Letters

Club Dead

Everything’s great when you’re downtown: I couldn’t agree more with Bruce Rodgers regarding moving the clubs out of Westport into the downtown area (“Move the Clubs,” September 21). Funny thing is, back in my day — the late ’70s and early ’80s — I seem to recall a respectable amount of club action downtown. There was the Haberdashery, Gigi’s, the Down Under, Italian Gardens, and others.

Granted, none of these had anything like the stature of a Kelly’s in Westport, but they had the potential to be in the same league had circumstances been a little different. Why did the majority of them shrivel up and die? If I had to guess, it was two things: transportation and collateral business. As long as a certain company continues to hold a virtual monopoly on vehicle parking, and as long as mass transportation between downtown and the residential areas of Westport’s primary clientele continues to lag, especially during prime nightclub days and times, a club owner would be insane to set up shop downtown. I know you can park on the street for free downtown, but the perception is that’s not safe, at least not as safe as parking in Westport.

Once upon a time, when other businesses were open downtown, especially those remaining open later than 5 p.m., employees would stay downtown for the night life. Is there anything downtown anymore that stays open to the public that late? I’m probably going too far abroad with my next observation, but maybe if Clay Chastain has his way with the light rail vision, downtown nightclubs could prosper. Given current conditions, however, I don’t see it happening, however much as I would like to.

Erich Noll

Kansas City, Missouri

The Electric Slide

Power trip: I am writing to correct a misimpression created by Allie Johnson’s article on Kansas City Power & Light Company (“The White Power Company,” September 21). I am the only lawyer mentioned by name in the article, but Norm Ross and many other African-American individuals now or formerly employed by KCPL have been represented by three law firms: The Popham Law Firm; Klamann & Hubbard; and Sanders, Simpson, Fletcher & Smith. At Norm Ross’ trial, Michael Fletcher and Dirk Hubbard were instrumental parts of our trial team. As for the various other actions now pending against KCPL, including our intended request for class action certification in a case now before Judge Wright, all three firms are participating in that case and other cases, as well.

Although I realize that my name is mentioned because I happened to answer certain questions Allie Johnson asked me, I don’t want the article to erroneously suggest that my law firm is the only one representing Norm Ross, or the other plaintiffs who have filed actions or are contemplating filing actions against KCPL. The KCPL litigation is truly a team effort. The following lawyers have been most active to date in the KCPL situation: Bert S. Braud (Popham Law Firm); John M. Klamann and Dirk L. Hubbard (Klamann & Hubbard); and Michael Fletcher and Daniel Craig (Sanders, Simpson, Fletcher & Smith).

Dennis E. Egan

Popham Law Firm

Kansas City, Missouri

The Truth Hurts

Causing a sensation: Although both your articles on the hog slaughtering business (Joe Miller’s “Pig Out,” September 7) and the Guy’s scandal (Tony Moton’s “Let the Chips Fall,” August 24) were well written, they were described by the writers in such garish detail that I wish I had not read either one. The details of both will haunt me for some time to come. However, I have learned two lessons: Become a vegetarian and keep my young daughter on a very short leash.

My question: What do your advertisers think of such sensationalistic reporting? You might as well be on the racks with the tabloids. I am guessing they do not read your paper, which does not speak very well of their companies or their products.

Be aware, the public is noticing the changes taking place in your paper. We do not like them.

Sarah Cool

Liberty

A Frosty Reception

Root canal: I’m sorry to say that Charles Ferruzza’s assessment of Fitz’s Bottling Company is completely accurate (“The Root of the Problem,” September 14). My first visit to Fitz’s went well enough (apparently lunchtime is the right time for root beer), but my second visit was rife with the shoddy service he described.

First, the staff was short three servers. The restaurant made up for this deficiency by only seating about 15 tables for the four servers on duty. Unfortunately, this made for an hourlong wait to be seated; even more unfortunate was we were told the wait was only “10 to 15 minutes” — a number the hostess continued to quote new arrivals even after we had been standing at the front glaring at her for 45 minutes.

Once seated, the service was still incredibly slow. How or why, we could never figure out. With only four tables per server, the pace was inexcusable. Our server kept saying she would return “in just a minute,” only to disappear for stretches of time long enough for a room full of monkeys to write Hamlet. What should have been an hourlong visit took two and a half. At least we could enjoy the aesthetic splendor of Union … oh, never mind.

I was also disappointed that the bottomless mugs of root beer and cream soda did not include their diet counterparts. I’m diabetic, and as I prefer my beverages to be nonlethal, I had to order by the bottle. A blessing in disguise, perhaps, as I think it’s rather lazy of Fitz’s not to bring out newly chilled mugs for each refill.

As someone who went to school in St. Louis and lived only a couple of blocks from the Fitz’s there, I was looking forward to the KC location. The root beer is just as good, and the fries are still the best I’ve ever had. But in every other aspect, the locations are as dissimilar as they can be.

Jason Fox

Kansas City, Missouri

Bitter root: My husband and I had a similar experience at Fitz’s. We had come in right after work to find the place almost empty. We figured it was our good luck that we “beat the crowd.” With all those tables to choose from, the host seated us close to a very noisy cooler. That, coupled with the blaring music, made conversation very difficult. We could have asked to move, but we had requested a table as far from smoking as possible.The root beer was fantastic, but the chicken chimichanga I had was almost tasteless. I would go back for the root beer, but nothing else.

Keep up the great reviews.

Jill DauBresse

Kansas City, Missouri

Correction: The photo accompanying the September 21 Stage review of Major Barbara was not from The Missouri Repertory’s production; it was an archival photo from the Hulton-Deutsch Collection.