What you see on the right of each picture is the Children's Dental Associates. They have been in this location for many years in Philadelphia. To the left of them in the picture is an ice cream shop that opened approximately 3 months ago.
Frankly I don't know what to think of this. For weeks I have gone back in forth like a see-saw, or the scales of justice, trying to decide if this is right or wrong.
On the one hand, there is a dentist office for children. They clean teeth and fix problems such as cavities. Perhaps caused by excessive amounts of sugar.
On the other hand, there is an ice cream shop. They serve ice cream that contains sugar. They make concoctions of ice cream mixed with candy, such as peanut butter cups; raising the sugar content.
Both of them market themselves to children and/or parents with children. Both are trying to make a buck in this world.
Personally I've grown tired of looking at these pictures, trying to write an article that takes a stand: either on the fence or on one side or the other. It's taken weeks just to get to this point. So I turn it over to you, WTTO readers, to answer the following questions:
Is it morally reprehensible for an ice cream shop to open here, or is the ice cream shop just exercising their inalienable rights in a free market economy?
So readers choose from the list below and leave your answers or other thoughts in the comments.
- The ice cream shop has every right to open up a store next door to a dentist office. This is a free market. And barring any nuisance laws or court injunctions by historical landmark folks, there should be no complaints.
- Opening up an ice cream shop is definitely a cold calculated move. Children love ice cream and candy, so you go where the children are. The choice is exploitative and grabbing the attention of easily manipulated audience.
- Since sugar appeals to people of all ages, the ice cream ship is marketing to all ages. It is mere coincidence that it's right next door to dentist's office.
- This was a stupid business decision (parents won't allow their children to ruin their teeth that were just fixed)
- This was a brilliant business decision (adults and children can't resist comfort food especially after traumatic experiences i.e. dentist visits, crying children.)
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3 Comments:
ok, i'll bite. (slurp?)
i used to go to a dentist in boston who served coffee cake and hot cocoa in his office. he also had a great stash of CDs and earphones to drown out the drill. his thinking was that dessert is part of life. it's ridiculous to assume we won't partake of it. the trick was to take care of your teeth and gums, not to avoid the good stuff.
so, that's my take here. DQ isn't evil. did they purposefully select this spot to be right by the dentist's office? perhaps. or did they purposefully select a spot a stone's throw from the liberty bell and other hot tourist spots?
i do believe it takes all types (for and nonprofit) to create a community of health. i'm just fine with places like DQ and others existing. i'd like to see more grocery stores and farmers markets sitting in places that are a complete health wasteland.
btw, this used to be our dentist. i know for a fact that they give out cool toys. (unlike our kids' current dentist. believe me -- i hear about it.) we left because we felt they were pushing product, and not just these gifts. but for those parents who cannot withstand a child's crocodile tears, comfort was handed out on the way out the door.
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Wow... have we gotten to the point where our complete and total incompetence in raising children is going to affect zoning and business codes and require legislation to ensure we do the "right" thing?
It is no wonder that our managers in business are so bad - we can't even handle 4 foot 75lb children let alone adults.
I can't comment on whether it was a good or bad decision since many variables go into a location choice (target market is one of them) - but they do have every right to be where they want - assuming there isn't a lethal stream of fumes coming from their grill.
It's just amazing to me that we are a point in society where this even comes up as a question.
Wow... just wow.
My gut reaction is that its two businesses next to each other, and while I might find the humor in the situation, I don't think I'd give it more thought than that.
Pondering the situation, I think its genius. Or maybe it was low rent.
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