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A church friend advised me on Sunday, November 30, 2008, that she had gone shopping at a local Garden Ridge store on "Black Friday." As she was about to leave, she saw a yard decoration for Christmas on sale that stunned her. It was a sign with lights and caroler figures with the warning "Carolers Will Be Shot." She promptly asked a to see the manager. She asked the manager, "What are we teaching our children? Why would you have a sign like this on sale in a city with a high murder rate?" The manager's response, "I only work here," showed a cowardly refusal to take responsibility for her store.
The Garden Ridge store in question is located at:
201 Monument Road
Jacksonville, FL 32225
Phone: (904) 721-6226
Some buyer thought the signs were cute or funny. However, this crosses the line from humor to threat. It is especially inappropriate during the Christmas season. Carolers are Christian people trying to spread some good cheer and joy in our neighborhoods. In fact, this sign could be interpreted as anti-Christian and bigoted. Can you imagine the uproar if a store sold yard signs that warned "Blacks Will Be Shot" or "Homosexual Couples Will Be Shot"?
Here in Jacksonville, Florida, we are struggling to reduce a murder rate that is the highest in the state. The mayor's program, the Jacksonville Journey, is a joint effort of government leaders, businessmen, educators, ministers, and law enforcement to come together to solve this problem. We do not need a store selling signs that threaten more violence against anyone. If you find this as objectionable as I do, please call the store's manager and complain.
Most likely, these signs are available at other Garden Ridge stores. Stop by or call your local store to see if they are selling them. Let the manager know that you cannot shop at a store that sells items that threaten violence, especially during the season of peace and good will towards all.
Another action strongly recommended is to write Garden Ridge's corporate headquarters as well. Online, they invite email comments and questions to: customercareline@gardenridge.com .
Then, let their President and CEO Albert J. Neupaver know that you do not approve of his company promoting violence. The toll-free phone number is (888) 621-3814 and the Houston headquarters' number is (281) 579-7901. The FAX number is (412) 825-1019. The mailing address is:
Garden Ridge Corporation
19411 Atrium Place, Ste. 170
Houston, TX 77084
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1 comment:
The CEO's name is actually Tom Kibarin, he is not a nice man, being a past employee of his (directly) for over 15 years, I know any comments or feedback to him or customer service would not be addressed. It's really a sad sad company. They care about nothing but the money they are making. the best way to fign back is to stop shopping there and spreading the word that EVIL was born at the ridge!
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