urbanSTL

Trying to get this topic back on target: has anyone been past the downtown Wendy's and seen what's going on inside? Have they started gutting the place or does it look like they could restock and re-open under operation by Wendy's Corporate?

There's nothing better than jr bacon cheeseburger, or two. Wendy's is by far the fastest fast food there is. I enjoy Fortel's, but IMO Imo's is akin to bonging a bottle of swiss cheese whiz with some floaters of what may or may not be pepperoni, peppers, etc. Yes, I have a problem with provel.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provel

I walked by the Wendy's at lunch(didn't look inside), but there are for lease signs all over it.

Wonder if it was owned by "wenAmerica", who apparently is having financial trouble



http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... wendy's%22

shinpickle wrote:Wonder if it was owned by "wenAmerica", who apparently is having financial trouble



http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... wendy's%22

I believe it was.

ThreeOneFour wrote:I agree with Tejada about the need for a Greek/Mediterranean eatery downtown as well!

It's funny. I didn't think about it until just now but Olga's Kitchen http://www.olgaskitchen.com/about.htm (in every mall in Michigan) is regional. I just grew up thinking that they covered the country. It's Greek fast food. A trip to the mall wasn't complete w/o an Original Olga (gyro), curly fries and an orange shake.



Detroit is known for Coney Islands. One would be great in downtown STL. Both American and National Coney Island are open 24hrs a day. The place is jumping at 2-3am after the bars get out. The old ones have great atmosphere and are impeccably clean.



http://www.americanconeyisland.com/history.htm

http://www.nationalconeyisland.com/

stellar wrote:It's funny. I didn't think about it until just now but Olga's Kitchen http://www.olgaskitchen.com/about.htm (in every mall in Michigan) is regional. I just grew up thinking that they covered the country. It's Greek fast food. A trip to the mall wasn't complete w/o an Original Olga (gyro), curly fries and an orange shake.

I always liked Olga's- they've been in St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights for as long as I can remember. And I think I read here recently that Olga's is expanding to other locations in Greater St. Louis. This would be a great addition to downtown, as would one or both of the coney island joints you mentioned.



Back on-topic: Now that WenAmerica has closed most if not all of its Wendy's locations in the metro area, does that mean the Kingshighway @ Tholozan location is now closed as well? I know it was open about two weeks ago, when I last dined there.

Last time I was by the Wendy's on Kingshighway was still open. That would have been last week.

dweebe wrote:Trying to get this topic back on target: has anyone been past the downtown Wendy's and seen what's going on inside? Have they started gutting the place or does it look like they could restock and re-open under operation by Wendy's Corporate?

I double checked on my way home yesterday and there are still tables with chairs stacked on them inside. Almost looks like they just closed for the night(except for all the closed signs outside).

I can still remember when Burger Chef changed to Hardees in my home town . . . Hardees is fine, but if I stop anywhere other than Subway on a roadtrip, it's going to be a Wendy's - my experience is that it's always amazingly fast. Of course this is because everything is already cooked and thy zap it, or flame it or whatever they do.



I rarely eat fast food, but I do notice the lack of variety in the city. When my parents were last in town we went to the Arby's on Lindell and found it didn't have a drive through, whatever was next door had closed their drive through because the menu/speaker wasn't working. We finally got something at whatever the third place is there near the Lindell Marketplace. I thought it was rather funny (and another message from God that we shouldn't eat fast food), but I got to witness firsthand how some people demand fast food options. His conclusion from the episode was that big city life wasn't for him!

You obviously haven't eaten at Hardees...

Wendy's is probably the best overall fast food. Hardees definitely makes the best burgers, though. My experience is that fast food is inevitably better in small towns, than in the city. Next road trip, stop at a Hardees and enjoy the special difference.



Oh, and IMO, O'Connels is vastly better than Blueberry Hill. I'd also like to recommend Square One's burger for best of list. THeir food is great, and the burger is like a burger if you cooked it yourself.

Agree with Wendy's over Hardees (although Hardees is good, just slower) and the others... The burgers are hot and juicy which contrasts well with the cool, crisp veggies on top.... We need Wendy's back!



Dunno about O'Connel's... I saw where it was rated #1 burger in STL and decided to try it out with a friend. I mean, it was definitely good... But it came on a paper plate... I've had better. Do they have blue cheeseburgers? I love them at Blueberry Hill! Both places have a great tradition in St. Louis....

From the PD: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... enDocument



It looks like they're trying to reopen the more profitable locations . . .

Ihnen wrote:There's nothing better than jr bacon cheeseburger, or two. Wendy's is by far the fastest fast food there is. I enjoy Fortel's, but IMO Imo's is akin to bonging a bottle of swiss cheese whiz with some floaters of what may or may not be pepperoni, peppers, etc. Yes, I have a problem with provel.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provel

Wow..u hate imo's...I guess provel takes some gettin used to... I don't get pepperoni anywhere...i don't even like pepperoni..but the IMOS pepperoni is unbelievable... IMOS is by far my most fav. pizza...way better than that chicago style lasagne, i mean pizza and that floppy NY style... I just wish it wasn't so darn expensive... you have to eat an entire large just to get full, (you don't get full of all the thick crust)



I don't eat fast food, i don't think LC's counts, but i used to eat wendy's alot in college, hate the fries but the spicy chicken and (don't think they have it anymore)-- wild mountain chicken were top notch...oh and i've always loved the frosty's

Ihnen wrote:From the PD: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... enDocument



It looks like they're trying to reopen the more profitable locations . . .

I still wonder why Wendy's can't make money in St. Louis?

If you've never tried it, get Imo's bacon. OMG. Delishus.

trent wrote:If you've never tried it, get Imo's bacon. OMG. Delishus.

I'll second that. Very good, indeed.

^ It's good, but I prefer Cecil Whittaker's bacon pizza.



Back on topic, at least sort of: I look forward to the reopening of area Wendy's restaurants. My favorite fast food burger, however, is a toss-up between Hardee's and Culver's. They're quite different, of course, so what I choose depends on what I'm in the mood for at a given time. I'm not that far from the South County Culver's, but I hope they'll set up shop in the city eventually anyway.



Carl's in Brentwood makes a great burger IMHO, but the help sure can be surly at times.

Nothing like sucking up to an administrator, 314. BTW, I just prefer Cecil Whittaker's bacon. Ummmm bacon.



After going through this thread so many times, i really want to stop for a nice juicy burger after class today, but now I want a pizza. Pizza cravings are odd for me these days because i can't really eat the stuff anymore, but this may overrule my urge for a burger. Either way, hopefully the kingshighway location is still open, because i'm going to have to get a burger soon, maybe just for dinner.

I look forward to the day when I can go back to the DT Wendy's and at the conclusion of my order, hear the attendant call out, "I have a number 3 for the dining room." Love that Wendy's.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... enDocument



Apparently none of the Wendy's will re-open. Is it possible that the region will just be without? Is Wendy's on its way out elsewhere? It seems likely that someone would open a couple Wendy's in the area. I wonder what will happen with all the locations if they remain empty - are they auctioned? Sold off to whomever? . . .

^Just Great, how many adaptive reuses have their been of an old Wendy's. I think there is a dentist in one on S. Grand & Gravois.

I've noticed a lot of activity in this space over the past few weeks.



First groups of men in suits going in and checking things out. Then people hang around with tape measures.



Now there is some serious work going on inside. All the tables and chairs have been moved to the side and it looks like HVAC ventilation has been pulled down through the drop ceiling.



Not sure what it is but something is happening there.

MattonArsenal wrote:I've noticed a lot of activity in this space over the past few weeks.



First groups of men in suits going in and checking things out. Then people hang around with tape measures.



Now there is some serious work going on inside. All the tables and chairs have been moved to the side and it looks like HVAC ventilation has been pulled down through the drop ceiling.



Not sure what it is but something is happening there.

I hope something good like a Crazy Bowls & Wraps, Chipotle or Qdoba.