Taking matters into their own hands, a vintage Chicago deli resorted to posting a sign that read, “Google Lies.” Frustrated with an inaccurate Google Maps entry that listed the business as closed, owners of Erickson’s Delicatessen & Fish posted the sign to help dispel the rumors with a plea to social media users. The family business has been around since the 1920s and fought to continue the legacy.
‘Google Lies’ headline grabbed passersby’ attention
With a sign that begged more information, part-owner Ann Nilsson put the issue with Google at the front of Erickson’s Delicatessen. She used the phrasing “Google Lies” to describe what happened to her business.
Though now updated, Google Maps showed her business to be closed when they were, in fact, still in business. “We ship nationally, so the impact is substantial. You work hard as a small business, and something like this will destroy you. My mother has worked too hard for this to be happening,” Nilsson said. She mentioned that her sales were down by 50 percent while the error was posted online.
Her sign also asked the public to help keep their business alive by posting a note that they are open on sites such as Google, Twitter, Yelp, and any other social media sites.
History behind the deli
Erickson’s Delicatessen — located at 5250 N. Clark St. in Chicago — was founded in 1925 by the Erickson family, who ran it for 50 years before selling it in 1978. The family sold it to Ann-Mari Nilsson, their employee of 35 years. Since buying the store, Ann-Mari and her daughter Ann have kept the Scandinavian deli around for 34 years. The deli is her life and she is determined to keep it open.
The longstanding delicatessen and fish market is known for their quality Scandinavian delicacies imported from Sweden. They carry favorites such as herring, ligonberries, Havarti cheese, Swedish meatballs and sausage, Knäckebröd crisp bread, and everything one would need for a Smörgåsbord. These items are hard to come by, and along with the great customer service, they have been the key to keeping Erickson’s Delicatessen alive for so long. They’re not only a local specialty store, but one that serves customers across the nation, so for this type of business, an incorrect listing is devastating.
Google has a history of ‘closing’ open businesses
Many businesses have had the unfortunate situation of Google Maps listing them as closed, and the forums tell the story from angry business owners. The main problem seems to be that Google uses crowdsourcing to stay current, and by letting users edit business profiles, it creates inaccurate business closings. Sometimes, the owners don’t even realize their listing is inaccurate until it’s too late.
Has your business encountered this problem? Tell your story in the comments below.
