Comments on: West U Residents Raise Questions About Matthew’s Market Operating Without A Liquor License

By: grandmama

grandmama — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:31:58 +0000

I <3 LITTLE MATT'S! my grankiddies <3 it 2!

By: West U MAMA

West U MAMA — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:34:01 +0000

I find it to be very humorous that West U has worked so hard to put together another iconic spot like our previous JMH, and when we finally have a store that treats our West U like its one family, people have to try to destroy it. West University has prided itself on its close knit community since day one, Little Matts if anything is just one more person, place, or thing that we must be proud of. I know some of the kids that work at this restaurant and 1) they are all smart kids 2) they are hard working 3) they are West U children. If we don’t have more faith in the people in our community, then we honestly aren’t the neighborhood I have always been so proud of being involved with. I know for a fact that I have friends who go to Little Matts weekly and will get wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages and go home happy. This issue shows me how West U is even more self involved then I ever could imagine. We love and we accept our free alcohol, until one article points out a few flaws, what we have here is a neighborhood full of hypocrites who are trying to make it seem like they have been against it all along.

Why would Little Matts have this alcohol system if no one was putting it to use?

I love West University, I think its full of love, faith, and good people. I find it ridiculous though that this is even an issue when Little Matts/ Matthews Market is a newly created place, that already feels like home to the majority of us.

By: ....

.... — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:16:38 +0000

i bet half of you people who write these posts complaining about the alcohol policy enjoy the free alcohol regularly….

By: stop complaining

stop complaining — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:14:55 +0000

if little matt’s actually had a liquor license no one would think twice about it…
edloe deli is about only a few feet farther away from west u elem, and no one is complaining about them serving alcohol.
kids go with their parents all the time to places such as skeeter’s or other restaurants where the adult can sit down and have a drink, doing no harm to their kids or anyone else’s for that matter.
little matt’s is a family restaurant, serving kids AND their parents so why shouldn’t the parents be able to enjoy a drink at the end of the day?

By: Joeshmoe

Joeshmoe — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:40:55 +0000

This is ridiculous. I personally work here and know everyone on the staff and nobody here gives away alcohol to teens or our “friends” that are commenting on this story. Little Matt’s has recently opened and has become very successful. I’m not surprised that someone somewhere has a negative feeling towards our establishment because we are slashing and dashing the competition. Jim is a great family man and is a symbol of good West U spirit. It’s low of all of these comments because I’m sure everyone who has said something on here accepts the alcohol with a smile from a “high schooler” (most of us are seniors and 18 anyways…). Also we have been approached by the TABC and complied with them and have no longer asked for any sort of compensation but returning customers choose to donate anyways.

You know this is all just very sad because my sisters love this place and has become a great place for kids to come and hang out and you think you’re proving something by trying to shut us down but really, you’re just hurting the community.

By: West U Teenager

West U Teenager — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:01:16 +0000

I saw the other article, specifically your request for me to take this matter up with my parents.
I’m going to simply respond with a no, seeing as how you’re powerless in this situation, since I have anonymity on my side.

Go help open a park.

Love,
Teenager

By: david

david — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:18:48 +0000

rice blvd. dont you dare assault the wine and beer parade on halloween! i love it

By: West U Parent

West U Parent — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:27:17 +0000

Well Mark, here’s the fallacies of your arguments:
1) They are not selling the booze, which you are correct on. They instead have a system in which a 16 year old is handing out “free” liquor and then prodding for a “donation”. I happen to know quite a few of the kids working the counter, and they use to receive the “donations” as a tip. However, Mr. Reid has abolished this system and has been keeping these so called “donations”. Now until I have proof that Mr. Reid is using these “donations” for something other than buying more liquor, he is breaking the law.
2) You are correct again, Little Matts is not a kid’s restaurant. However, I’ve noticed some similarities between the two. Such as: Both have gaming systems that are used by children. Both serve children’s food and candy. But there is one main difference between the two: In order to get into Chuck E. Cheese you have to be with someone over 21. Which means the kids are supposed be supervised, and so that teenagers can’t get in and run amok. However, at Matthews, there is no supervision requirement, which means any West University teen’s can mosey on in there and grab a margarita, assuming it’s after 8 o’clock (that’s when all authority figures check out and the 16/17 year old workers are left on there own to close up.)
3) They don’t “sell” the alcohol so they can’t tax it. Taxes are there for a reason, such as to pay for the new Colonial Park pool, and the new multi million dollar Rec Center that have just been built, and are going to plague our neighborhood with taxes for years to come.
4) I predict Gardener is so “bent out of shape” about them “giving away” a glass of wine, beer, or margarita, because by law, they are not allowed to. If they were to take the proper steps to obtain a liquor license, I would have no problem with this. But what you’re saying is equivalent to “Why wouldn’t I let my 8 year old drive? He’s very mature for his age and it makes things easier for me.”

Why isn’t breaking the law a big deal to you?

Noah

By: West U Teen with Parents

West U Teen with Parents — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:05:50 +0000

You’d be surprised at how the kids serving the liquor at Matthew’s don’t actually ID.

By: Rice Blvd.

Rice Blvd. — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:20:50 +0000

Since there is no article on this yet, but it is along a similar vein I am commenting on the proposal to sell alcoholic beverages at the Colonial Park pool.

Folks, this is not the Briar Club, it is a city pool. Are you going to want table service to go with the drinks?

We do not need to be selling alcoholic drinks to adults to enjoy while their kids frolic in the poolside. Do your job and pay attention to and play with your kids in the pool, you don’t need to be socializing with other parents over margaritas, wine, and beer.

I am no prude and enjoy a margarita at a restaurant, but, think about the message you are sending to junior…
“Mom/dad, am I not entertaining enough for you at the pool? When I am an adult, will I need a drink at the pool to enjoy myself with my kids?”

With the pool closing at 7pm most days of the week, which does not allow working parents to spend any time with their kids, when are people going to be having these drinks, all afternoon??

Back to Junior…”Oh, and how come you walk around with me at Halloween drinking beer or wine?”…yeah, with that season coming up, it’s a pet peeve also.

I can’t believe I have become the old school generation of parents at 52 but I think this whole idea is a mistake.

“Ma, can I have a Shirley Temple?”

By: Lloyd B.

Lloyd B. — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:27:22 +0000

I served with Tiny Boxwood, I knew Tiny Boxwood, Tiny Boxwood was a friend of mine. And Little Matt’s, you’re no Tiny Boxwoods.

By: Grand Dad

Grand Dad — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:21:11 +0000

From the perspective of a 50 year old whose offspring are now adult, there is no distinction between Little Matt’s and Chuck E. Cheese’s. They both are hangouts for minors.

By: West U is my Kind of Town

West U is my Kind of Town — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:11:58 +0000

I am undecided about if Little Matt’s should be able to get a liquor permit. But until they do, they should have to follow the law. Tiny Boxwoods just sent to a lot of effort and expense to get a permit. Shouldn’t anyone else have to do the same? But you can’t say that Little Matt’s is the same as Tiny Boxwoods. You go to Little Matt’s to be around kids. You go to Tiny Boxwoods to get away from kids and relax. I am not sure that matters, but they are not the same.

By: mark

mark — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:39:01 +0000

Gardener,

Why are you so bent out of shape about them giving away a glass of wine, beer or margarita to adults who eat there – donation or no donation?

Why is this such a big deal to you?

Mark

By: Georgetown Gardener

Georgetown Gardener — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:48:51 +0000

Mark:
According to the TABC website, “You cannot ask for a “donation” or “tip.” They do ask for a donation. Come on Mark! Do you really think that any business really gives away something for free?

By: mark

mark — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:59:43 +0000

“How about the fact the law requires businesses that sell alcohol to have a licence. Or that Little Matt’s caters to kids, not adults like Tiny Boxwoods ar Edloe Deli. Or maybe the fact they don’t pay any taxes or pay the cost of a liquor permit like the law requires. And finally, how about the fact that it has been reported that high school kids are serving the booze. Mark, are you fine with all this?”
1. They are not selling alcohol so no need to have license.
2. LM is a restaurant not a kid restaurant (it is not chuck-e-cheese)
3. They don’t sell alcohol, so no taxes..another mute point
4. The only possible good point you have in you entire post – I’ll give you that one.

By: WU Parent with Kids

WU Parent with Kids — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:02:06 +0000

Some chuckecheese’s and many private 2 year old’s birthday parties have beer/wine available – perhaps West U can regulate those as well then. I’d be a lot more worried about the proximity to the school if it was a high school and not an elementary school. I dare say fake ID’s just aren’t that good.

By: andy

andy — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:34:06 +0000

I really would like to hear Jim Reid’s reponse to all these comments. I really hope he stops giving away alcohol for now for a donation and ensures that teens are not serving alcohol.

By: Georgetown Gardener

Georgetown Gardener — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:04:34 +0000

Skeeters is not a hang-out to kids and tweens. Skeeters also does not share a property line with a school. Skeeters also does not have highschoolers serving alcohol. And finally Skeeters has all the legally required licences and pays all the appropriate taxes.

I support Tiny Boxwoods serving alcohol, but Little Matt’s is no Tiny Boxwoods. Tiny’s is for adults (as is Edloe Deli), and Little Matt’s is a kids hangout. Most of the kids and tweens are without parents in tow, so unsupervised. Do you really think it is a good idea to give a liquor permit to a place right accross from the school that caters to school age children? I also don’t think it would be a good idea to put X-Boxs and Play Staions at Tiny Boxwoods and Edloe Deli, or have a gameroom.

Little Matt’s is mostly a hangout for kids and tweens. Tiny Boxwoods and Edloe Deli is for adults. They are not the same.

By: Anonymous Mom

Anonymous Mom — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:51:53 +0000

Am I the only one who does not think, “Good for them”? It’s a bit silly for one establishment to be grandfathered in, but no one else to be given a license to serve alcohol. The fact that it is close to the school really does not appear to be an issue, given Edloe Deli is the same proximity. Little Matts does cater to kids, but doesn’t Skeeters? Given they are not in West U, but one cannot ignore the fact that many places cater to kids AND serve alcohol. As a mom, I welcome the chance to relax with other parents or my spouse over a glass of wine in a West U establishment. Are we saying we’re incapable of being responsible with our alcohol consumption? Do you not have a drink at home when your kids can see? Are we really so puritan and archaic that we can’t do it in public?!?