Isn't that the message the Repukes were trying to make? Papa Johns, Applebee, etc., are NOT Small Businesses. Small Business is LOCAL shops. They don't have CEO'S!!!!!!

But I'm trying to create a directory full of businesses we all recommend...local, national, online.

Businesses which don't feel words like "compassion, cooperation, community and integrity" are bad, and instead aspire to live them.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021791201

just as there are green directories, union made directories, etc.

I'm going for a bigger umbrella that kind of takes everything into account, but with the ability to identify "made in the USA" and union and such within the directory.

I figure if companies are comfortable aligning with Wishadoo!'s principles of Compassion, Cooperation, Community & Integrity (unlike Rushbots and Beck followers, for example), they're people we'd want to support.

in the good ole USA, they treated their employees well. Then I saw this:
http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/04/american-apparel-sustainable-brand-image/

Not sure what the latest is.

An online "portal" type site that lists only local businesses. Make it mobile friendly as well, and easy for local biz to update, etc. Give local biz today's tools to reach their customers and be more visible to the buy local scene.

I with I had time to implement it....

The Directory I created has zip code radius search, so listings can be searched for by location, but I know what you mean by a more general portal. Plus, I am specifically wanting businesses being okay with aligning with the whole Compassion/Cooperation/Community/Integrity thing.

It's a litmus test of sorts.

There is a mobile app coming in the next couple of months.

No, this is a close sister to the job Wishadoo already does. Now mind you, I'm predisposed to think anything you do is awesome.

a Pain in the Ass.

But, that's okay...someone has to be, right?

Thanks for seeing that the tools I'm gradually introducing here -- and which I've built over several years -- are all tied together, meant to be integrated.

In case you never saw it before, below is an infographic about Wishadoo.

Muchas gracias once again, tavalon. I appreciate your support more than I can say.

I tried a few dozen times. Anyone else have this problem?

It does have the elevated captcha since spam is a huge problem.

PM me if you keep having trouble and I'll see if I can manually add you or something. Don't have tech support this week, unfortunately.

Sorry about that!

Still waiting for the verification email.

Still no response. I'll check later for the verification. Thanks.

and manually verified it, since I'll be away for a spell.

You should be able to log in now.

And while I will be giving some of my stipend to OWS for their buy back the debt idea (Awesome). After my grueling 12 hour back to backs last night and tonight, I will stop by to find out about the vote and the possibility of being a owner member. Since our family is socialist, we each get the same amount of stipend, which is sometimes a pain, because I'm the high wage earner and when I find a cause, the bad Jiminy Cricket in me wants to renegotiate, but I'm just too invested in socialism to give up because I occasionally run low on funds. I find I spend much of mine of just such projects. I'm a communitarian through and through and you've got quite a vein of that going through you.

How could I not support you?

I honestly find this effort of yours to be well-done and worthwhile. Kudos to you.

Very, very cool!!!!

And thanks for the reminder to contact the new social enterprise structures, like B Corporations!

I think every community should get unchained!

a small business..........a lot are franchises. Same with a lot of big name hotel chains. It all depends on the corporate culture that is pushed on these small business owners. Unfortunately, it too many cases, it toe the corporate line or else.

Those pricks don't need my money. Local Mom-and-Pops do.

I ate an Applebees once because a family thing was held there and never returned. Crappy food.

We went to a local Applebee's a few weeks ago with a group and good grief! I thought I may have to take out a loan to pay for their overpriced crappy food.

promise, Mr. Applebee?

They get exactly *zero* business from anyone in my family, we all hated it.

It won't happen again.

I tend to be a food snob anyway because I love to cook and what I cook usually surpasses anything obtainable in any chain restaurant. But the simple fact is that, when it comes to food prep, most chain establishments with their formula menu's to maximize profit and minimize taste, usually succeed in serving overpriced crap. I'd rather do it myself. That said, I'm retired now and have that luxury. Not everybody shares that ability.

and likes it, says Applebees' is awful.

...David Brooks eats there.

as chain restaurants go - but the service was lousy (and I don't mean the wait staff, I mean that it took far too long to get our food, forcing us to have to inhale it to get back to work on time).

Chik-fil-A (I know people like them, but the last time we had them we got sick)
Papa Johns
Now Applebees.

BARF! I don't eat at any of them anyway.

But it certainly tells me where NOT to spend my money! Free market and all that shit.

Applebee's and tell them no more business,make it go viral

along with Papa Johns and Chick Fil-A.

I've never been a loyal customer at any of these places, but they won't know that when I send a letter explaining why I won't be giving them my business.

their food sucks.

Restaurants that care about the country and their employees.

all eight of them.

Michelle Obama's healthy eating ideas are taking hold ....less Applebee's and Papa John's better for all

that will simply leave room for another business to serve the market. No big loss. There will be however many restaurants are needed to serve demand, it is the free market system. Perhaps what will fill that space will be more interesting.

They seem to be poor businessmen. Since every other restaurant and business will be dealing with the same costs, the playing field will stay level. They may have to charge a few cents more, but so will everyone else, it is no big deal in the marketplace.

This is bullshit threats. I say let's keep a watch on Applebee's and see if they don't open any new restaurants. I don't believe them.

But IF their threat was that all the employees would be put on part-time basis, I might believe that one.

No sweat off my back to not eat there. Could this be the thing we needed to jump-start small businesses?

They don't have a say about their emloyees in their restaurants?

when there's no demand is a fool's errand. So they have an excuse to give the shareholders because they've peaked.

but I have refused to darken their door for at least 15 years.

Hopefully all this could eventually lead to a grassroots boycott movement and also to an "eat fresh, buy local" movement that would encourage local people to open alternatives to the chain restaurants. It's so difficult to compete with these chains that only a concerted effort on the part of consumers will bring about the change we are looking for.

I assume it's a fake home-cooked meal with bland decor that is nothing like anyone's memory of the good old days. They're not going to open one near me soon? Oh Joy. Sounds like I luck out.

May the doors of wrath bust your buns on the way out!

one time. I did not like the vibe, left, and never returned.

This will make people healthier!

Would only go there once or twice a year, but no more...

Oh, darn...

They always fuck up my orders anyway. A TGIF wannabe chain.

and communities

I haven't seen any Applebees open prior to ACA passing. So, what else is new?

want to eat again.

My Republican friend -- who hates Obama I might add -- says his company is going to cancel the insurance policies of the warehouse workers and kick them onto Obamacare. That, he says, will save the company $10,000 a year. I have know idea if he has any idea what he's talking about (can a company do that?), but, according to him, Obamacare is great for business.

"Eat local. Shop local. Amen."
- You got that right, Coexist

Yes, i know how it started - WWII, wage freeze, had to to compete with benefits, etc.

But it DOES make companies that pay benefits less competitive than companies (both here and abroad) that don't.

Some companies (retail, food) have been careful to keep as many of their employees part-time as possible for years - my brother and his wife work for a huge retail chain, and neither can get full time work, even at Christmas, and my brother is a manager.

The only answer I see is a Canadian-style system.

That's GREAT

they're lucky i didn't sue them. i'd never eat there.

that's awesome!!!

plates. Blech. We go to a local place. I am hoping to branch out and check out some other local restaurants too.

Look, first of all, I don't buy all these sour grapes announcements.

But second of all, if there is a market to be served, and demand to be satisfied, then someone is going to step in and do it. If Applebee's doesn't want to be the one to step in and satisfy that demand and make money, hey, I'm sure someone else will.

But we all know that Applebee's does want that money, so they will build as they need to.

Should have to post a warning sign if their employees do not have adequate health care. That is a public health issue.

to back away from the position taken by the NY Franchisee

http://applebees.mwnewsroom.com/Home/Statement-From-Applebee%E2%80%99s%C2%AE-President-Mike-Archer-R

It's a good thing he's a franchise "owner" because I've read many stories on the DU of us lowly employees getting fired for voicing our opinions in our free times.

Hole in the wall family owned restaurants offer the best and worst food you'll ever taste, mostly the best.

It's got to be 35 years since I ate at a chain restaurant. They're just not good enough to get me out of the house.

so that people will think the food on cruise ships is great.

A number of years ago while on a business trip two of us stopped at Applebee's. We sat at one of those high tables with stools. Nothing on it except our drinks. When the waitress brought our food, a cockroach appeared on the table. She said she didn't know where it came from. I said it could have only come from the kitchen. We ate but never went back.

Applebees will open more restaurants if they think they will make more money if they open more restaurants. If they choose not to, someone else (and probably better as they don't even reach mediocre) will take their place.

The capitalists don't seem to know how capitalism works. You have as many employees as you need to have in order to make more profit than you'd make with one fewer employee. You build as many restaurants as you're able to make money on.

That's a phrase worth remembering!

We believe those dollar travel through the community and some comeback to us to re-spend.

...are of eating with my mom and dad at local family restaurants. They have unique quality of character.

I honestly don't have any happy memories eating at any of these big chain restaurants.