Why no McDonalds?

[nbenton]

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.

[ben says]

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.

[nbenton]

I enjoy those, but in our downtown, they are all closed on nights and weekends.

[ben says]

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).

[thelakelander]

For what it's worth, I don't think there's a McDonald's in DT Tampa, Orlando or St. Pete either.

[ben says]

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.

[Ocklawaha]

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

[I-10east]

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?

[Seraphs]

Wendy's was downtown too.  It stayed pretty crowed.  I don't really remember what time they closed.

[coredumped]

We got burger king!:)
http://g.co/maps/bue64

[civil42806]

Used to be a dunkin donuts on laura street

[Ocklawaha]

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

[ProjectMaximus]

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. 

[DavidWilliams]

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.

[ben says]

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. 

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.