These are for Qdoba. Picture is from 1200 block of E. Pike St, looking towards 12th Ave.
I wasn’t doing a survey, but there are a lot.
This is a thread about Qdoba moving into Joule: http://capitolhillseattle.com/2010/07/22/scoop-from-the-crowd-chs-commenters-dig-up-new-restaurant-chain-coming-to-broadway
A thread about the “Say OK” stencils: http://capitolhillseattle.com/2010/06/16/say-it-aint-ok-clubs-ads-on-capitol-hill-sidewalks-reported-as-graffiti
UPDATE 7/27/2010 7:20 AM (jseattle):
From the comments below, dellareez reports this encounter from the streets of Pike/Pine.
I talked to him and he seemed nice. He obvioulsy worked for qdoba. Said that they were only meant to be up during the block party, and he was here to remove them. I told him sidewalk ads are passe and blight. He said it was a mistake and “the last thing I want to do is piss off my new neighbors” – kinda funny!
Q-dos to Qdoba for a quick clean-up?
If the city doesn’t crack down on this new corporate graffiti, it’s only going to get worse. If ZEB can’t get away with it, why does the HG Lounge and Qdoba get to do it?
Just a guess here, but if ZEB used chalk instead of spray paint, I don’t think he’d attract much attention from law enforcement.
Doug Thielen
Manager of Non-Traditional Marketing and Public Relations
Qdoba Mexican Grill
720-898-2332
[email protected]
http://www2.seattle.gov/util/forms/graffiti/graffitiForm.asp
I think the city should send Qdoba a bill for removing their stencil ads on sidewalks.
You bet – this is crass stuff – painting for advertising on public space – bill them for the rent!!!!
Or, bill them for the removal.
I talked to him and he seemed nice. He obvioulsy worked for qdoba. Said that they were only meant to be up during the block party, and he was here to remove them. I told him sidewalk ads are passe and blight. He said it was a mistake and “the last thing I want to do is piss off my new neighbors” – kinda funny!
There seems to be some hyperbolic discussion/misunderstanding of the actual law in place in the mentioned thread. Here’s a good place to go for actual info: http://www.mrsc.org/subjects/pubsafe/graffiti/graffiti.aspx
Graffiti is defined in SMC 10.07.010 C.:
“Graffiti” means unauthorized markings, visible from premises open to the public, that have been placed upon any property through the use of paint, ink, chalk, dye or any other substance capable of marking property.
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=10.07&.
Graffiti as defined here is a gross misdemeanor in the third degree per RCW 9A.48.090 anyone who:
(b) Writes, paints, or draws any inscription, figure, or mark of any type on any public or private building or other structure or any real or personal property owned by any other person unless the person has obtained the express permission of the owner or operator of the property, under circumstances not amounting to malicious mischief in the first or second degree.
http://www.mrsc.org/mc/rcw/RCW%20%20%209A%20TITLE/RCW%20%20%
We have a very interesting Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance, which requires property owners to remove graffiti themselves:
http://www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Garbage/KeepSeattleClea&_Removal/GraffitiNuisanceOrdinance/index.htm
What this all means is that *legally* Seattle Public Utilities (for public property) and individual business owners (for their own private property) are required to clean this up. Usually, the graffiti is not easily traceable back to the source, but in these instances Qdoba and the Hunter Gatherer Lodge (or their unnamed promoter) may wish to shape up lest they be a poster child – so to speak – for corporate graffiti offenders that follow. Okay, that’s all!
I agree with weekilter. We should bill Qdoba — a lot of money — for this intrusion into our public property and our psyche. Does this give us the right then to come and tag their business when they’re finally open?
Does it really hurt anyone to have paint or chalk on a sidewalk? I didn’t think so! Better there then spray paint on a wall. It rains so often in this city the days are numbered on this activity. I like the idea and rather they do it there then putting up hideous billboards…hey it could happen. RELAX!
These ads are a blight on our pristine piss, puke and trash covered sidewalks! If I wanted to see ads, I’d tilt my head 30 degrees in any other direction!
I don’t care. I don’t get why anyone would. If you want to clean shit up, there’s a couple thousand other places to start. If they posted a thousand handbills on every telephone pole on cap hill, you wouldn’t be pissed – but a couple ads on the sidewalk and everyone’s up in arms?
I emailed to ask if the stencils were done in paint or chalk- here’s what I got.
Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us at Qdoba and share your concern in regards to the biodegradable sidewalk chalk that was used in Capital Hill. After talking with our marketing team in Seattle, they decided it was best to remove the chalk from the sidewalks last night and they apologize for any inconvenience.
At this time, all of the artwork should have been washed away, however if one was missed please feel free to reach out to me and let me know.
We look forward to joining the Capital Hill neighborhood and community.
Cheers,
Doug Thielen
Manager of Non-Traditional Marketing
And Public Relations
303.809.8499
Oh come on. Really? How about the fact that it is not Qdoba’s property to begin with?
For the record, I’m generally okay with chalk, as that washes away in the next rain, but these business should be fined for using paint or any other semi-permanent marking.
The handbills should go away also…what a mess.
How is all the postering (both legal and mostly illegal) in Seattle any different? Almost all of it is commercial advertising on public spaces. Yet the City turns a blind eye to this pervasive problem.
If someone opposes free advertising on public property, such as these Qdoba ads on sidewalks, they should also oppose all postering, because it is exactly the same thing. Anything else is inconsistency and hypocrisy.
It hardly rains at all in Seattle over the summer, so these ads would be visible for quite some time. Kudos to the Qdoba marketing guy for arranging their removal. But of course they shouldn’t have been done in the first place.
totally agree. a little bit of chalk on the sidewalk is way more environmentally friendly than the hundreds of handbills and fliers posted everywhere. i think they should be praised for coming up with a creative solution to all the waste generated by traditional advertising
Have I already asked this? Calhoun, how do you expect organizations, businesses and shows to get the word out? Buy an ad in the Seattle Times? Seattle Gay News? CHS?
If CHS, then, yeah, I’m with you!
Low cost marketing — where people will see it — is really important. How about some solutions?
Qdoba’s paint/chalk complicates the issue because it’s less temporary than advertised but I like Mezze’s neverending quest to get me to buy a sandwich. It’s sloppy. And charming. And probably(?) working.
Easy, if you dont like it, just tag over it, just like you would on wall grafiti. A big yellow X would do just fine.
I’m with Calhoun on this. There’s plenty of free viral marketing one can do on the internet (e.g. twitter, facebook), that should be more effective than a sidewalk advertisement, if it is done correctly.
As far as the posters, no one ever takes them down, as is required by law. How hard it is for the club owners to set up something like seattlemusicscene.org and advertise your show/event virtually? Cheaper than printing all those damn posters and paying people to put them up, I’d imagine.
People are up in arms over this? I think it’s kick-ass and totally in Capital Hill fashion to find a unique way to promote a new place coming into the neighborhood. It’s so much better than flooding the area with lame duct taped posters that end up fluttering down the streets, or tossing up a giant eyesore billboard like every other corporate giant. This is alternative and fun, like Capital Hill. Anyone that this seriously bothered needs to untwist their panties and relax – it was Capital Hill Block Party, AT&T sponsored it, it’s a corporate event whether you like it or not and no matter how indie and obscure you think it is.
I have no problem with chalk that is cleaned up after a limited period of time. The problem is when it is more permanent (i.e., paint) and/or left for others to clean. Sure, I rolled my eyes a little when the stencils got reported (didn’t see them myself) but happy to hear that Qdoba cleaned it up themselves. That’s how to be a good neighbor.
I think people ought to chalk whatever they want. Meza had a fun chalk campaign going earlier this year… Admittedly it was hand written and not stenciled.
I also have been enjoying whomever it is writing the positive commentary in chalk on various sidewalks around the area lately.
Spray paint like HG used is pretty bad and takes forever to go away but some chalk… Seriously, it isn’t that big of a deal.
If you find yourself getting worked up about chalk on the sidewalk, it’s a good sign that that your life is pathetic. I am sad for you.
It’s difficult to take your comment seriously if you can’t even spell Capitol Hill properly…
What a convenient response, Max! Excuse my spelling errors, I’m not from CapitOl Hill, but have just been there a bunch and taken note of the general vibe and culture. Now that we’ve got that cleared up, I’d be interested in a response that speaks to the content of my comment…
While we’re at it, can everyone please stop wearing clothes in public with logos and ads on them? No clothes with any words or symbols that could be construed as advertising anything, please. Nudity is preferred . . . though please also cover all tattoos depicting brand mascots.
I was a little disappointed when I saw the Qdoba adverts, but now that I know it’s just chalk and biodegradable I find it less annoying and somewhat okay. Say Ok Wednesday will forever make me shake my fist toward the heavens.
It’s good to be flexible
Yes, jseattle, that’s exactly what I expect them to do…pay for advertising, like the vast majority of businesses have to do. Why should bars/clubs/shows be any different than any other small business? Free ads on our public structures are trashing our streetscapes, are almost always out of compliance with SDOT regulations, and it is very doubtful that they are effective. Not to mention that they have been a source of arson fires. The primary thing they do is provide income to the postering businesses, which could care less what they are doing to our streets.
My two year old just did a chalk “mural” on the sidewalk in front of our house. I consider it advertising for her being a two year old. Who wants to report it?
I don’t get the anger, it will wash away. It is the city.
Over at the corner of Queen Anne Ave and Denny there’s a damn HOTMAIL/newbusy ad stencilled onto the sidewalk, using a pressure-washer. Pretty f%$@ing devious, since that will stay there near-forever…or until the algae/scum covers it back up again.
Anyone seen any other pressure-wash/sandblast ads in town??
as far as Qdoba, hate their chain, but love their sidewalk chalk approach AND clean-up plan – THAT’S exactly how sidewalk adverts should be done. Just wish it was a mom&pop store instead…
I think for all intents and purposes, Zeb DID get away with it: have you seen all the tags?
Yes, it’s corporate, and yes, that sucks (that we’re pummeled with their logos/branding/marketing machine even when showgazing on the sidewalk).
So,
Do something about it: either offer your services as a ‘chalker to small business, or go out there and cover their lame advertising up (i.e. make it not worth it to them / no profit to be gained)
Merely e-thugging here instead will win you no valor and does nothing to help, right?
Why is ugly corporate advertising on public, let alone private, property ignored by the general public and especially the city government while Tim Burgess and Tom Rasmussen attempt to ramp up the war against “graffiti”.
The city will ignore hideous corporate advertising but flips out at beautiful pieces like the one below.
http://baldmanwatching.com/2010/07/25/destroy/
There’s a big difference here. By “corporate” ads, I presume you mean billboards…they are highly regulated and very few in number in the central parts of Seattle…and the ones that are there are on private property, paid for by whoever is advertising, and they are legal.
The use of wheatpaste (a type of glue) to affix posters on public property (utility poles)is prohibited by SDOT regulations, because it tends to be relatively permanent and impossible to remove, and so it is NOT legal. It’s too bad that some people thumb their nose at these regulations, because they are there as a reasonable compromise between the pro and anti-postering opinions.