An
interview at Pete’s Fish & Chips on South Central Avenue
Tracy Beian-Kirk
While
doing our fieldwork on the exploration of South Central Avenue, between
Elwood and Broadway we stopped at Pete’s Fish & Chips. I met Angelica
and Amanda both 18 years old, third generation residents of South Phoenix. Angelica
was picking up food to take home, while she waited with her 3-year-old
niece and best friend Amanda (they have been friends since Kindergarten)
I introduced my classmates and myself to them and asked if they would mind
chatting and answering some questions about themselves and their neighborhood. They
agreed, once they realized we truly were students simply interested in
finding out more about them—with no ulterior motive other than to garner
information about South Phoenix and the local residents. They were very
excited and happy to talk about themselves, friends, families and their
neighborhoods.
We
sat outside on the wooden picnic tables at Pete’s Fish and Chips, a local
restaurant that has been there since the 50’s. First Angelica said, “this
is our Red Lobster. We continued
to discuss other local restaurants and she said, “my family owns part of
Poncho’s. Have you eaten there? The
food is really good!” We
exclaimed yes we just ate there for lunch and we agreed it was great! Angelica
and Amanda said, “we have all been here, in South Phoenix our entire lives.” We
asked her if she was planning to stay in South Phoenix? She
said, “oh yes my whole family is here my grandparents, parents, cousins,
aunts and uncles; I cannot imagine living anywhere else. If
I ever need anything they are all around—across the street and around the
block. Although, I am planning
on going to NAU for college but, I am going to come back home; I love it
here.” We asked if the new
development south of Baseline and the Rio Salado project were a good thing
or bad thing happening in her neighborhood? She
said, “ I think it is good because there is just no place to shop anywhere
in South Phoenix. We have
to drive all the way to Awhatukee if we want to go shopping at Target or
any place. There are only two grocery stores—Fry’s at 7th Street
and Safeway at 16th Street—and this is a new store. So
I think it is good because it will bring more businesses to us.” Amanda
just nodded a lot and agreed with Angelica so we started talking to her
directly asking her similar questions. She
said, “the only bad thing is there is just no place to hang out! If we
want to hang out at a club we have to go to Scottsdale or Tempe.” Amanda
also said, “the best thing about living here is my family.” They
both agreed there is not as much crime as they have seen in the past. We
asked them if they worked in the neighborhood? They
replied, “we both work at the airport.”
I
was so taken by how truly connected they were to their families, friends
and community. Having personally
grown up in a small town outside of a larger city in Ohio, I could totally
relate to the attachment of my family and my neighborhood. I
too had all of my family—grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all within
walking distance. I miss
the connection I felt to my family, small town and local surroundings. I
truly hope that the development South of Baseline does not destroy this
wonderful neighborhood that Angelica and Amanda live in, long for and love.