Call it advocacy, 21st Century style.
But the recent predicament of a small-town sandwich shop has mobilized many in and around Marshalltown to get behind Taylor's Maid-Rite.
A Facebook fan page, "Save Taylor's Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop," has sprung up in the past couple of days. It already has more than 2,800 fans.
Many of the comments there express outrage and regret that the storied sandwich shop may eventually be forced to close its doors in Marshalltown.
Meanwhile, a group of locals are planning a demonstration on behalf of the restaurant at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Maid-Rite parking lot.
The Department of Inspections and Appeals recently told the sandwich shop it must change the way it prepares its meat, despite the fact that the shop has been doing it the same way for 80 years.
The owners, Don and Sandy Taylor Short, say it could force them to close the business because the new method would not allow them to match their current production output and they don't have the space to expand. They have appealed the decision.
"The Maid-Rite is and has always been a safe place to dine," said Karen Edgington.
The outrage over the issue is not limited just to the Central Iowa area, either.
"It is horrifying to think that if the Short's are not allowed to keep the cooker that a tradition will be lost," said Alison Dix, a California resident with family in Marshalltown. "Please urge the legislature to put pressure on the DIA to stop harassing the Maid-Rites."
Nick Schrodt, a part-time resident of both Florida and Rochester, Minn., and formerly of Marshalltown, had similar thoughts.
"It's time for 'big brother' to get ... out of our lives," he said. "There is no justification for what they are trying to do Don and Sandy Taylor Short."
Sandy Short said the response so far, since the news broke over the weekend, has been overwhelmingly positive.
"Everyone has been talking about it and everyone's been on our side," she said. "It's been really amazing."
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
