Bento Cafe coming to Riverside theory...

[friedturkey]

Mochi opened recently in 5pts under the 1661 building across from Starbucks and Publix.  Mochi and Bento are owned by the same people.  At the Mochi Town Center, Gainesville, and Orlando locations there is a Bento located next door.  On a recent walk through 5pts I noticed a going out of business sign posted on the clothing store "Dori", which is located under 1661, adjacent to the new Mochi....

Any thoughts?

[copperfiend]

Bento is pretty solid. I would welcome it.

[RiversideLoki]

Just looked at the menu, with prices like that they're gonna price themselves right out of the neighborhood. Do they understand that their competition is at least 1 to 2 dollars cheaper per item?

[peestandingup]

Just looked at the menu, with prices like that they're gonna price themselves right out of the neighborhood. Do they understand that their competition is at least 1 to 2 dollars cheaper per item?

Yeah, it looks a little high end for the area. Plus, Mochi is gonna have a hard enough time staying in with 2 other froyo places just up the street.

There's a lot of turnover in 5 Points too. Its kind of a weird & shaky area business-wise.

[mtraininjax]

I'd support Bento in 5 points. It is a bit of a drive to Town Center every time I crave a bowl.

[Tacachale]

^Yeah, I'm down with Bento, it would be a good addition to this side of town.

[ben says]

Just looked at the menu, with prices like that they're gonna price themselves right out of the neighborhood. Do they understand that their competition is at least 1 to 2 dollars cheaper per item?

Yeah, it looks a little high end for the area. Plus, Mochi is gonna have a hard enough time staying in with 2 other froyo places just up the street.

There's a lot of turnover in 5 Points too. Its kind of a weird & shaky area business-wise.

The amount of fro-yo places drives me nuts, especially when we need variety, not a fro-yo renaissance. I enjoy Tasti-D-Lite (or however you spell it) because it reminds me of Manhattan, but the rest can go IMO.

[Captain Zissou]

Just looked at the menu, with prices like that they're gonna price themselves right out of the neighborhood. Do they understand that their competition is at least 1 to 2 dollars cheaper per item?

I have never gone to Bento for the sushi.  When the first one opened in Gainesville, you could get a spicy tuna sashimi bowl for $6.  That's unheard of anywhere else.  The only comparable thing I've seen to that cost $20 at Koja Sushi downtown.  Most people I know go there for the bowls or the bento boxes.  Those are reasonably priced and will fill you up. 

As to whether or not it will open, I don't know.  It depends on the size of the space in 1661, whether they like the traffic and demographics, and whether they deem there to be already too much competition in the area.  I would love to be able to pick up some bulgogi to go on my way home from work, but there are other places I'd like to see open in the neighborhood first.  However, given that a Mochi just opened within 2 blocks of 3 other froyo places, who knows.

How do you know that they have the same ownership group??  What is the name of that ownership group??

[Captain Zissou]

BTW- When you do a google maps search for Bento in Jax, it says there is one in the AT&T building downtown.

[mtraininjax]

Google Maps is always right too! Uh Yeah!

[goldy21]

Bento is awesome.  Every store has been a smashing success.  It's hip, affordable, fast, clean, and delicious.  In other words, it's exactly the type of fast casual restaurant we could use at 1661.

[KenFSU]

Love The Bento.

Would be a great addition.

And yes, the boxes and bowls are pretty affordable, especially for the quality.

[spuwho]

There are signs up that Bento is going to open next to Mellow Mushroom at Tinseltown.

[ProjectMaximus]

Really? That's odd...so close together. Probably less than two miles apart.