International Grill (Now Closed)

[ben says]

Only a matter of time before something like this happened. Probably couldn't afford to fix the pipes.

[JaxJerry]

Why is it Ben Says is always the first with a less than positive response.  Its obvious that the operator of the International Grill is a tenant and not the building's owner.  So, why would the plumbing be his/her responsibility?

[Dog Walker]

But the tenant has to remember to pay the bill.

[thekillingwax]

Just noticed when I came into work yesterday that the place has been shut down and completely emptied out. The guy that ran it seemed nice enough but nice doesn't make a good place to eat.

[TheCat]

This was bound to happen. From what I understand the owners weren't business savvy, in the least. Their last hoorah was at RAM where they showed up with precooked food and one lonesome microwave.

I walked in once and walked out before they had a chance to acknowledge my presence. I'm always a little skeptical of "Mediterranean" restaurants. I have found this genre of restaurant (along with Italian, and especially when a restaurant serves both types) has the distinct ability to over price incredibly bad food. They never got a fair try from me but I was never in the mood to feel ripped off, potentially.  I think I made the right decision.

But...I always feel very disappointed with the owners of failed small restaurants. They put so much of their money and energy into an establishment only to serve food that is mediocre at best.

[ben says]

^^ Agree with both sentiments...bound to happen...

[riverside_mail]

Yesterday, I noticed that 7 Eleven is moving into the former  International Grill location. Build out has already started.

[PeeJayEss]

Yesterday, I noticed that 7 Eleven is moving into the former  International Grill location. Build out has already started.

Really? That is an interesting location. I will have to check it out at lunch. Will be good to have some all-day activity going on there. I will take some pics if I remember and there is anything to see.

[thelakelander]

With the hospital across the street, that's probably a pretty good 24/7 spot for them.  I wonder how much the mobility fee issue impacted this decision.  My wild market-based supply and demand guess is it didn't.  So we get the same amount of jobs created without subsidizing their existence. Sounds good to me.

[ben says]

Great spot!!! Couldn't be happier.

[funwithteeth]

Is the 7 Eleven at the old Pizza Palace still happening?

[RiversideLoki]

So wait, does this mean that they aren't going to build out the old Pizza Palace as a 7/11?

[JeffreyS]

I would think that they are far enough apart to both be viable.

[ben says]

I would think that they are far enough apart to both be viable.

I agree. They're probably about the same distance apart as the two downtown. If downtown's can survive comfortably, Riverside's definitely can.

What's up with the Pizza Palace location? I mean...7-11 is usually pretty quick with build outs.

[thelakelander]

These are essentially corner stores or small neighborhood markets.  They are adding 80 stores in our area by 2015.  I think when it's all said and done, we'll see several locations within a few blocks of each other.  Heck, if you own a commercial site in the urban core with good visibility, give these guys a call.  They generated $77 billion in worldwide sales last year and are aggressively expanding everywhere...

After shattering both its international and domestic store growth records last year, 7-Eleven, Inc. is in line to have an even bigger year in 2012. The world’s largest retailer by units added more than 4,600 stores worldwide in 2011 and plans to continue the company’s accelerated growth.

Some 600 additional stores were built, acquired or transitioned from another business to the 7-Eleven® brand in the United States and Canada alone during 2011. This year, 7-Eleven’s goal is to exceed that number by adding at least 630 new stores to its U.S. and Canada roster by year end.

Since 2003, 7-Eleven has almost doubled its global store count, from 25,000 to more than 46,000. Today, a new 7-Eleven store opens somewhere in the world approximately every two hours.

http://corp.7-eleven.com/Newsroom/2012NewsReleases/7ElevenPlanstoBreakStoreGrowthRecords/tabid/521/Default.aspx