FEATURE THE BRUIN
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usinesses like Uber Eats, GrubHub, and DoorDash have hit a breakthrough in recent years. Approximately 60% of Americans have used these third party delivery services and as the number keeps rising, so does the drive for standing restaurants to take advantage of the services. As a way to make an extra couple dollars, many restaurants have introduced the idea of Ghost Kitchens. Ghost Kitchens are individual businesses that run original restaurants out of their physical store but market them as brand new businesses to save money on property. Many people are eager to try what they see as a new food establishment. However, people that have thorough experience are not too happy. Wadsworth High School Senior, Colin Moore, explained that they are misleading to the average customer. “If someone has a bad experience at a restaurant, let’s say Chilis, and then they order It’s Just Wings, I feel like they would be unhappy when it gets to their house and the box says Chilis on it. I think that if businesses
need a quick buck then they are good but I don’t think they are good for long term cust o m e r s , ” s a i d M o o r e . Moore explained that businesses a l s o h av e t o p ay a n u p ke e p fe e fo r h av i n g t h e i r b u s i n e s s o n a p p s l i ke D o o r D a s h , s o n o t o n l y w o u l d t h e y b e p ay i n g t h e p r i c e fo r t h e i r r e s t a u r a n t b u t fo r t h e i r G h o s t K i t c h e n as well. Kristi Gonzales, a local DoorDash employee, explains that the pickups can be dif ficult for the Dashers. “Typically the hardest par t is figuring out which restaurant you’re actually going to,” Gonzales said. “DoorDash has done better with the accuracy regarding adding the correct address. It would definitely help to know the actual business storefront name that you’re picking up from though. They are almost always listed under the ghost kitchen name, if ordered under the ghost kitchen.” While Moore thinks that overall they are unnecessar y for the average businesses due to the inaccurate vision they are painting for the consumer and the additional costs that the businesses pay, Gonzales also explains that they do benefit the business and the delivery service
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BY KATIE BASINGER
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GHOST KITCHENS CHANGE THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY FOR WORKERS AND CONSUMERS
Businesses above are examples of businesses and the restaurants that run out of them. Many popular chains are also adopting this technique for drawing in new business. Photos courtesy of fair use.
though. To the average customer, they are illusionar y. “I’m not sure if I would say they’re scamming necessarily, it is still goods exchanged for payment, though it’s definitely illusionar y from a customer’s standpoint,” said Gonzales. Many recognizable businesses such as Applebees, Chilis, Chuck E. Cheese’s, and Mr. Beast Burger,
have taken advantage of this supposedly prosperous business tactic. Overall, a tried and true way to get one’s moneys worth is to simply go to the restaurant in person. It is necessary for one to consider time versus money– the customer makes the ultimate choice, but to be knowledgeable on the facts can often make the difference to the overall experience.
DOWNTOWN WADSWORTH REVAMPS WITH TWO MURALS
he decided to Arango and effort. refocus on a his wife “This mural had a community component honattan Arango, a 40-year-old artist who career in art. utilized the where over 300 people painted over the course specializes in murals and studio arts, “Fortunately, function of of a day during October’s First Friday event,” worked alongside his wife, Samantha, I entered my triangles as Arango said. during the summer and fall of 2022 in 30s with the the most Beyond this, the couple completed a second Downtown Wadsworth. In different areas, the determination fundamental mural, which cohesively corresponds with couple created two murals on the sides of to use the method of the messages presented in the first mural Wadsworth’s buildings. relatively short representing regarding the significance of universal law. Even though Arango currently lives in West amount of time reality. “The second mural, located at 124 Lyman Palm Beach, Florida, his career in art did not I have on this “ T h e and titled, ‘..the Healing Force,’ is a continuation begin in the United States. Before moving to the Earth to do what first one, of ‘Music is…’ and together they make up the United States. Arango lived in Cuba where he I love,” Arango located in phrase, ‘Music is the Healing Force’,” Arango discovered his passion for art. said. said. The first mural that was painted behind Sonnets entitled, “Music the parking “I was born in Cuba and got an early start With his is...” Photo courtesy of Jhonattan Arango. lot behind This mural depicts a 17-foot cardinal that with the arts in a few forms: literature, painting, r e d i s c o v e r e d Sonnets and flies around local flora, which Arango feels can and performing arts,” Arango said. “I love for art, Arango began painting murals titled, ‘Music is…,’ features local legend and be interpreted in a variety of ways. got to the States when I was 13 and across the country with his wife. In Ohio, ‘Godfather of Free Jazz,’ Albert Ayler, and takes Over the course of creating these complex everything changed.” their artwork has flourished through its name from his song, ‘Music is the Healing murals, Arango and his wife, discovered their Although his life in Cuba initially the murals that they have painted in Force of the Universe’,” Arango said. appreciation for the experiences that they nurtured his artistic tendencies, Wadsworth. After Main Street Wadsworth discussed their gained in Ohio. he was forced to focus on other “The two [murals] at Wadsworth intentions of renovating this parking lot; into a “It was wonderful to stay in Wadsworth for priorities, when moving to the are my only murals in Ohio so far,” music venue, Arango and his wife decided to those two months, witness the fall, and see so United States. Arango said. design the piece to incorporate an underrated many beautiful country sights,” Arango said. “I painted a little along high Originally, Main Street Wadsworth musician, colorful features of music, along If interested in Arango’s pieces, look to school, but then joined the Navy put out a request for artists on a with natural elements of flora. These intricate www.artofanon.com and @art_of_anon on as a medic for five years,” Arango nationwide scale. Arango and his designs, however, were not only a two-person Instagram. said. “I went back to school for wife, after having responded to this Graphic Design when I was 28 or request, were selected to collaborate so.” on Wadsworth’s murals. After attending school for Graphic “Though initially selected for one Design, Arango quickly shifted his mural, we ended up doing both, mindset toward fulfilling his life goals. which was great because we got Rather than fixating on survival to do something we hadn’t in the job market of Union City, Jhonattan Arango and his done before: we created two wife, Samantha Arango posing New Jersey, which is where together at their home in sequential murals,” Arango he originally immigrated to Florida. Photo courtesy of said. after departing from Cuba, Jhonattan Arango. Beginning with the first mural, The second mural that was painted near the police station entitled, “... the Healing Force.”
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BY DREW BOWERMAN
Photo courtesy of Jhonattan Arango.
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