Monica and I think it will be good because now I am in a convalescent hospital recovering quite nicely and I think our group would like to go there this coming week. So welcome to Santa Monica Bubba Gump. Also, maybe it will help with some revenue and the city can fix those freaking potholes.” ✆ “After years have gone by, tons of money has been spent, headaches and typical bureaucratic problems with building and safety in Santa Monica, Bubba Gump has opened. Good for them, I wish them well. It’s a sign to us all that you can actually make progress with City Hall if you don’t give up. I’m just glad it opened as a nice, new establishment we can all use rather than a homeless shelter or low-income housing project which seem to be the focus these days in this town.” ✆ “I think putting Bubba Gump Shrimp on the pier and taking away the previous restaurant that was there was one of the worst things that Santa Monica did for the city and it’s obvious all they care about is revenue. Putting a chain on there, Bubba Gump, is not going to last long, it’s going to be gone before we know it. It’s not going to make any money, it’s lame.” ✆ “Santa Monica does need Bubba Gump. We do need more high-priced trendy chain stores, the city also needs more stupid politicians, more bums, more bus lanes, more roundabouts, and more speed bumps. There is a lot of things this city needs. In case anybody didn’t realize it, I was being sarcastic.” ✆ “It would depend on the quality of shrimp that was being offered by the chain.” ✆ “Bubba Gump Shrimp is the one-way arrow that businesses in this town blessed by City Hall are going. Business chains more than double the tax revenue according to your paper. Example, Bubba Gump Shrimp. Why does City Hall want more business chains? More taxes. Why more taxes? So they can fund non-cost effective libraries, police departments, $120 million RAND Corp. properties, and low-income housing. Why low-income housing? Both rental and coming soon to a location near you, low-income ownership housing, because of new voters. In the movie ‘Revenge of the Sith’ Chancellor Palpatine says to soon-to-be Darth Vader ‘Those who acquire power are fearful of losing it.’ Words that our City Council lives by and for. Power over the unwashed masses is a potent wine. Few can resist the power to spend other people’s money. Our City Council in its quest to bring Santa Monica up to the wreckage of Los Angeles has destroyed the small town beach atmosphere that Santa Monica once was and enjoyed. Darth Vader would be proud of you guys.” ✆ “Bubba Gump restaurant fits in very well with the class of people who visit the pier. Tacky.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 12, 2005. Read the original PDF.