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Photo by Val Dodge/Torontoist.
There's trouble on a desolate stretch of the Danforth, and, like everything else that has ever gone wrong in the entire universe, it's all Barack Obama's fault.
When it launched early last month, the Obama Café, at 1226 Danforth Avenue, was the city's first Obama-themed business. But it wouldn't be alone for long: just a few doors down, at 1236 Danforth, an internet shop formerly known as the United Internet Café got a new red, white, and blue sign of its own, and a new name, just in time for the American president's trip to Ottawa: Obama Cybernet Ltd. (or, if you go by their website, which advertises that "yes we can help!" with your computer needs, the Obama Cybernet Café).
The Obama Café. Photo by The Obama Café—the first one—is owned by Emmanuel Debass. Since it opened, the themed restaurant has been serving pastries, soups, snacks, and, Debass told Torontoist, "a lot of coffees from Kenya." It's garnered a whole lot of attention, and Debass isn't even done setting up the store's decor and menus yet: the grand opening will be on March 27, when he'll unveil lots more decorations (to give the place an inauguration feel), as well as Obama combos—menu items based on the food Obama eats for his meals, which Debass composed from details gleaned from the White House.
The Obama Cybernet Café/Obama Cybernet Ltd. Photo by Still the Oldie from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.
The Obama Cybernet Café, a few dozen feet away, is run by Amveson Fitsumbrahn. Though it was created after Debass's Obama Café, Fitsbumbrahn told Torontoist that he's had the idea for nine months, and that on the Danforth his nickname is "Obama"; "no-one even knows my real name." Though he couldn't vote in the American election himself, according to Fitsumbrahn he helped coordinate some twelve hundred volunteers over the internet for the Obama campaign.
But that's not really cutting it for Debass, who thinks that Fitsumbrahn's trying to capitalize on his business' fast-found popularity. "He's bringing a lot of confusion with his name," Debass says; when he saw Fitsumbrahn changing the sign right as his own café started swarming with media, "I said, 'what's going on with this guy?!'" It's the proximity that irks Debass most: another Obama café "right beside me," he says, "is unacceptable." "He cannot do that....it doesn't work like that in Canada." Debass got his lawyer to write a letter to Fitsumbrahn, and now the whole thing is "under litigation." Even though he wants Fitsumbrahn's store name changed "by any means necessary," Debass still prefers to think that it's all a "misunderstanding"; both men reiterated to Torontoist that they're from the same community, and neither seems too interested in a fight.
Debass is pretty sure, anyway, that Fitsumbrahn's Obama sign is coming down today, a direct result of the threatened legal action. Fitsumbrahn, though, told Torontoist that he hasn't decided whether to take it down or not yet. "I like the name," Fitsumbrahn says. Debass, of course, scoffs at Fitsumbrahn's defense. "He's saying he likes Obama. Everybody likes Obama!"
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Utterly ridiculous.
No need to fight. Lets all sit down and have a plate of tasty Obama-Fingers!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/deadlineusa/2009/mar/16/usa-obama-administration
A plague on both their cafes. Fortunately there's enough good venues in that area like the Bus Terminal that we don't have to pine for TimBucks
You think it's bad here, I was in New York less than two weeks after the election. My favourite was the Obama breakfast special: "Two eggs, bacon and toast for $3.99. Only in America!"
At least New York is, unlike Toronto, part of the USA where it's somewhat more excusable to be this tacky. Maybe it's time I realize my 9 month-old dream of opening a 'Stephen Harper's Bazaar' in Buffalo.
Maybe they can rename that block Obamatown a la Flight of the Conchords...the tourists will come in droves!
Great! I am sure this guy is gonna make trouble for my strip club going up on the same block - Obama's Mamas.
Now I'll just have to go with the 43rd president and call it Club Bush.
How about Nixon's Vixens?
Boing Boing'd:
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/17/duelling-obama-cafes.html
Well, it's officially funnier than "Jewelry by Steven Seagal" up near Yonge & Finch.
Perhaps all those Obamanoids should check out this hard-hitting, bipartisan documentary about who Obama works for.... then maybe they will both get rid of their store names...
The Obama Deception:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7535755025025800195&ei=e2TBSYmHHIP--gG3ypXGAQ&q=obama+deception&hl=en&emb=1
No thanks, Riz.
Anyway, the Globe and Star both wrote about the competing stores today, if anyone's interested in hearing more from the cafés' respective owners.
And the feud's over: Fitsumbrahn is changing his store's name to something else.
You do realize Mr. Topping, that in the coming months/years americans and the world over will come to hate Obama. just look at ALL of his appointees, and ALL the lies he has made and continues to make. I am not a republican, I voted for the NDP. If you take a few moments to watch that film, you will discover who he works for and who controls him. I bet you have never even heard of the Bilderberg Group have you? trust me, I was a big fan of his until i learned about the constant lies he has made and the facade he has put on. people have to look past obama and find out who he works for. this is the most serious situation humanity has ever faced. Why do you think the mainstream corporate media has portrayed Obama as the saviour of the world, when the mainstream media is owned by and a part of the military industrial complex?? this is the cruelest hoax that has ever been played on humanity, and the truth is slowly coming out. don't do this for me David, do this for yourself. Or, you can continue to keep your head in the sand. it's your choice.
yes left field.
thank you.
"This is the most serious situation humanity has ever faced."
Hmm. Ice Age vs. Obama.
In all seriousness, Obama does represent the most serious situation humanity has ever faced, but probably not in the way you imagine. I hope you realize that if you trace back Obama's lineage far enough you will realize that he actually might be a descendant of Jesus Christ, which means (a) the people who idolize him might actually be responding to a kind of "universal consciousness" that is genetically programmed into every human soul and drives us toward divinity (any competent evolutionary theorist can inform you further about the role of religion in natural selection), and (b) although I know you think you're helping people (that aim is noble, if misdirected), you should consider that these words you are saying might actually be blasphemy and could affect your afterlife, reincarnation, or spiritual future. Yes, those Obama-themed cafes are commercial enterprises and won't necessarily award the owners any "air miles" toward heavenly bliss/nirvana/transcendence, but are you going to risk the fate of your own soul by denying the possibility that historians will later herald them as prophets and disciples? We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be led under the benevolent gaze and caring hand of the true son of Christ, and you could be forsaking salvation just for a fringe theory that no one will remember in two months.
Food for thought, rice man.
facepalm
oh I thought we were all being satirical here.
:(
Interesting.... although id prefer not to bring religion into political debates - as the process of debating is supposed to be involve facts.
Now this may surprise all who read this, but you have to understand that there is a very significant part of history that is not taught to us in the schools. It has to deal with finances, wealth and money, something most no nothing about. I urge you to do your own research and find out for yourself, instead of taking my word for it. You are free to ignore this.
The only way any war can be fought and prolonged is by the leaders of the waring countries borrowing money(to purchase ammo, metals etc) from central banks, at interest. To put it in the simplest terms possible - these same bankers who have financed and support Obama, are the same 'wealthy elite' banksters (Rothschild, Rockefeller, Warburg, J.P. Morgan) who have funded both sides of every major war in the past century(WWI, WWII, Viet Nam). Including the financing and supplying (Rockefeller's Standard Oil) of Adolf Hitler. The Rothschild Dynasty has control of about half the worlds wealth, believed to be $500 trillion. They work mainly in the shadows now, deploying agents and frontmen (Morgan) to continue their reign. This family ruled most of Europe during the 19 century causing populations to revolt and forcing the Rothschild's underground to continue their work. Research the Rothschild's, discover the truth about the Federal Reserve, and inform yourself of the workings of the Bilderberg Group and you will have your answer. Obama has been groomed by these societies for decades, much like the Bush's. But don't believe a word I just said. NOT A WORD.
TIN
FOIL
HATS