Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 5, 1995 TAG: 9509070107
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ON A recent visit to Roanoke, we were delighted to be invited to the Mill Mountain Theater's production of ``Forever Plaid'' and dinner in one of our favorite downtown restaurants. We lived in Roanoke for 23 years and my husband was on the original board of Center in the Square, so we've always had an interest in the progress that has been achieved in downtown Roanoke - especially the Roanoke City Market, which we have always considered one of its greatest assets.
We were totally dismayed, however, when after the play (which was absolutely enchanting) we tried to go to a new coffee house. And, in the course of two short blocks, were subjected to rude and vulgar language on three separate occasions from some of the ``vibrant youth'' as Dorothy S. Clifton (Aug. 16 letter to the editor, ``Vibrant youth help make market great'') prefers to call them.
We couldn't even get into the coffee house for the number of ``colorful young people'' who blocked the entrance. Feeling personally threatened, our party hastened back to our car and the safety of home.
This will be my last visit to the market after dark as long as this kind of thing is going on. I hope someone will take heed and clean this up.
- JERRY M. STOTT
Our Reply:
SUBJECTING passersby to rude and vulgar language is inexcusable. But most of the young people we have observed on the Market at night are well-behaved and minding no one's business but their own - which appears to be harmless socializing with friends. While there may be a few obnoxious individuals, and the numbers of youths gathered may appear daunting at times, no one should assume these crowds are menacing.
Patrons of the coffee house sometimes have to wend their way through a throng of young people, but this is no more threatening than pushing through a symphony crowd at the Civic Center. Dress, hair, ornamentation and average age may be different, but beyond superficialities and prejudices, the two crowds are not so dissimilar. Each is looking for an evening out with friends, to relax and be entertained. In our opinion, all should feel welcome on the Market. And all should celebrate and share downtown Roanoke's vitality, a congenial liveliness that most cities would kill for.
The last word:
HENRY BLOCH, a successful businessman by anyone's standards, operates on the premise that if you please one person, he'll tell one person. But if you displease one person, he'll tell 10. As much hard work as has gone into the Roanoke City Market and as vibrant as it is, this is the kind of incident that can kill it forever.
I didn't assume these three threats to our party - they were facts. I wonder if the produce manager who was attacked at about the same time would agree with your assessment. Looking for an evening out with friends to relax and be entertained is exactly what we were doing, but apparently some people consider harassing others to be their entertainment. All should feel welcome on the market - I did not! A congenial liveliness most cities would kill for - I hope it doesn't go this far.
I certainly don't have the answer, but I hope something can be done before it's too late.
- J.M.S.
by CNB