Philebrity has learned today a whole slew of information regarding the Rick’s Steaks verus Reading Terminal Market versus Tony Luke’s controversy currently dominating local news. Earlier today, we heard from a source close to the situation that while much of the press regarding Rick Olivieri’s ousting from Terminal has pitted Olivieri against fellow sandwich-maker Tony Luke, no lease has yet been proffered or signed for Luke to open up a space. We called Luke’s publicist, George Polgar, who confirms this. According to Polgar, Tony Luke’s official involvement with the Reading Terminal at this time amounts to not much more than a letter of intent to review a lease on a space in the Market — essentially a legal document saying, “Yes, I will look at a lease when the time comes.”

But like so much cold Cheese Whiz, the plot thickens: Polgar went on to tell us that the first Tony Luke had learned of Olivieri’s ousting was when the rest of us did, on the news a few weeks back. “Nobody at the RTM had brought up the situation with Rick,” says Polgar. Furthermore, Tony Luke didn’t think twice about sharing floor space with Olivieri: They already both have stalls at Citizen’s Bank Park. (It’s also important to keep in mind that, purported media wars aside, Rick’s is known for cheesesteaks, and Tony Luke’s is famous for roast pork, broccoli rabe, and so on; so while Tony Luke’s does in fact serve cheesesteaks, this is not the head-to-head war it’s made out to be. In fact, in preliminary discussion, the RTM told Tony Luke they would not have a space available for him until October.) So if free market competition is not at the heart of the Rick’s ousting, then what is? Same as it ever was: For years, Olivieri headed up the merchant’s association at the Terminal, going to mat for his fellow vendors. Keep in mind that the RTM is essentially run by the city, and like anything else run by the city, the RTM is a petty fiefdom run on the noxious fumes of patronage and ego wars. As evidenced by his standoff today, Olivieri apparently has brass balls and has surely pissed some people off.

As for Tony Luke, Polgar emphatically states: “He’s not making a move until this [conflict between the Terminal and Olivieri] is resolved.” And what a resolution it looks like it’ll be: We are also hearing that none other than District Attorney Lynne Abraham will be brought in to mediate. Stay tuned with Philebrity as we continue to follow this utterly bonkers Piece Of Everything That Makes Philadelphia Great.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 at 1:52 pm.