The Butchers of Allentown

photograph by Bob Wilt

A&B (Abogast&Bastian), dominated the local meat packing industry for almost 100 years. At it's peak, they employed 700 people and could process 4,000 hogs a day. The huge plant was at the foot of Hamilton Street, at the Lehigh River. All that remains is their free standing office building, which has been incorporated into America on Wheels. Front and Hamilton was Allentown's meatpacking district. Within one block, two national Chicago meatpackers, Swift and Wilson, had distribution centers. Also in the area were several small independents, among them M. Feder and
Allentown Meat Packing Company.

reprinted from February 2013

ADDENDUM MARCH 2016: Allentown Meat Packing was owned by my father and uncle. The area was criss-crossed with tracks, owned by both LVRR and Jersey Central. All the plants had their own sidings. molovinsky on allentown will be revisiting this area in upcoming posts. This is an era when commerce was measured in factories and production, not just relocated office workers.

Cookie Crumbs For Allentown's Little People

While Reilly's CityCenter Development Company, and its advertising agency, The Morning Call, tells us that there is much interest by businesses to locate to NIZ, we now learn that startup entrepreneurs can compete for a handout contest. Although they're not eligible for the bigboy brass rings given out by National Penn Bank, ten of them can qualify for $15K each. The contest is being sponsored by the City Of Pawlowski, the Agency of Alan Jennings, and other tax payer funded entities. I never heard of so many people being involved in giving out a total of $150k, including several paid administrators.  So, Mr. and Mrs. homeowner, not only are you sporting for the brass rings, you also now get to sponsor a game for the little people.

Allentown just doesn't believe that anybody should ever start a business with their own money. This isn't a new idea;  Pawlowski gave out grants to about ten small startups on Hamilton Street seven years ago. Although, apparently nobody at the paper, or in the new Mosaic group remembers, this naysayer does. I did  blog posts at the time on the give-aways.  There was a cookie lady who lasted until she spent all her grant. Each cookie she made cost us about ten dollars.  Although, the posts still exists in my archives, few of the businesses still do. Here's an idea;  Instead of a contest where business plans are pitched to a contrived committee to dispense our tax money, how about  people  presenting their idea to a bank, and if it's really worthwhile, getting a real business loan.

Imagine a town giving out its Community Block Grants in a contest fashioned after a reality television show, being promoted by a mayor, who is facing pending federal corruption charges. 

Jerry and The Cookie Lady

I'd usually pull in around 6:30 a.m., Jerry had the coffee made and maybe a deputy sheriff or two had already arrived. Downtown is nice in the early morning, most of the unsavory characters are not early risers. Jerry had opened the coffee and cold sandwich shop in around 2004 in the 500 Block of Hamilton Street. By 7:30 several City Councilmen, a few cops, a couple of gadflies and other assorted early morning types would be pontificating on solutions for Allentown. It sure didn't hurt Allentown to have twenty or so gainfully employed people start their day on Hamilton Street. Jerry had started his shop the old fashion way, with his own money. Toward the end of 2005, to accommodate several customers, Jerry made a few eggs on a flat George Forman Grill. Come 2006, the new regime insisted on a code compliant grill, exhaust and fire suppression system, for a couple eggs; The necessary architectural drawings alone would cost thousands. Because his location in the building didn't lend itself to a feasible exhaust system, Jerry was forced to relocate. Again, totally with his own money, Jerry moved his shop up to the corner of 7th and Hamilton. I'll spare all the details, but he could have built a nuclear reactor with no more bureaucracy. Jerry will never recoup his investment (his life savings) because the city closed the building in 2008 because of violations on upper floors which were not in use. That abuse of power is chronicled on several posts on this blog.

Vicky, the cookie lady, opened her very small shop about the same time the city was forcing Jerry out of business. Her shop, Vicky's Sweet Spot, opened in a building operated by one developer who received multiple facade grants from the city. These locations are easily identifiable from the same appearance, stained wood fronts. Although Vicky's shop is only about 250 sq. ft., only sold coffee and cookies, she received a $10,000 restaurant grant from The City of Allentown. Her grant and other similar ones are chronicled on several posts on this blog and of course she was introduced on Allentown Good News. I patronized her shop several times. The last time, right before she closed the business earlier this year, I noticed she was making eggs on a small grill.

I shouldn't have to elaborate on the conclusions, but there are so many apologists in this city, let me spell it out. One man invests his life savings, works his butt off, and gets nothing but grief from City Hall. Another person gets set up for a free ride at taxpayer expense. Vicky's, even after first opening, kept irregular hours and was often closed. I doubt if the whole show; rent, equipment, etc. used up the 10 grand; maybe that's why she called it the Sweet Spot.

This post is reprinted from August of 2009, and is a prelude to tomorrow's post. Study it well, there will be a quiz.

ADDENDUM: My take on Allentown's new retail program,  Cookie Crumbs For The Little People, will publish about 10:00AM

Icon of Allentown's 10th Ward

While the pulpit section of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Orthodox Church is adorned with murals and icons of Mary, parishioners may notice that there is no such imagery on the beautiful stained glass windows. More careful inspection reveals that while there are no graven images in the glass, Stars of David and scrolls can be seen. As the ancestors of the current members came from eastern Europe and the Czarist Russian Empire, so did the building's original congregation. The gothic edifice was built as a synagogue in 1909 by Allentown's Russian Jews. The Orthodox Jewish congregation, Sons Of Israel, utilized the structure for 50 years before it was repurposed by the current American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox congregation.

This was the synagogue I attended as a boy with my father, as he did with my grandfather, growing up on the corner of Chew and Jordan Streets. In the front, under those golden domes with the crosses, are Stars of David. I rekindled my memory of those times when I visited the church last year. The stained glass windows are surely among the most beautiful in Allentown.  The synagogue turned church is located on the northeast corner of 6th and Tilghman Streets in Allentown.  The area, Allentown's 10th Ward,  has a strong neighborhood group. The exterior photograph of the church is from their facebook page.  The large round window shown above is behind the balcony,  in the back of the church. Inside, the congregation faces east,  toward Jerusalem.

Geriatric Rants Hurt Allentown

The other day on facebook, I stumbled upon these kind words about me, You can never trust Molovinsky's geriatric incessant rants about the city. He hates the city.... The young man who wrote this is one of the city's new gung ho boosters. I find his animosity curious. I understand those who are enthralled with Allentown's transformation. These new buildings, if on Hamilton Street or the waterfront, are the city's new reality. Hopefully, they will prosper, and give Allentown a long overdue awakening. However, these changes were not without victims and consequences. These changes deserve some scrutiny, which was for the most part not provided by the local press. I'm proud that this blog could shine a light on some of the shenanigans, even if it makes some people uncomfortable. With the local paper acting practically as a promoter, I would think that a little balance is in order. The young man must think that my negativity will stop the city's renaissance. I assure him that J.B. Reilly will continue building, as long as the NIZ keeps transferring the tax money to him. But, what happens with no scrutiny is that too many people are tempted to get a taste for themselves, sometimes even a mayor.  Allentown is actually in for some real hurt, much more severe than my ranting. The mayor refuses to resign, and the city charter provides no remedy until which time he is actually convicted.  When that pending calamity finally occurs, Allentown will be rudderless for an extended period.  Hopefully, I will not be blamed for that coming commotion.

molovinsky ranting to city council

A Contested Convention In Cleveland

Yesterday's post generated much more back-channel input than usual. The consensus of the advisory staff is that a Trump victory at the convention in Cleveland would be gift that Hillary hardly imagined. On the other hand, denying Trump the nomination would disenfranchise millions of voters, and needless to say, alienate them. After watching a large portion of the debate last night, I'm struck by the differences between perception and reality. Although Trump is the least prepared candidate to participate in a debate beyond a few sound bites, he certainly has the extensive executive experience to which he alludes. On the other hand, a more articulate debater, such as Rubio, has none. Many Republicans are convinced that there is no path to victory in November with Trump. I think that there certainly oould be, however, they would have to be more creative with their packaging.

The Drew Carey Show, based in Cleveland, was based on the concept of   "everyman"

Republicans Can't Stand To Win

Pardon me, but I snicker a lot.  Lately, I'm snickering at all those Republicans who claim that they couldn't vote for Trump. Meanwhile, back in reality, he has energized a base more than their two previous candidates for president. Today, Mitt Romney is scheduled to speak about the turmoil in his party.  He apparently wants a more dignified loser, than a cruder winner.  Needless to say, nobody could afford to buy the television time or headlines that Trump has generated.

Although your readership is appreciated, but please note that  molovinsky on allentown has moderated comments.  While submitted comments can express any point of view, only those which contribute to the dialogue will appear. Comments submitted in the evening will not appear until early the next morning.

ADDENDUM: Some have speculated that because Romney didn't endorse an alternative to Trump, that he was actually trying to position himself to be nominated at a brokered convention.  By tomorrow, we should see who was actually helped or hurt by Romney's speech.

A previous Republican from Manhattan