Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Wild Cherry Cyber Cafe

Yet again the building located at 2677 Forbes Street is occupied but this time it's not an overpriced restaurant residing at the frequently vacated corner, it's a cyber cafe called Wild Cherry that caters to electronic gamers/gamblers. Jason popped in to take a quick look and introduced himself to the vendor, Paul. We're not really sure of the logistics involved in this "gaming" business but are interested to see how this venture pans out for the owners.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

These are the same sleazy gambling centers that are popping up everywhere. It's pathetic. They mainly attract the elderly- they go in there and blow every penny they have for the month on electronic slots and shit. I can't remember exactly how it works but basically I think you buy "usage tokens" and those can be wagered with and at the end of the day you can cash in your extra tokens but since it's all illegal gambling and there's no regulation involved, these places just rob folks blind.

The ones that specifically allude to the fact that they are gambling halls are okay but these shitheads that run these "Allied Veterans' Centers" are absolute dirtbags. They got run out of other cities for running gambling halls with names like "Children's Cancer Cooperative". The city knows what these places are up to and does jack shit to stop it. Greasy fuckers should be burnt to the ground.

Anonymous said...

Let the comment debate begin! I am the Paul referred to incorrectly as the vendor, whatever that means... I am the manager here at this establishment, and have been involved in this type of business for over three years now. The first comment posted here shows the atypical ignorance accorded to these establishments. I have seen similar posts each time someone mentions a sweepstakes center, and each time the poster either lacks any knowledge or is just parroting what they read somewhere else. None of these are "gambling halls" although that is a common misconcieved tag placed upon us. I could go on forever, but let me cut to the point. I challenge the first poster to explain what qualifies any of the establishments as "sleazy", and what we do exactly that "mainly attracts the elderly". Also, I especially would love to know of just one place of the many that internally allude to being a "gambling hall". Other than that, I am somewhat disappointed. I expected a somewhat more informative blog on here, but in lieu of that,I personally invite any and all readers to stop by for a more detailed(and definitely more accurate than the first poster's) description of how we work here.

Anonymous said...

one other thing for the first poster...if the elderly you allude to actually go and blow every penny they have for the month, how is it that the homeless rate in Jacksonville has not seen an explosive increase?

Anonymous said...

New poster....Your building, signage and interior looks like ghetto bullshit. You are a disgrace to the neighborhood. Go away. I don't care how you run your business or what exactly it is....it looks like shit. It looks "sleazy", as someone already mentioned and I can't believe that a landlord in this neighborhood would rent to you. Do you have any concept of class? Clearly not.

Anonymous said...

Why does it say "red" on your sign? Please explain...

Anonymous said...

....and what are the green things on the sign? Are they palm trees? Why?

Anonymous said...

The art bar served alcohol, thats why the bank didnt want them there. This place doesnt.

Anonymous said...

Why is RAP not all over this? I would think that this would send a red flag up in the RAP offices.

Maybe they should write a letter to the property owner about being a good steward of the neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

Paul again. I agree somewhat, the building didn't get the best care given to it by previous tenants. The interior is a work in progress, and i wouldn't necessarily have chosen the same signage either. This establishment will never lay claim to being a five star establishment, just a quiet friendly enjoyable place to spend a few hours if one chooses to do so. For the 3:14 poster, you showed your mettle by posting a person's address on here. I invite you as well as anyone else to come and see us before you judge. And for the 3:41 poster, I am unaware of what RAP is, but if it's any consolation, I plan to join both the Chamber of Commerce and the neighborhood preservation society. Thank you all for taking the time to read the blog.

Anonymous said...

Paul again. Ok. My apology. I am not from the area, so upon further research I know now that RAP stands for Riverside Avondale Preservation, before anyone accuses me of blatant stupidity for saying I didn't know what RAP was and that I would join the neighborhood preservation society all in the same sentence.

Anonymous said...

Paul, if you disagree with the way your business was described; for those of us unfamiliar with your business, couuld you please do me a favor and explain what kind of business it is. Does cafe mean restaurant? Does cyber mean I can stop in and check my email while I drink coffee? Please explain.

Anonymous said...

Paul. I'm begging you to tell me why the word "red" is randomly put at the top of the sign and I'm begging you to find out what the green things are on the sign. Are you suggesting that the place is a nice place to go even though the signage is the most trashy (and comical) I've seen in the history of Riverside or Avondale?

Anonymous said...

Paul here again. To the 9:11 poster,while we do not have a full daily menu, in the future we will offer complimentary meals on occasion. I will not deny that the sweepstakes are the primary attraction of businesses such as this one, where the patrons can and do win cash prizes, but if a patron did want to come by just for internet surfing, blogging or e-mails, they are welcome to do so as well at a rate of $6 an hour with complimentary coffee served.

Anonymous said...

Do you like Cooter Islands signage better?

Anonymous said...

Paul once more. In response to the 10:54 pm poster, why the word red is there at the top of the sign in a smaller font size was a mystery to myself as well. I later learned that the owners discovered another establishment with the Wild Cherry moniker, and decided at apparently the last minute to add the word red into the name. Pertaining to the "green things", your guess is as good as mine to what they are, but i had to assume they were placed to show the typical palm tree/Florida association. I am agreeance overall with you on the sign actually, and am going to suggest to have it changed or replaced. And I am indeed suggesting that in spite of the "signage", I do indeed fully intend to make this an enjoyable and nice place to patronize with a friendly staff working. Thank you all again. Hope to see you soon!

Anonymous said...

And lastly if the 10:49 am poster was addressing me, then I just looked at the Cooter Island sign and i readily admit that it has better artwork. Does anyone know how I can contact whomever designed that sign? Thank you all again.
Paul

Anonymous said...

OK Paul to answer you question the sign was painted by my niece from Riverside Elementary. She is a very talented 6 year old. But, she does not do commission work. Sorry

Anonymous said...

OK Paul to answer you question the sign was painted by my niece from Riverside Elementary. She is a very talented 6 year old. But, she does not do commission work. Sorry

Anonymous said...

"While we do not have a full daily menu, in the future we will offer complimentary meals on occasion. I will not deny that the sweepstakes are the primary attraction of businesses such as this one, where the patrons can and do win cash prizes, but if a patron did want to come by just for internet surfing, blogging or e-mails, they are welcome to do so as well at a rate of $6 an hour with complimentary coffee served."

I love it! Sweepstakes! That sounds so much more classier than "Gambling Joint". So they also serve complimentary coffee and you can surf the internet for $6/Hr?? Starbucks and Panera's wireless is free and I can tell you the coffee will be much better. Love the signage too. Some cherries and a couple of Palm trees. Just need to Beer, Cigarettes and Milk underneath it. I would not want to even try the food at your "establishment".

Anonymous said...

I'm not into that kind of entertainmnet, but I appreciate Paul taking the time to answer questions.

Anonymous said...

Paul once again. Since everyone on here seems to have preconceived notions that t hey refuse to stray from, I am not interested in trying to tell them any more info, it will be irrelevant. However, I must say in response to the poster from 11:51 am concerning if patrons know of the predetermined outcome...I cannot and will not speak for each and every similar establishment, but I personally very strongly stress that they are in fact predetermined results completely unaffected by the game play. To the 3:22 patron, of course a place such as starbucks or panera's gives you free wifi. Charging $5-7 per sandwich or cup of coffee affords the ability to do such things. And for the food quality, another misconception as I will be using the local establishments to provide the meals. Any suggestions of what's good and what isn't? For the 1:34 pm poster concerning your niece, do you mind if i take a scan of her cooter island work and then photoshop it accordingly? And finally, the very last post before this one at 12:46 pm...Thank you for finally showing a glimmer of hope that everyone reading this is not irrevocably close-minded, and thank you all once again for reading.

CyberCafe H8R said...

Holy shit this looks creepy. A "sweepstakes center"? Is that like calling a strip club a "gentlemans club".

This is a blemish on the neighborhood when you have places like Walkers, Kickbacks, etc trying to bring some upward momentum to the area, you have a shithole like this pop up.