Five New Restaurants Coming to Town Center

[I-10east]

It's interesting that many (no offense to anyone) are Debbie Downer with national chain restaurants, but love their national chained department stores, and other retail.

[Adam White]

Jacksonville loves its chains.

Everybody loves chains. That's why they're so successful! It's great that more companies are wanting to expand into Jacksonville. Yes, I like small restaurants, too. But there's no reason why we can't have both.

[Wacca Pilatka]

^ Cheddar's is adequate, but nothing special.  They've been in my market in southeast Virginia for a number of years ("Scratch Kitchen" was just added to the name recently; I think it used to be "Bistro").  Think a little bit higher-quality version of Applebee's with a slightly more creative menu and you'll get the picture. 

[Adam White]

Also, the name "Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen" just sounds gross.

Yeah, true. Who came up with that?

[Adam White]

Think a little bit higher-quality version of Applebee's...

My last dump was higher quality than Applebee's.

[TimmyB]

It's kind of interesting reading the comments here, as an outsider looking in.  When MJ did a piece last month about some great local eateries, many of those "local" places were ripped a new one as not being worthy of a five-minute drive, but now (apparently) we need more of these and less of the chains!  There is indeed room for both, but they both serve a quite-different clientele.  As for me, I love chains, if they are done correctly.  The "chain" part ensures that you will have the same quality you expect, no matter what town you are in.  I also love locals, and already have a favorite or two in JAX.  I am looking forward to adding to that list.

[Sentient]

I still think SJTC is reaching food saturation levels and I am thinking that over 50% of these new offerings will be gone in 3 years.

Half in just three years? No way in the world.

There has already been significant failures at SJTC.  Now that is not a chain or even a SJTC issue.  Jax does not have the corporate environment (expense account dining) or the disposable income to support everything going on.  Shake will come to Brooklyn/R/A as well.  Jax is a Friday Saturday night crowd.  No one is doing 2 turns on Tuesday.

[spuwho]

Also, the name "Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen" just sounds gross.

Yeah, true. Who came up with that?

Ted Nugent.

Used to be called "Cat Scratch Steamer"

[southsider1015]

So typical of the comments here, especially about the SJTC.

Stay classy, MJ.

[I-10east]

There has already been significant failures at SJTC.  Now that is not a chain or even a SJTC issue.  Jax does not have the corporate environment (expense account dining) or the disposable income to support everything going on.  Shake will come to Brooklyn/R/A as well.  Jax is a Friday Saturday night crowd.  No one is doing 2 turns on Tuesday.

What 'significant failures' at the SJTC besides urban opinions (like the beaten to death stories of the parking)? Because it's damn sure not anything financially related. If those five new restaurants were located DT no one would complain, but people are only salty because they are in a suburban location.

All of the complains of 'over-saturation', Jax is a growing city, and many of these restaurants are new to Jax; I see no over saturation problems at the SJTC in the foreseeable future. For every wine & cheese upscale baller that's too good to eat chain, there will be like fifty people to readily replace you. I'll be waiting to hear your list of 'significant failures' at the SJTC LOL. 

[I-10east]

FWIW, and I'm a going off course, but the the supposedly 41 year old supposed 'to be extinct only because it's an indoor mall' Orange Park Mall is doing extremely well. I went there on Saturday (I'm not that far away) and it was packed full of shoppers; I saw no empty stores/restaurants (besides Sakura which is getting renovated). That place is bustling.

Bottomline, if people feel safe within an adequate mall, it more than likely will succeed; The moment when safety is questioned, then you will have a Regency-esque situation; I know that many think the concerns are more spectacular skylights, fountains, and what keeping up with the Joneses malls that are nearby, but safety (or fighting bad perceptions of an unsafe place) is first and foremost IMO.

[thelakelander]

Orange Park Mall should be fine until an adaquate competitor enters its market. As of now, there are none.

[Danielle]

This sounds really nice! But I don't think I could give Cheddars my business. Last Christmas they closed restaurants, and didn't even notify their employees. AT CHRISTMAS!  The staff all just showed up to work one day, and were told the same way customers were, with a note on the locked front door. No severance, notice or have a nice day. Their corporate statement didn't even seem regretful! http://www.foxnews.com/.../cheddars-restaurant-abruptly

[Adam White]

Also, the name "Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen" just sounds gross.

Yeah, true. Who came up with that?

Ted Nugent.

Used to be called "Cat Scratch Steamer"

[ben says]

This sounds really nice! But I don't think I could give Cheddars my business. Last Christmas they closed restaurants, and didn't even notify their employees. AT CHRISTMAS!  The staff all just showed up to work one day, and were told the same way customers were, with a note on the locked front door. No severance, notice or have a nice day. Their corporate statement didn't even seem regretful! http://www.foxnews.com/.../cheddars-restaurant-abruptly

That's terrible and all, but what could be worse than the name itself: Cheddars? What's next...let's go eat at Provolone? I hear that Asiago is great?