Panera on Main Street?

[stephendare]

Well I talked to Kevin Gay's real estate guy this morning about the proposal to move the recently displaced Panera into the old Boomtown Building on Main.

They have submitted a proposal, although it is now in the hands of their local real estate agent and their corporate guys out in the midwest.

I wonder if Don Downing and his pet boy have followed the conversation as closely as the others.

It seems like a concerted neighborhood bid to entice the company would be something useful they could do.

[zoo]

Moving on this was discussed internally at SPAR on the day the news came out. If you're just getting to it today, Stephen, seems you're about 2 weeks behind.

I hope the corporate guys and local franchisee are open to the idea. Will parking be an issue on Main? It was very much an issue at Hendricks location. Anyone worried about it being a chain?

[nvrenuf]

I don't particularly want a full street of chains but a couple good ones mixed in with unique upstarts is fine by me.

[mtraininjax]

I like Panera, but if I used to go to the one in San Marco, I would not go downtown just for Panera. Has to be something more than something I can find somewhere else as well. Now if Panera were close to Chamblin-Downtown, that might be more of a draw.

[thekillingwax]

It'd be great for me but at the same time I wonder how they'd deal with campers? I know on Roosevelt I've come in in the morning and if I made a return trip later in the day, sometimes I've seen the same folks in there. I know Hardee's used to have an issue with bums sitting in there all day nursing their "bottomless cup of coffee", Panera would wind up in a worse scenario with all their comfy chairs and so on.

[Ethylene]

Dunn Avenue Starbucks is shuttered and gonzo! I stopped there 1st time back in Septermber only to find it out of business!

[thekillingwax]

Really? Holy crap. I don't get over to Dunn that much but we went there a couple of times earlier in the year and it was always clean and had a friendly staff.

[Springfield Girl]

There is a Panera at the Northside mall near the Airport but that is still a pretty far drive. We go to Panera in San Marco all the time and will miss it, but not near as much since Uptown Market opened. I would love to see Panera open in Springfield though. I would think they'd have plenty customers from motorists heading into downtown. One of my friends called the corporate office when he was told by employees that the San Marco location was closing to suggest Springfield to them. When he told me this I thought no way would it ever happen but now I at least have some hope.

[mtraininjax]

there is the Panera in the Stein mart complex near the Riverside Publix, in case you just cannot be without Panera. Of course you could then go to the original Chamblin just a stone's throw from there.

[sheclown]

I don't think campers would be a problem.  I don't think they are a problem at Uptown Market.  Or at 3 Layers. 

[fsu813]

Ok, so to clear it up:

The Starbucks on Dunn is closed, obviouisly they didn't do so well.

There is a Panera on the Northside, in the Rivercity Market, which has a variety of other destinations as well. Given equal distance, I would guess that that location would draw better than one on Main.

While I would welcome a Panera, I think the odds are stacked against it. Maybe in 3 years. =(

[thekillingwax]

Maybe, maybe not. 3 Layers is kinda tucked away though, they don't have the flow of people like Main St does. I've only walked through Uptown so I don't know too much about them though. I do hope we get something nice there and I hope it stays nice, that's all.

[Springfield Girl]

You know, I didn't think of that angle. With all the publicity 3 Layers has received maybe Panera sees there is a market for their services. Uptown Market has gotten a lot of PR also and is packed for lunch on a regular basis. Could others be taking notice?

[thelakelander]

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.

[thirdeye]

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