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    Understanding or misunderstanding?

    After "Happy September 11" dustup, Petrol Station owner receives tolerance award

    Whitney Radley
    Sep 19, 2011 | 11:27 am
    • Tolerance, Americanism, Patriotism
      Logo via T.A.P./Facebook
    • TAP is presenting Petrol Station owner Ben Fullelove a tolerance award, citingthe way he handled the situation after an employee scribbled an offensive doodleon a customer's to-go box.
      Photo via Beer Utopia
    • The drawing that prompted the whole debacle
      Photo via Channel 13/ABC
    • TAP promotes all things American
      Photo via T.A.P./Facebook

    For one organization, Petrol Station owner Ben Fullelove serves as a bastion of understanding.

     TAP America is a non-profit dedicated to promoting tolerance, patriotism and exercise in America. According to the group's website, "The tenets of TAP encourage people to be physically active, embrace equality and support the American economy by purchasing products made in America."

    We learned that TAP is granting its first ever tolerance award to Fullelove. This comes after the owner fired not one but two employees over the insensitive, malicious "Happy September 11th" message on a styrofoam to-go box prank.

    CultureMap spoke with Richard Tso, TAP America's executive director, about what prompted the award:

     

    Right now we're seeing that our country is very divisive, in all pockets. We are a non-political organization really working to try to break down those barriers. We are trying to make patriotism more of an inclusive term, not just held by one group. So we found that, in the event that occurred at Petrol Station, the immediate actions that were taken by the staff there to employ sensitivity training was a good act of recognizing a need for change within an organization and acting quickly. Because they had gained national attention from the incident - that's how we found out about it - and we said, 'Wait a minute, this is great!' So we reached out to Petrol Station, and they were pleased with being awarded the honor."

    Despite the award, it still seems to me that Fullelove's move is just intolerance of intolerance. And, as much as we hate to add fuel to the fire, TAP must not have seen the owner use the R-word in an apology statement earlier this week.

    From now on, let's focus on the coffee beans and the micro brews.

    unspecified
    news/city-life

    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Shaq surprises Houston restaurant with $1,000 tip and more top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jul 12, 2025 | 11:00 am
    Shaquille O'Neal Ninfa's Uptown
    Courtesy of Ninfa's
    Shaquille O'Neal had lunch at Ninfa's Uptown.

    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, starting with a surprise visit — and big tip — from Shaq. Plus, Houston ranks among America's most overpriced cities, and rents rise in Sugar Land. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then find the best things to do this weekend here.

    1. Shaquille O'Neal leaves $1,000 tip at Houston Tex-Mex institution. NBA Hall of Famer and media personality Shaquille O’Neal surprised the crowd at The Original Ninfa’s Uptown when he stopped by for lunch, posing for pics and leaving a very big tip.

    2. Veteran Houston bartender shakes up the Heights with new tropical bar. The woman behind your favorite bartender’s favorite bar has quietly opened a new cocktail spot in the Heights. Called Berwick’s Birds of Paradise, it’s the latest project from Double Trouble owner Robin Berwick.

     Berwick's Birds of Paradise bar Robin Berwick Owner Robin Berwick took inspiration from hotel bars for BBOP.  Photo by Vivian Leba  

    3. Houston is one of America's most overpriced cities, study finds. In what may come as a surprise to some local residents, a new study ranks Houston among the 10 most overpriced cities in America.

    4. This Houston suburb had the highest apartment rent prices in June. Apartment rent prices in June were more expensive in Sugar Land than anywhere else in Houston, according to the latest monthly rent report from Zumper.

    5. Houston influencer opens an antiques-filled boutique hotel in Montrose. 109 Stratford Street in Historic East Avondale has recently opened as a nine-room boutique hotel, The Marlene Inn, from owner and Instagram influencer Lily Barfield.

    most popular storiesshaquille o'nealcelebritiesopeningsrentreportsexpensiveinfluencershotelstop stories
    news/city-life
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