Reader: If They Don't Want Illegal Pete's in Fort Collins, I'll Take One at Southlands

Since he opened his first store in Boulder almost twenty years ago, Pete Turner has been serving up big burrito as well as lots of community support for neighbors, musicians and other good causes. But recently, Illegal Pete's has also been the source of plenty of food for thought: A...

By Patricia Calhoun

October 27, 2014

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Since he opened his first store in Boulder almost twenty years ago, Pete Turner has been serving up big burrito as well as lots of community support for neighbors, musicians and other good causes. But recently, Illegal Pete's has also been the source of plenty of food for thought: A group in Fort Collins, where Turner will open his seventh store next month, charges that the name is racist, and has asked that Turner change the name of his business. Should he?

Close to 300 people have weighed in since I wrote about the controversy Friday.

Says Liz:

I say change the name to Illegal Pedro's.

Says Andrea:

Yes, please change it. The owner is actually much more thoughtful and pro-Latino than the people waving a flag for privilege on this thread. Still, it is absolutely "counter culture" to be "illegal" today. The connotation is much different now. Change it.

And Pamela doesn't care what they call it -- so long as an Illegal Pete's moves close to her:

If they don't want Illegal Pete's there, then they can send them this way to open one closer to Southlands. We will take it.

What do you think of the controversy? Post your thoughts below, or join the discussion already under way here.

Follow @CafeWestword

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

Follow:

Facebook: patricia.calhoun.927