O.K. Seriously....why isn't there a taco bell downtown?

[Houseboat Mike]

O.K. Seriously....why isn't there a Taco Bell downtown? Or for that matter, ANY chain fast food restaurant downtown in the core? I know there is a MC D's up around State Street, but seriously- why isn't there a Burger King, Taco Bell, anything...dear God anything but sandwich shops and the 5 restaurants at the landing to choose from?

Before you reply yes- I understand the free market and all of that, but I genuinely find it strange there are no franchise food stores (the pizza at 7-11 does not count, and yes, OK Hooters is technically a franchise) in the core around buildings that house 10K+ workers a day. Hell, probably closer to 20K+ a day. And more coming when Citizens moves into EverBank Center.

What am I missing?

[jaxjaguar]

There is a BK downtown... it's closer to the core than McDonalds. There's also; Burrito Gallery, Pita Pit, Chomp Chomp Desert Rider and yes... even a Chick-Fil-A on the south bank on Prudential Drive.

Look around a little. Many of the locally owned places are 100x's better than your average fast food place and cheaper.

[benfranklinbof]

Why would you want fast food?!? Fast food is crap food lol go to chomp chomp!

[Houseboat Mike]

There is a BK downtown... it's closer to the core than McDonalds. There's also; Burrito Gallery, Pita Pit, Chomp Chomp Desert Rider and yes... even a Chick-Fil-A on the south bank on Prudential Drive.

Look around a little. Many of the locally owned places are 100x's better than your average fast food place and cheaper.

You get no disagreement from me about supporting local but cheaper it isn't. I can go to a fast food restaurant and get a whole meal- drink included and within 4 minutes get my food for 5 bucks. I have yet to find a local place that can do that.

On the flip side, like I said earlier, I understand free market principals. Did you know there used to be a Burger King in the Greyhound bus station? Up until the 90's it was there.

I just really...really want a Mexican Pizza every now and then for lunch, without having to get my car and drive to Emerson.

[Houseboat Mike]

Why would you want fast food?!? Fast food is crap food lol go to chomp chomp!

For the same reason I cant go to Chicago Pizza every day..I need options. 

BTW I hear Chomp Chomp is very good. Do they serve Mexican Pizza? 

[spuwho]

Why would you want fast food?!? Fast food is crap food lol go to chomp chomp!

For the same reason I cant go to Chicago Pizza every day..I need options. 

BTW I hear Chomp Chomp is very good. Do they serve Mexican Pizza? 

IMHO. There are no Chicago Style pizza choices in Jacksonville.

It is odd I have to drive to Orlando (Giordanos) to get proper deep dish pizza.  Lou Malnati's will ship to me, but if anyone knows a place in greater Jax where I can get real deep dish pizza, please share.

Uno's has been franchised into mass production pizza shadows of their originals.  Before long they will be in the frozen food section at Publix next to Tombstones.

Surely greater Jacksonville is worthy of a quality Chicago based deep dish pizza establishment?

[mtraininjax]

The cafe in the Bus Depot used to be a Burger King, back in the day.

There used to be a Krystal's under the Fuller Warren Bridge

There used to be more people downtown to support fast food chains, they left to go to the suburbs.

[benfranklinbof]

Carmines located on king st have deep dish/Chicago style pizza's. There ten inch pies and there about 4 inches deep. I just got one the other day.

[benfranklinbof]

Their

[jaxjaguar]

You get no disagreement from me about supporting local but cheaper it isn't. I can go to a fast food restaurant and get a whole meal- drink included and within 4 minutes get my food for 5 bucks. I have yet to find a local place that can do that.

Give Chomp Chomp a chance if you haven't tried it yet. Everything on the menu is $7.50 and comes with house made chips or a salad. You'll get much more food and the quality alone will justify the extra $2.50.

Check out some of the pics from their yelp page. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/chomp-chomp-jacksonville#kcO00L0wrXpQfICENvBEXA

[mtraininjax]

Carmines located on king st have deep dish/Chicago style pizza's. There ten inch pies and there about 4 inches deep. I just got one the other day.

Warning - Thread hijacking.....Is J-Bill man available for some serious work here?

[TheCat]

I don't think Downtown has much in the way of options, either.

BUT...

If you are able to take a drive down main street through Springfield, you'll find a bunch of hole in the wall places and a few franchise spots.

Two of my favorites:

Island Tropics Caribbean - they usually serve 3 different size meals. The medium and large sizes include enough food to feed a family of 6,000.



http://www.yelp.com/biz/island-tropics-restaurant-jacksonville


Waffa and Mike



http://www.yelp.com/biz/wafaa-n-mike-cafe-jacksonville-2

[David]

I get what Houseboat Mike is saying. I worked downtown for a few years and currently over in Riverside for the past 2. Sometimes you just want some Taco Bell, Chik-Fil-A/ Burger King. It would be nice for the downtown workers if there was more fast food options nearby you could walk to. Some days you have an hour and can enjoy the local establishments for lunch, some days you just need to get in and out and get your fix. I eat Jimmy Johns more often then I'd like because of that reason.

Even though i'm right off Riverside ave I still have to use my car if i want to go to more than Fresh Market or Corner Bakery, so I usually shoot over to Emerson  (a 5 minute drive) for my Taco Bell fix. Working downtown is different though, usually your car's up in a garage or you lose your spot if you move so it's more of a pain to leave the area.

[jcjohnpaint]

Really got to try Waffa and Mike. 
Chomp Chomp is excellent, but I really wish they would open a Taco Lou in-town somewhere. 

Although, I do think we are all guilty of making a drunk late night visit to Taco Bell at times

[jaxlore]

Just an FYI you can call your order into Burrito Gallery and get in and out of there quick.