Cleveland lawyer and energetic people-connector Andrew Samtoy pioneered the concept of the “Cash Mob” — a tool for supporting local businesses and making new friends — late last year. Last February Scene wrote about how he turned out 50 people on a cold winter night to descend on Coventry Road’s Big Fun with the stipulation that each person spend at least $20 and meet at least three new people.
The events are engineered via social media; Samtoy tells people where to meet and once there, reveals where they are going. Today nearly two dozen people, most of whom work downtown, met on Public Square for a “lunch mob” event which turned out to be across the street at Pura Vida.
Tables with goodie bags and a prix fixe menu with soup, salad, three sandwich choices and beverages were preset for the group. (Even if the mob doesn’t know where it’s going, the business owner is alerted in order to prepare for the group.)
A video crew was on hand for today’s event, making a promotional film for the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. Samtoy’s concept has already spread internationally. This should raise his already high profile even more.
This article appears in Jul 25-31, 2012.
Bravo!! Go Cash Mob!
I find the cash mob concept silly, but I guess it reflects leftists’ desire to lead people around like cattle and dictate where they should be spending their money. If there are willing participants, fine, but what is the real economic impact? Nil, I’d say. Just a way for lefties to pat themselves on each others’ backs and feel they are being “do gooders” for a day.
But why did they choose Prima Vida? That restaurant doesn’t appear to need a helping hand given its prominent, busy location. Is there some payola going on here?
I see the restaurant has all the trendy words and phrases peppering their menu: Sea salted, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, grass fed, heirloom, etc. Sounds like just another pretentious restaurant for the fashion-conscious foodies who fawn over our local celebrity chefs. (But why would a vegan be okay going to a restaurant that also serves beef tongue, pig ears?)
What’s worse is Prima Vida decided to get in bed with scumbags from the predatory gambling industry and be one of the Horseshoe Casino monopoly’s partner restaurants. So, this restaurant is aiding the casino owners in using their Total Rewards program to suck people into slot machine addiction. Way to go, do gooders!
I see nothing wrong with “Cash Mobs” it brings people to places they may not of gone to otherwise. And it has nothing to do with “leftists” or “rightist”.. that is an ignorant statement. What’s wrong with lending a helping hand once in awhile? Sometimes people/places just need a little boost…. you are not just giving someone a handout.. you are purchasing and/or consuming a product…nothing wrong with that!