Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Rib Fest shuts out our locals

Rib Fest shuts out our locals

Jun 18, 2008 - 04:07:02 CDT

By MARY LEINGANG
Mandan

What a surprise - a Rib Fest, and our local businesses are not allowed to cook and serve their own ribs. Out-of-state rib vendors only can participate. The local vendors can only bring a small sample (one rack) to be judged by out-of-state "professionals." Aren't all of our local businesses "professionals?" How insulting. How much would an event like this bring to our local vendors - the business it would drum up for them? Space Aliens, Rib Shack, Famous Dave's, Roby's and how many others.

Does the Downtowners Association think that people are going to drive to Louisiana or Kansas for a rack of ribs? Outrageous.

Let the out-of-state vendors supply and serve their ribs if there is a large volume of people to feed, but for heaven's sake, allow the public to sample and judge our local BBQ alongside them. Many people have not eaten the ribs at our local businesses. Let them taste the local fare. It would be good for the community. What kind of money are those vendors getting to come here for this event?

Who is calling the shots at the Downtowners Association? Try supporting our local business owners and not the out-of-staters.

News > Opinion

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Comments

jb wrote on Jun 20, 2008 12:49 PM:

" Mary attitudes like your is why mandan is losing more businesses than it helps bring in.....fear of competition!! "

Getreal wrote on Jun 18, 2008 12:43 PM:

" It's called economic developement, they do it to us in the small towns all the time "

MamaMia wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:08 AM:

" Punker: Don't make me count to three. "

Point to Ponder wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:05 AM:

" To Mary and et al: if yo have issues with the Ribfest, THEN DON'T GO TO THE RIBFEST!!!! "

Boo-hoo wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:56 AM:

" Such sour grapes. How many events in Bismarck are not centered on local businesses, let's see, the carnivals, the circus, all the civic center shows/events, art in the park/capital a'fair (which is by and large outside vendors), air shows, the list goes on. Meanwhile, the Downtowners supports Urban Harvest and runs the summer Street Fair where the focus is on local businesses. It is upsetting that more than one person in the community takes such a negative view of a great opportunity for Bismarck to become more diverse. How sad, when it could be an added reason why Bismarck is such a great place to live. "

NK wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:51 AM:

" It appears as though some people just complain to complain! "

Punker wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:21 AM:

" plus, you know all these rib-eating beer drinkers are bound to get a hankerin for a cigarette and fire up their throat rockets. This is an all around bad idea for Bismarck and North Dakota... "

kk wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:13 AM:

" get over it ~ atleast we will have some great ribs! none of this milktoast food that they think is so good~ get out of ND and taste real food~not this bland stuff you call food "

Mom wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:57 AM:

" LOL!! Very well put, downtowner. Yes, from the sounds of it, there are opportunities for local businesses for the big weekend, but obviously it wasn't what they deemed "fair". Well, business whiners, oops, I meant owners--sometimes you don't get everything your way. Just pick up your ball and walk home, if you're going to pout. "

Music Guy wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:25 AM:

" No one should feel an obligation to attend if they don't want to!!! Where are all the letters complaining that Bis-Man bars and restaurants often employ out of town or out of state musicians? There aren't any because it isn't a big deal. "

Downtowner wrote on Jun 18, 2008 5:53 AM:

" The national rib vendors are paying a large fee to vend at Rib Fest.

It was the hope that the national rib vendors would create a hankerin' for BBQ for us locals. It was the hope that the local outfits would participate in the free sampling contests that were created for them and take advantage of the year's worth of free advertising that came along with that so that for the rest of the 362 days of the year when the national rib vendors weren't in town that us locals would know where to get the best BBQ in our area. Some restaurants chose to take adwantage of that opportunity. Some wrote letters to the editor. "

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