Hala RIP?

[5ptscurmudgeon]

Bakery is for sale (as evidenced by sign in front of beach blvd bakery) and rumor is the restaurants are being marketed to already established Middle Eastern restaurants as an established chain.

[Stephanie Kellum]

Oh no! I love Hala! 

[JaxNative68]

i thought all of the Halas were owned independently by different family members.

[HalaCafeJax]

Wow, I am not sure who your sources are, but the bakery, where we make the pita and sweets, is not for sale, but rather the land is. We have a prime retail spot on Beach Boulevard that is not ideal for a bakery. Also, the restaurants are not for sale and are doing quite well, thank you for asking. So don't worry, Hala is not going anywhere, we are here to stay, and do what we have always done best, bring authentic middle eastern food to the people of Jacksonville.

[Jerry Moran]

Oh how we delight in hearing about unique, privately owned, home-grown restaurants going out of business!  It reaffirms the community's collective sense of low self esteem as we head to St. John's Town Center for a bag-in-a-box treat!

I always enjoy Hala Cafe for lunch.

[Brian Siebenschuh]

Jerry brings to mind a conversation I find myself in relatively frequently...

Why do we get so excited about the opening of a "new-to-Jacksonville" chain restaurant?  My impression is that the city at large feels a bit of validation when we're bestowed the "honor" of having our own Maggiano's, or P.F. Chang's, or Cheesecake Factory (what's with the white outfits?!), or - any day now, set your calendars - California Pizza Kitchen...

They're sure bets for an OKAY dining experience - it may not be great, but it probably won't be terrible - it's low risk / minimal reward dining.  Independents are, in my estimation, inherently more risky - there are some really bad restaurants out there - and that's why most of them go out of business quickly. 

But hey, it's just a meal.

We all have at least a couple of them EVERY DAY.

You risk a lot more texting while driving than you ever will walking through the door of an independent restaurant (e.g. the dining experience might suck, but it won't kill you...)

An okay experience at a chain = You're just like the 1,000 other people that ate there that day.  They don't really care.  It's a machine.

A bad experience at an independent = A great story to tell about how hilariously bad that place was, so it's still a positive.  Good stories aren't cheap, and nobody wants to hear about your marginal dinner at Chili's.  Just don't go back.  Unless you have mixed feelings about it - in which case you should probably give them another shot - they might redeem themselves.

A positive experience at an independent = Something to tell your friends about.  They've all heard about the latest SJTC opening.  Turn them on to something new.  Talk to the owner and tell them you're going to recommend the place to your friends.  Visit the place again soon.  Become the resident restaurant expert among your circle of acquaintances.

[TheProfessor]

The nice thing about chain restaurants is that you can go anywhere in the country and have that special entree without a chance of disappointment, but a life without chance is bland.  A paradox indeed.  Just always eat at Orsay and your life will be fullfilled

[Jaxson]

@ Jerry Moran --- I think that that my father and I can testify to how the chains and the indepdendents are both essential to our community...
Both my father and I travel often for various business-related events.  No matter where he goes, my father will seek out his favorite chain steak restaurant (with horn in the name).  I, on the other hand, enjoy finding a place that I would not normally find back home.  What's nicer than having a Mexican breakfast on the Santa Monica pier?  Or enjoying a Middle Eastern meal with friends in suburban Philadelphia?  My most disappointing dinner?  Hard Rock Cafe.  When I was in high school, those t-shirts were all the rage.  I was not impressed when I went to one with a group of convention delegates.  Some of my friends got food poisoning.
Well, anyway, it is easy for us to look down our noses at those who prefer chain restaurants.  But, there are people (like my father) who like following a routine and do not really fancy going off the beaten path (I grew up thinking that grape jelly was the only flavor of jelly and apple the only flavor of pie).  On the bright side, those predictable people are the same ones who otherwise would be staring at a menu for 90 minutes (and wasting wait staff time) if they were outside their comfort zone.
As for me, I prefer a little adventure.
To each his own!

[Jerry Moran]

But, there are people (like my father) who like following a routine and do not really fancy going off the beaten path

Might be time to consider an evaluation for Asperger's Syndrome...

Yeah, I do look down my nose at sheepeople.

[sheclown]

Independents contribute more to the local economy than chains do.

And are more interesting, by far.  Chains?  You might as well eat at Walmart.

[tufsu1]

Independents contribute more to the local economy than chains do.

really?  do you have facts to back this up?

[Jaxson]

But, there are people (like my father) who like following a routine and do not really fancy going off the beaten path

Might be time to consider an evaluation for Asperger's Syndrome...

Yeah, I do look down my nose at sheepeople.

No, if anything, I am the one in my family who is most likely to have Asperger's!  I am a bit on the OCD side and few of my relatives understand me very much.  That said, I think that my father's preference for chain restaurants comes from his very Midwestern upbringing.  Marrying my very Southern mother woke up up to macaroni and cheese that did not come in a box, but he still relies on what he believes to be tried and true to him...

[RockStar]

Ay caramba! Who eats on the Santa Monica pier? Tourists!!! Lmao

Support local.
Buy local.
Eat local.

Burn down a Carrabbas and you'll make my Xmas list, add a Chili's to that and be invited to Xmas dinner.

BTW, Bahama Breeze = Caribbean themed Chili's = don't do it

@Brian = I think the white outfits @ Cheesecake is to distract you from the general uncleanliness of the place...check out their floors...yikes...hate to see what that kitchen looks like.

anyway, I'm off to Outback...their shrimp on the barbie are the bomb and it makes me feel like I'm in Australia...

[Jaxson]

@RockStar --- LOL at the Santa Monica Pier; but I did enjoy the view while I was there.  Was I a tourist out in L.A.?  Hell, yeah.  I don't know what else that I would have been...

As for Bahama Breeze, I was in a conversation with co-workers about what place serves the best margarita.  One person chimed in with 'Bahama Breeze.'  Surely, I thought, there has to be a local Mexican place that can make awesome 'ritas...

[RockStar]

I only know one place that makes a phenomenal margarita, but I'll get called out for being biased.... (by the way, you are allowed to slap a co-worker, if it's to help them see the error in their ways... the bartenders at BB could f- up a jack and coke... I watched them...)

Of course you were a tourist, but the goal is to find where the locals eat, right? (Watch Anthony Bourdain's show...) So much great Mexi food in Mexifornia...