Should Illegal Pete's change it's name?

[donheld]

Three weeks shy of opening his newest Illegal Pete's in Old Town Fort Collins, restaurant owner Pete Turner came to Fort Collins on Wednesday to listen to a crowd of concerned residents who asked that he change his business' name.

The Boulder-based restaurant with six locations in Boulder and Denver is modeled after Mexican food from San Francisco's Mission District, specifically over-sized burritos. The name Illegal Pete's, Turner said, is a literary reference to a bar in a novel he read as an English major in Boulder. "Pete" also refers to his own name and his father's. When he started the restaurant in 1995, Turner hoped the name would be ambiguous enough to spark people's interest, perhaps referring to counterculture activity.

But on Wednesday, 30 or so community members explained the negative context of the word illegal, or the "I-word," as some referred to it, and its importance, down to its use as the name of a restaurant.

"Since I know the context, and I have been labeled with (the word illegal), it makes a huge difference to me," said Lucy Gonzalez, 25.


http://goo.gl/Y5fWUW

[Kalidurga]

1. Only if he wants to stay in business...

I wouldn't eat there. It would be a slap in the face to my in-laws, none are illegal, but they get called that.

[donheld]

2. He's been in business for years

in Denver. This has never been an issue until now.

[Kalidurga]

3. That is kind of odd

well I live in Minnesota so I am sure it makes no difference if I object or not. I am not opposed to letting the market decide.

[TexasProgresive]

8. If it was "Illegal Pedro's" or Juan, Jose or Maria etc.

I would agree with you. I never would have made the connection to undocumented migrants if you had not posted. Perhaps it's because I never call aliens with or without a green card, "illegals".

[Kalidurga]

17. I don't believe people are illegal either

that was in the story.

[tecelote]

11. Keep the name.

It got a lot of publicity and, even if he goes to the effort and expense of changing the name, it will always be Illegal Pete's.

If he had named it with malicious intent, that would be different.

His use of the word illegal waters down the slur.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Oh, please...

It's no worse than Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn, a much-revered drinking establishment in Nenana, Alaska.

Ed. I wasn't even thinking about undocumented immigrants, just thinking "against the law," which is probably what most people would think.

[TransitJohn]

13. yeah, me too, but

the word police march ever on.

[Oktober]

5. Smile, nod and move on...

The "i-word"... Give me a break...

[yewberry]

6. Pete should listen to the community, weigh their input,

and make his decision.

I would if I were him, but not my call to make for him. You can't enforce good taste or good sense, but a gentle reminder of basic decency is a good start.

[TorchTheWitch]

7. It's a stupid name with all sorts of negativism attached to it

that for some can actually be a trigger. The word "illegal" can't possibly be confused with counterculture. There's nothing illegal about counterculture, and even if there was why would anyone WANT to be associated with it? The word means something that is so morally wrong that there had to be a law passed and punishment for those who did it. When I hear the word "illegal" I think of anything from murder to rape to burglary to drugs that harm not only individuals but families and entire neighborhoods and all the way to something that some assclown of a fraudulent shit would do... like pinch the creative imaginative work of someone else because you're too stupid to realize what a cheap shot it is for you to make money off of their talent that was never meant for real people with real emotions to deal with.

And just what are people going to think when they see a store with that name? Counterculture? Pffffffttttt... Hell no, they'll think hookers, fake passports, full automatic weapons, heroin, stolen goods, etc., etc.

Idiotic moe. Should call the place Dumbass Pete's.

[TransitJohn]

14. "There's nothing illegal about counterculture"

Unless you count, you know, all the drugs, free love, monkeywrenching, draft dodging, etc.

[ReRe]

9. What is it?

A group of Church ladies? A group of immigrant ladies? I would have thanked them for their comments and sent them on their way. Write up a LTE in the local paper to answer them. Tell them that it would cost too much to change the name of the restaurant at this point. The name reminds me of a John Prine song, something about an "illegal mind." Also, it has a southwest sound to it.

[Scuba]

12. "Illegal Smile"

[ReRe]

15. Scuba...

... How's about my "feeble mind?" Of course it was "Illegal Smile." Well, I got part of it right, and your reply gave me a good laugh at myself.

[Niceguy1]

10. meh

It may really be a name for some piece of literature as the owner claims.... at any rate we dont have the right to not be offened. In the end people will vote with thier feet.

[madamesilverspurs]

16. And there's this...

Seeing red: Legislator promises bill that would endanger Native American mascots across Colorado, including Eaton Reds
.....
State Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton, promises to propose a bill at the start of the next Colorado legislative session that would force those 48 schools to receive permission to continue using their Native American logos, mascots or nicknames. If schools don’t comply, Salazar’s bill would cut them off from state funding.

Even though that kind of opposition to Eaton’s mascot is expected, that doesn’t mean it’s welcome.

“I would argue, look at the Nebraska Cornhuskers mascot,” said Randy Miller, Eaton school district superintendent. “He’s a fat farmer in bib overalls. Should (Nebraska) have to go to a farmer’s union to get approval?”
.....
http://www.greeleytribune.com/news/13433689-113/eaton-salazar-mascot-native

https://www.facebook.com/greeleytribune/photos/a.113188828076.98038.63284298076/10152749438548077/?type=1&theater

[donheld]

18. someone suggested

Pirate Pete's of Ft Colons.