Panera on Main Street?

[thelakelander]

You can't have vibrancy with only two places spread out over a square mile.  Personally, I prefer and support local, but I would also like to see an abundance of places open up.  I think Jax's urban market is strong enough to support more than two places.  Plus, the more options you have creates a critical mass, which creates a district, which creates more profitability for all.

[thelakelander]

^Good comparison with the Riverside example.

I would think more people visiting the neighborhood would help pull more potential customers their way.  While one may go to visit a new spot on the first try, they are exposed to what's already there and may be willing to come back on another visit to try another spot.

[thekillingwax]

Yeah and everyone likes different stuff. Panera doesn't serve breakfast like Uptown does, you can only get muffins and sandwiches there and I'd imagine Panera would pull in folks from downtown for lunch, once people see Uptown and the crowds there, they'll be curious as to their food as well.

Although, the more I think about it- being able to walk up the street and get their french onion soup in a bread bowl? That's just dangerous.

[cindi]

Why would you want a national chain to come into your area and hurt 2 locally owned and operated breakfast/lunch spots?

oddly enough some people may actually like panera and would like a choice.

[Springfield Girl]

Obviously this would be the case. This whole area is underserved. I have a friend who always says, "one lawyer in town goes broke, two and they both make a little money but get several and they all get rich" I think this is pretty true with all businesses.

If Panera is looking at Main, their eyes are looking at a much larger market than Springfield.  They would be looking to serve a large market on this side of the river from the Trout River to DT.  Hopefully, things will work out for a change.

[sheclown]

Besides it would be a greater pull for the downtown lunch crowd.

[fsujax]

Who cares if it is a chain. Bring it to Main St. Great idea Fsujax! I remember bringing this up to Stephen and telling him to make some phone calls. Looks like it might pay off.

[Dog Walker]

Clustered restaurants don't really compete with one another.  Five Points is called the "stomach of Riverside".  There have to be a dozen or so restaurants within a couple of blocks.  "Let's go to Five Points for lunch."  Then they go to a restaurant that they didn't go to yesterday.  The cluster becomes a destination, benefiting all the restaurants there.

[Springfielder]

I haven't a problem or concern with it being a chain, and don't really foresee that being a problem for Main street either. I happen to feel it would be a nice addition to the other shops (Three Layers, Uptown, Waffas, etc) as it's a different venue. They're all unique in their own way, which is why they're doing well. It would be a positive to have more options for our neighborhood.

[JeffreyS]

I hope they do put one on Main in addition to the one they are sure to put in San Marco.

[reednavy]

I don't see the reasoning people complain about it being a chain. Panera is a quality restaurant and has a loyal following, and quite a few of those are likely to follow it to a possible location in Springfield. They're also descent developments and will probably bring in other businesses as Springfield evolves. Chains are a fact of life, so be thankful Panera is even giving Springfield a glance.

[JeffreyS]

You want that five points vibe with locals like Moss fire, Al's Pizza, Pizza Palace ect. Mixing with Five Guys, Eisenstein's bagels,  Wendy's ect.

[JeffreyS]

I went to that Subway yesterday because Moss Fire was too busy.

[ChriswUfGator]

I dont think anyone really is.

The comment came from the unhatched 'retail development coordinator' of Springfield, Zoo, whose opinion is famously negative and usually wrong.

Most people would like a Panera.  There isnt any real debate about it.

Im the most anti corporate person there is, but a corporate anchor is a good thing.

In five points the tipping point was, believe it or not, Subway sandwiches.

+1

I summarized zoo/SPAR's position months ago back in the thrift store thread, when I called him out saying: "For the good of Springfield, we should shut down everything until such time as it either becomes a Neiman Marcus or the buildings collapse in on themselves".

Honestly, WTF? We don't want 'mom & pops', but we don't want 'chains' either, we don't want 'this', but we also don't want 'that'. "We don't want"..."we don't want"..."we don't want." That's the new Springfield mantra. Then Strider asked people "Well, what DO you want then?" and I don't think there was really a coherent answer. And it's not just zoo, either, I'm not trying to pick on anyone in particular. It's this whole group over there who are just negative all the time about everything.

I will re-post the same picture I posted then too. Doesn't it just look ridiculous when people make a big deal of withholding something that nobody was chasing after in the first place:


People should be happy there's someone willing to take a chance over there, not just armchair quarterbacking and complaining about how it could always be better. Everything could always be better. I could win lotto for $100 million, that sure as $h!t would make things better. But then I'd have to start b!tching cause' it wasn't $200 million, right? At what point do you start being happy with what you have?

[Dan B]

Yeah, we are a real bunch of assholes Chris. You nailed it.

…I hope the corporate guys and local franchisee are open to the idea

Definitely…

It'd be great for me…

I would love to see Panera open in Springfield though.

While I would welcome a Panera, I think the odds are stacked against it.

oddly enough some people may actually like panera and would like a choice.

Who cares if it is a chain. Bring it to Main St.

I happen to feel it would be a nice addition to the other shops

I hope they do put one on Main in addition to the one they are sure to put in San Marco.

The only comment about it being a chain from Zoo was in the form of a question. She clearly supports it

…I hope the corporate guys and local franchisee are open to the idea….
… Anyone worried about it being a chain?

The only true negative comment about it was from this poster, who may or may not even be a resident!

Why would you want a national chain to come into your area and hurt 2 locally owned and operated breakfast/lunch spots?