I'm surprised nobody pointed this out, but the Wendy's on Chestnut was evicted last Thursday. No matter how big or small the tenant--no rent, no possession.
I just saw that today as I walked by on my way to Hooter's... which was so crowded that we decided to pass on eating there.
- 10K
That place was a dump anyway - I'm sure they won't have any trouble luring a new tenant to the space, so this could be good for downtown overall. The National City branch at Broadway and Pine appears to be receiving a facelift, and with the newer Bread Co., Lion's Choice, Jimmy John's and the new Hooters, the retail mix in the Kiener Garages is as good as it's ever been.
I wouldn't be opposed to another fast food place - a Taco Bell or Jack in the Crack would do.
But what DT really needs is a STEAK'N'SHAKE.
But what DT really needs is a STEAK'N'SHAKE.
- 622
don't know if i've ever seen a Steak and Shake that wasn't a stand alone. not 100% sure though.
ChrisInDownTown wrote:don't know if i've ever seen a Steak and Shake that wasn't a stand alone. not 100% sure though.
There's one in downtown Indianapolis....... well, at least it was there a few years ago. I assume it's still there.
I love how the closing of a viable fast food restaurant is spun as a positive development 
. It may have been a "dump" in that it wasn't a typical suburban setting and was completely mobbed during lunch every day, but they were always extremely fast when turning over the crowds.
. It may have been a "dump" in that it wasn't a typical suburban setting and was completely mobbed during lunch every day, but they were always extremely fast when turning over the crowds.- 8,923
put in a chipolte or moe's or even a Qdoba... What ya guys think?
If I remember correctly, that Wendys kept TERRIBLE hours. A weekend Cardinal game would be on and they were still closed.
bpe235 wrote:put in a chipolte or moe's or even a Qdoba... What ya guys think?
I'd be all for that...I like all 3!
^How 'bout a La Bamba? I am sure downtown office workers and residents could find a use for a "Burrito as big as your head" TM
stlmike wrote:If I remember correctly, that Wendys kept TERRIBLE hours. A weekend Cardinal game would be on and they were still closed.
sorta like espresso mod, curry, thai express, 10th St Italian, edible difference, swifty's, Mosaic/Kitchen K (on Sun), Tanner B's, and many, many others? Let's face it, downtown is not yet exactly a 24/7 destination, sorry to say. Wendy's was by no means alone if they had 'terrible' hours. They were alone, if I'm not mistaken, in being just about the only familiar fast food restaurant downtown for many visitors.
what kind of "visitors" are we talking about. Who cares about the loss of a poorly run fast food place? Ok, I do like Wendy's dont get me wrong, but Tenant's that don't pay rent aren't so popular with Landlord's. I remember when McDonald's closed downtown; everyone's monocle fell out. WHo really cares about the loss of fast food. The trend is the "upscale" fast food anyway. San Sai, Panera/stlbc, Zuzu's, etc.
I'm talking about visitors, often with kids, that need a quick bite to eat between the sites, and are looking for someplace familiar and inexpensive. Sushi or $12 Mexican might not be everyone's idea of a quick, cheap lunch.
Being the "trend" or not, every great city I've ever been to has fast food as one of many components in its core.
Also, what evidence do you have that Wendy's was poorly run? I went there occasionally from 1998 until about last year. It was always fast, moderately friendly, and the food turned over so fast that it was fresh. A deadbeat owner does not automatically translate to bad management and staff.
Being the "trend" or not, every great city I've ever been to has fast food as one of many components in its core.
Also, what evidence do you have that Wendy's was poorly run? I went there occasionally from 1998 until about last year. It was always fast, moderately friendly, and the food turned over so fast that it was fresh. A deadbeat owner does not automatically translate to bad management and staff.
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I agree with Bprop on this. They did turnover crowds pretty quickly (although a in the last couple months there were times they only had one side open during lunch, a sign?), and I always found the staff to be pleasant. The place was generally clean, but not glowingly clean, but any store that is 20 years old or more is going to show its age.
People laugh at me, but I would really like to see a brand new McDonalds there. A cheap fast food burger has its place and they have good salads. If you were bringing a group of kids on field trip downtown, where would you take them to eat?
Steak and Shake - they had an "in-line" restaurant in a strip mall at St. Charles Rock Rd. and I-270, I think it may now be closed. Steak and Shake is headquartered in Indianapolis, so that may explain their unique presence in Downtown Indy. But it would be a welcome presence here.
People laugh at me, but I would really like to see a brand new McDonalds there. A cheap fast food burger has its place and they have good salads. If you were bringing a group of kids on field trip downtown, where would you take them to eat?
Steak and Shake - they had an "in-line" restaurant in a strip mall at St. Charles Rock Rd. and I-270, I think it may now be closed. Steak and Shake is headquartered in Indianapolis, so that may explain their unique presence in Downtown Indy. But it would be a welcome presence here.
- 10K
bprop wrote:I love how the closing of a viable fast food restaurant is spun as a positive development
The restaurant's speed was pretty much the only thing it had going for it. Cleanliness, quality of food, friendliness, etc. were another story. I've found the Wendy's on Lindell, for example, to be much better.
I have no problem with having fast food restaurants downtown as long as they're well-managed.
I doubt I'd ever eat there or anything, and we can talk all we want about how we would prefer to live without them, but isn't kind of sad that McDonalds doesn't seem to be interested in downtown? I mean they are known for being interested in opening virtually anywhere.
- 10K
stlmike wrote:I doubt I'd ever eat there or anything, and we can talk all we want about how we would prefer to live without them, but isn't kind of sad that McDonalds doesn't seem to be interested in downtown? I mean they are known for being interested in opening virtually anywhere.
That's what I don't get - downtown has a daytime population of nearly 100k, not to mention a growing residential base and decent convention/tourism business, and Mickey D's doesn't want a piece of the action? Confusing...
Downtown St. Louis is still not a mature downtown. It is literally a work in progress. It is not a surprise to me that places like Wendy's and McDonald's, Walgreens etc. are getting (have gotten) the shuffle now. Nor is it a surprise that places like Hooters, Shannon's etc. have been jockeying for better locations as downtown matures.
I think it's going to be next to impossible for such entities like McDonalds and Wendy's to avoid downtown in time. Also, keep in mind that the decision to put a Mickey D's downtown (central) is made by local operations - not necessarily corporate.
I think it's going to be next to impossible for such entities like McDonalds and Wendy's to avoid downtown in time. Also, keep in mind that the decision to put a Mickey D's downtown (central) is made by local operations - not necessarily corporate.
- 687
They also probably still have in the back of their minds the fast food restaurants that were downtown that failed. It's a distant memory to most of us but to an owner/operator it wouldn't be that long ago that there was a McDonalds and Taco Bell downtown that failed. We can blame it on bad management or cleanliness or whatever but on paper it just shows it wasn't a profitable location.
- 10K
I can't speak for the Taco Bell, but both the McDonalds were horribly run. I would guess that the Olive St. location's closing probably had more to do with the construction of the garage next to the Laclede Gas Building than anything else. The St. Louis Centre location was hurt by the fact that it was in a dying mall.
- 687
I wasn't even referring to the StL Center location. But I agree, they all seemed to be poorly run. But my guess is if you wanted to open a new McD or Taco Bell location downtown the corporate office (yes they are individually owned but the corp office still has to approve the location) or even the lender would see that it wasn't that long ago a McDonalds was there and failed. They'd look at the numbers and not much else. Famous (Macy's) losing jobs would probably not help either since they'd be more interested in the downtown workers than the residents.
However, with that being said, if comparable stores (lion's choice, jimmy johns) are generating a lot of success, then you'd be able to make a case but I know as of last year the Quizno's on Olive was the worst performing Quiznos in MO...
However, with that being said, if comparable stores (lion's choice, jimmy johns) are generating a lot of success, then you'd be able to make a case but I know as of last year the Quizno's on Olive was the worst performing Quiznos in MO...