I can't wait to enjoy the foods of Morroco in WILMINGTON, NC!!!
>>> THIS JUST IN 12:11PM:
Sam, the owner of Marrakesh Wilmington restaurant caught up to me in a coffee shop here, just so we could talk and make sure we understood each other. Not only is he a very reasonable guy who had NO IDEA drug gangs hide behind Christian symbols (I think he's Muslim, but I didn't ask), he told me how he's working here to get all completed and opened quickly -- and the "seemingly undesirable" work crew finished THEIR work and is no longer working there.
Naturably (or naturally -- whichever applies), I told him a lot about what the Kenan Family has been up to in the Middle East -- building (beginning years ago) institutions in support of Democracy, and how Tommy Kenan had been on a plane home from Cairo negotiations that time I tried to call him in Chapel Hill early last summer. HE WAS THRILLED TO HEAR IT.
Unfortunately, like so MANY local Arab (or Arab-ish) men, he's EXTREMELY handsome, and sensing he's probably married and even LOVES his wife, I didn't flirt ONE BIT. LOL!!!
>>> REPLY TO AN EMAIL from A Reader:
I don't know WHAT to think of Marrakesh -- but whatever is happening, there's no indication it is truly pretty.
My relationship with them began when I started hearing all kinds of rumors of how good the owner's food is in two restaurants (one named Marrakesh there and this one as well: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/178/1534281/restaurant/Marrakesh-Jacksonville ) he has in Jacksonville, NC -- and the signs on their windows in November claimed they would be open by mid-December last year.
But nothing seemed to be happening. Additionally, there was a blue-collar type guy who stood in front of the place so many hours each day the homeless people who liked to sneak beers in the area across the street that leads back to a parking garage and is almost a mini-park were certain he was watching them and calling the cops as soon as they cracked a beer and that was why they were forever getting "open container" tickets. (And they were TOO STUPID to move someplace else, until the cops got Jersey, who actually doesn't drink that much, to point out the sense of drinking AWAY from such public areas.
They DID finally take Jersey's advice, and REALLY, it IS a nuisance to have a bunch of badly-behaving drunk homeless people hanging out near the center of downtown. I SALUTE the cops and Jersey for accomplishing this -- BUT NOT THE NAZI-COPS WHO FALSELY SET UP MY FRIEND WHO NEVER DRINKS OR CAUSES TROUBLE WITH AN OPEN CONTAINER CHARGE, under the "POSSESSION BY CONSTRUCTION" statue. See half-way down this post: http://scottkenan.blogspot.com/2012/02/nekkid-truth.html .
>>> But thinking about it all now (especially after I exposed Police Chief Ralph Evangelous's CRACK HABIT yesterday), I'm thinking these Wilmington cops (especially lower-ranked patrol officers) are as much a VICTIM as are the Assistant District Attorneys who HATE working for Ben David and are so strong in their support of me. You see, in a DOWN economy with few jobs, the PROVEN hateful, vindictive false-prosecuting local authority against ANYONE who opposes not just the heroin and cocaine traffic but ANYTHING Ben and Jon David, Sen. Goolsby, Chief Evangelous and their honchos think they have the right to do -- coupled with the fact that MOST of these people have families to support (and protect from the violence the HATERS do not HESITATE to threaten) -- they are STUCK enforcing policies that as the PEACE OFFICERS they signed up to be, are hateful to THEM as well.
I might just start parading on the river and downtown streets with a sign: "FREE THE WILMINGTON PEACE OFFICERS FROM THEIR NAZI COMMAND!!!" Of course City Council, in their Absolute FEAR of Kenan-Family-Supported OCCUPY WILMINGTON hastily passed laws to clear them off city property and it is also now necessary to get a permit to PROTEST in Wilmington (or so I've been told). Guess what MY chances to get a permit are -- and they'd probably make me deposit $100,000.00 in escrow to be used in the case of my causing litter (to cover clean-up) or MAJOR MAYHEM AND BUILDINGS BEING BLOWN UP (or some such). I exaggerate, but these are the tactics of City Governments across this country to stymie what the WEALTHY branch of my family is supporting more heavily than anyone else (to my knowledge).
Wilmington just HATES Kenans -- if you judge their ACTIONS. The GOOD people in government have been THAT DUPED by the HATERS that they don't realize OCCUPY is ON THEIR SIDE (if so disorganized they haven't clarified their message enough to make that obvious -- or at least not yet). The GOOD leaders here, Like Mayor Saffo and most of City Council are the FIRST to support the PUBLICLY DISCLOSED adventures of my wealthy relatives (Education, Democracy, the Arts, etc.). I have LONG recognized this PR problem -- and ALSO that Tom in Chapel Hill and his "Society"-ish near relatives CANNOT effectively do what they do best and be known to be supporting these things that the press or gossip-mongers have been so effectively LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH about.
>>> Enter BIG BIRD SCOTT!!! -- the OUTER of REALITY (and sexual activities/predilections take a back seat here to POLITICAL REALITY). I'm the self-appointed "Street-Fighting Kenan", and my relatives have indicated they are PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT!!!
And let me say ONE MORE TIME: I HAVE NO ENEMIES -- only people who don't know me well enough yet. (I call them "adversaries.") That said, the TOP ACTORS ONLY in all this hateful corruption WILL have to face charges eventually and TIME IN PRISON. They have been DELIBERATE in their GREED and HATE, not just trying to do their best to provide for their loved ones and see no other choice, like the VAST MAJORITY.
Now back to Marrakesh.
That guy out front turned out to be a workman who showed up each day only to find that the main crew never showed up until mid to late afternoon -- IF AT ALL. And then when they DID show up, they all sported GIANT OBVIOUS DRUG GANG EMBLEMS all over their clothing, and I watched them bringing a lot of beer into the building. I reported this to the owner via their Facebook page, and things GENERALLY got better. The drug insignia disappeared and they actually do more hours of work now -- but when they see ME coming down the street, the workers flee inside and lock the doors. LOL!!!
I DO know the owner has been here and must be acting more "hands-on." I DON'T know if he's actually just laundering drug money through construction slowdowns (a very popular way) or if HE was duped into hiring drug gangs. Both Star News and Channel 3 -- both identified in this blog yesterday (Star News MANY TIMES BEFORE AS WELL) as doing features to make drug launders LOOK more legitimate -- have run features on the restaurant, but THAT is NOT damning in itself.
According to their Facebook page, they have begun training staff and expect to open before the end of February: http://www.facebook.com/#!/marrakesh.wilmington?sk=wall&filter=1 . We'll see what happens . . .
Scott
PS: The REAL Arab Spring in Wilmington is the extended family I call "The Arab Mafia", centered around The Village Market and a whole string of little convenience stores in town. Some of their activities are a bit peculier, like HOW ON EARTH are they able to sell so many "Kirkland Signature" (Costco's OWN brand) and "Great Value" (Wal-Mart's own brand) products in their stores (and I'm GLAD they do as I've had to let go my Costco membership until I have an apartment again and it makes sense to re-join (to say nothing of having MUCH higher money priorities).
Kenan Advantage Group http://www.thekag.com/ , America's TOP distributor of petroleum products to independants -- begun LOCALLY with Kenan Oil and Kenan Transport merged later with Advantage Group) has the EXCLUSIVE contract to supply gasoline to ALL Costcos, nationwide. Costco has NEVER given a donation to a Republican!!!
That said, I'd stand with the "Arab Mafia" ANY DAY!!! They are the nicest, kindest people, and FREQUENTLY give homeless people small jobs. And wouldn't you know it -- they are Muslims, but they like me enough they let me flirt semi-outrageously with both their men and their Muslim-wrapped married ladies. LOL!!!
On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 9:53 PM, A READER wrote:
Why hasn't that place opened? Has the next-door PCJ property been acquired by Mr. Marrakesh? While PCJ is being renovated, the restaurant may choose to stay dormant. Will Muslims flock there, or beg alms at the front door? I know students will eat couscous, but what about the rest of you? How many lambs will get their throat cut? Will there be a liquor license? Is Marrakesh a harbinger of Arab Spring in Wilmington !
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