I don't think I've ever seen a downtown area (in the world) that didn't have a McDonalds. I think there should be one IN the Landing or maybe Hemming Plaza area. Also a Dunkin Donuts would be nice.
While I agree with you to a certain extent, I'd be perfectly content having every last restaurant downtown being a 'mom and pop' or locally owned business. That's what makes downtown Charleston, New Orleans (minus the occasional Popeyes), Savannah, etc so interesting.
I enjoy those, but in our downtown, they are all closed on nights and weekends.
Not too sure having McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts around would change that. I believe these places hours are a victim of their circumstances (being in downtown Jax).
For what it's worth, I don't think there's a McDonald's in DT Tampa, Orlando or St. Pete either.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 29, 2011, 01:57:45 PM
For what it's worth, I don't think there's a McDonald's in DT Tampa, Orlando or St. Pete either.
Right...I don't think an absence of these multinational chains is indicative of much.
Quote from: nbenton on October 29, 2011, 11:23:45 AM
I don't think I've ever seen a downtown area (in the world) that didn't have a McDonalds. I think there should be one IN the Landing or maybe Hemming Plaza area. Also a Dunkin Donuts would be nice.
Well nbenton, if your ever in Colombia you can find McDonalds in Medellin right up the hill from the Aquacatala Metro station (NOTE TO SELF: Medellin is in the 21st century...where's Jax?), for Dunkin its down the track in Envigado. Jacksonville
had a Krystal's downtown for many years which I miss terribly. We also had a really cool little chain which was omnipresent downtown called Stand-N-Snack. Stand-N-Snack made some all American sandwiches, especially their chicken, or tuna salad.
OCKLAWAHA
The Mc Donalds on 8th & Davis isn't terribly far from DT. Does anyone know when the new Gateway Mc Donalds on Norwood & 44th is gonna open?
Wendy's was downtown too. It stayed pretty crowed. I don't really remember what time they closed.
We got burger king!:)
http://g.co/maps/bue64
Used to be a dunkin donuts on laura street
McDonald's? Wendy's? Yeah, we managed to lose them true enough, but I submit to all of you that losing Krystal's was singularly a crime punishable by sentence to a death camp.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: ben says on October 29, 2011, 11:34:49 AM
While I agree with you to a certain extent, I'd be perfectly content having every last restaurant downtown being a 'mom and pop' or locally owned business. That's what makes downtown Charleston, New Orleans (minus the occasional Popeyes), Savannah, etc so interesting.
Yeah, they should get an exception since they were the birthplace for popeyes.
And maybe it's fitting that the only fast food option is BK since Jacksonville was home to the first Burger King restaurant. ;D
I remember Burger King downtown (by Greyhound I think). Where were the Krystal and Wendy's located and what time frame was this? I don't recall those two.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on October 30, 2011, 04:07:39 PM
Quote from: ben says on October 29, 2011, 11:34:49 AM
While I agree with you to a certain extent, I'd be perfectly content having every last restaurant downtown being a 'mom and pop' or locally owned business. That's what makes downtown Charleston, New Orleans (minus the occasional Popeyes), Savannah, etc so interesting.
Yeah, they should get an exception since they were the birthplace for popeyes.
And maybe it's fitting that the only fast food option is BK since Jacksonville was home to the first Burger King restaurant. ;D
Exactly.
How cool with it be if there were NO fast food options downtown. Just dozens upon dozens of locally owned, unique restaurants. Then maybe we could name is some cool "______ District"--instead of Downtown Jax--and people would flock.
Also.
One thing about Jax which I love is the food scene. Doesn't get enough credit. I'll really miss these restaurants when I leave.
If McDonald's ever were to open downtown, I imagine they would have to go on Union or State Street (like Burger King) so they can also get drive-thru traffic and Springfield residents. I think MetroJacksonville did an article a year or two ago suggesting Union and State Streets as a transitional retail area. I think they were right on the mark. In my opinion, that will be the area that sees the most retail growth as it straddles two areas in bad need of retail.
I don't think we will see a pedestrian in-line McDonald's any time soon. Not to say that it wouldn't be nice to see. I like me some fries and Big Macs. There just aren't enough daytime workers or residents to support a downtown style McDonald's.
I clearly remember the Wendy's. It had a drive-thru and was awesome!!!
Quote from: DavidWilliams on October 30, 2011, 05:12:25 PM
I remember Burger King downtown (by Greyhound I think). Where were the Krystal and Wendy's located and what time frame was this? I don't recall those two.
Krystal was on Forsythe and Ocean, near Casa Dora. I think the building most recently was occupied by a sandwich shop. If I recall correctly, Wendy's was over behind the new Library?
Quote from: ben says on October 30, 2011, 05:16:18 PM
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on October 30, 2011, 04:07:39 PM
Quote from: ben says on October 29, 2011, 11:34:49 AM
While I agree with you to a certain extent, I'd be perfectly content having every last restaurant downtown being a 'mom and pop' or locally owned business. That's what makes downtown Charleston, New Orleans (minus the occasional Popeyes), Savannah, etc so interesting.
Yeah, they should get an exception since they were the birthplace for popeyes.
And maybe it's fitting that the only fast food option is BK since Jacksonville was home to the first Burger King restaurant. ;D
Exactly.
How cool with it be if there were NO fast food options downtown. Just dozens upon dozens of locally owned, unique restaurants. Then maybe we could name is some cool "______ District"--instead of Downtown Jax--and people would flock.
I'm with you. Maybe a "Mo-Po" district? Or perhaps "Foodie" district? Just one rule: No CHAINS! (unless they are homegrown).
If nowhere else, these fastfood chains should at least occupy the Landing foodcourt. I'm sure they can best afford Sprawlman's high rent. The foodcourt is getting awfully empty!
^^^Good point. If the Landing don't have hardly have any Natl' chains now, why in the hell would a chain wanna move to a separate location in DT Jax.
Quote from: DavidWilliams on October 30, 2011, 05:12:25 PM
I remember Burger King downtown (by Greyhound I think). Where were the Krystal and Wendy's located and what time frame was this? I don't recall those two.
The 80s and 90s. Burger King was full of the gimmie a dollar guys so I never went there after the first time.
Quote from: Overstreet on November 01, 2011, 06:57:16 AM
Quote from: DavidWilliams on October 30, 2011, 05:12:25 PM
I remember Burger King downtown (by Greyhound I think). Where were the Krystal and Wendy's located and what time frame was this? I don't recall those two.
The 80s and 90s. Burger King was full of the gimmie a dollar guys so I never went there after the first time.
Yep and that's why they are a problem downtown.
^^^Yeah, that's a problem, but IMO it's more to it than just that. What about the Landing's foodcourt? There aren't any 'gimme a dollar' guys there, but yet during non-event days, the foodcourt resembles a ghost town.
Quote from: ben says on October 30, 2011, 05:16:18 PM
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on October 30, 2011, 04:07:39 PM
Quote from: ben says on October 29, 2011, 11:34:49 AM
While I agree with you to a certain extent, I'd be perfectly content having every last restaurant downtown being a 'mom and pop' or locally owned business. That's what makes downtown Charleston, New Orleans (minus the occasional Popeyes), Savannah, etc so interesting.
Yeah, they should get an exception since they were the birthplace for popeyes.
And maybe it's fitting that the only fast food option is BK since Jacksonville was home to the first Burger King restaurant. ;D
Exactly.
How cool with it be if there were NO fast food options downtown. Just dozens upon dozens of locally owned, unique restaurants. Then maybe we could name is some cool "______ District"--instead of Downtown Jax--and people would flock.
Well fast food restaurants serve an important role in an office environment - FAST FOOD! The fact that there aren't many fast food options like McDonalds may be indicative of the fact that there aren't many office workers. I work in a more suburban office environment (albeit in a 3 tower development, mine being about 500 ft high), and yet in our complex we have Chik-Fil-A, Subway, and a NY deli amongst a Bricktops, a $100 sushi place called MF Buckhead, Flying Biscuit, Cantina, and other places. This excludes the large mix of fast food and table service restaurants surrounding my building.
Every urban environment has fast food restaurants, but they are only urban format if there is no drive through. If downtown were bustling, you can bet that every fast food restaurant would be paying top dollar to get a good ground level space with visibility, and you can bet there would be multiple Starbucks and other coffee places to compete.
There is a Burger King between State and Union.
Quote from: I-10east on November 01, 2011, 08:07:14 AM
^^^Yeah, that's a problem, but IMO it's more to it than just that. What about the Landing's foodcourt? There aren't any 'gimme a dollar' guys there, but yet during non-event days, the foodcourt resembles a ghost town.
You're right, there are plenty of other issues as well.
That said I have had dinner numerous times at Chew and Burrito Gallery and watched the homeless stand outside and essentially harass customers coming in and out of the restuarant. BG generally runs them off relatively quick though. The guy at Chew was during eat up downtown, that certainly wasn't helping the cause. We all know what Chew is getting ready to do next year.
Quote from: avonjax on November 01, 2011, 08:32:27 AM
There is a Burger King between State and Union.
And there's a Chick-Fil-A at Baptist Medical. There are also two Quizno's (one at Hemming and the other at FSCJ).
There's a Quizno's at the FSCJ on State St?? I never knew that.
Quote from: I-10east on October 31, 2011, 07:15:13 PM
^^^Good point. If the Landing don't have hardly have any Natl' chains now, why in the hell would a chain wanna move to a separate location in DT Jax.
exactly...which is why Subway and Quizno's don't have locations downtown....oh wait, oops, nevermind
Quote from: comncense on November 01, 2011, 09:54:01 AM
There's a Quizno's at the FSCJ on State St?? I never knew that.
Isn't there also a Quizno's near Hemming Plaza? They were there as of 5 months ago. I remember they had terrible hours though.
yes...and they actually expanded their hours a few months back...I think they stay open until 7pm and are now open for breakfast on Saturdays
Quote from: tufsu1 on November 01, 2011, 11:35:30 AM
yes...and they actually expanded their hours a few months back...I think they stay open until 7pm and are now open for breakfast on Saturdays
Thanks for the info. Maybe it's because my perception is off (not a huge fan of the place), but driving by it seems like there's never a full Quiznos. Furthermore, never even met someone who admitted to liking the place. I wonder how they keep 2 open downtown so close to each other.
Quote from: comncense on November 01, 2011, 09:54:01 AM
There's a Quizno's at the FSCJ on State St?? I never knew that.
Yes. Unfortunately, it can't be seen from the street.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/463587034_mXxxQ-M.jpg)