Rick's Lawsuit Moving At Speed Of Molasses
Like the Talking Heads once sang, "same as it ever was." That's a pretty apt description of what's going on at Rick's Steaks right now. We covered the great cheesesteak war of '07 — a lot (check that search box! seriously - the Rick's/Reading Terminal Market lease battle has been paying back our college loans!) and the Inquirer came back to find out what's been happening at the Market. It turns out... Rick's is going nowhere for the time being:
Two months after a dispute between market management and Rick Olivieri ended with his lease not renewed and his eviction ordered, Olivieri is very much in business, and an uneasy stalemate has settled over the historical market, which has operated from 12th and Market Streets since 1892. Olivieri's lawsuit against Reading Terminal Market Corp. and the nonprofit's countersuit against Olivieri are slowly ripening in Common Pleas Court, with no resolution imminent. In the meantime, as the merchants there say, "Let's go make money." And making it they are.
Tony Luke's, who was slated to replace Rick's at RTM, will not enter lease talks until Rick's and RTM settle their dispute.
Rick's still going strong at Reading Market [Inquirer]
Rick's Steaks [MenuPages]
Rick's Steaks [Official Site]
[Photo via Philadelphia Inquirer]
Comments
Rick is a jerk who has dug his own hole. Unfortunately management won't do what they really need to do to put him and the other merchants who think they own the Market in their place. Rick has gotten rich at his space in the Market, yet he doesn't even possess a modicum of graciousness to give back a little to the Market by staying open past three to appease the annoyed tourists who can't get a cheesesteak at RTM in the late afternoon. The media have it completely wrong. Rick is a victim only to his own stupidity and obstinacy.
Posted by: A Market Insider | October 1, 2007 06:54 PM
I'm in complete agreement with the previous poster. Rick tries to posit himself as the victim, he's just an arrogant douche noozle though.
Posted by: RTM regular | October 9, 2007 03:26 PM