Mellow Mushroom to Open Up in 'town Space??

[Gonzo]

Their efforts to bring in and market local beer are to applauded as well. 

Here, here!

[acme54321]

Man those people in Avondale are going to be regretting their banishment of the Sev.

[ben says]

signed sealed and delivered. They are taking up 'town and the old gas station. They won't own the building(s) though. Leasing....may even take over the shoe store.

My significant other will not be happy about the shoe store going...

'town and I never quite got on. The service was so-so, but the menu was just too out there for me. Maybe my tastes are too "pedestrian."

So, this is welcome news.

+1. I never had a problem with the menu. It wasn't too 'far out there' for me. Duck/lentils, shrimp/grits...eh, had it all before. I always had a problem with the final product. The food never tasted right to me. Not to mention the manager was terrible.

On another note, if 'town (and maybe Emily's shoe store) are moving, I can't help to add to the "what about the Fuel space," or, what about the old Deco Bistro space? As long as all the relocating establishments stay local, I'm happy.

[TPC]

I'm sad to see the $10 bottomless mimosas go andI like Mellow Mushroom but there are so many pizza places near by, The Loop, Moon River, Carmines, and Peles.

[ben says]

I'm sad to see the $10 bottomless mimosas go andI like Mellow Mushroom but there are so many pizza places near by, The Loop, Moon River, Carmines, and Peles.

I don't think they are going for good. From what I hear on this thread and otherwise, they aren't dissolving the restaurant. All they're doing is moving.

[copperfiend]

One thing I will say about Mellow Mushroom is they do a pretty good of designing their stores. I saw some pretty cool ones up in Tennessee a few weeks back.

[ben says]

One thing I will say about Mellow Mushroom is they do a pretty good of designing their stores. I saw some pretty cool ones up in Tennessee a few weeks back.

+1. They aren't a cookie cutter chain, that's for sure. Let's see how they incorporate the old 'town space with the gas station. Could be a really cool setup.

[Tacachale]

It sucks that 'town will have to move. I've heard good things. It would be a real pity if they weren't able to reopen and we replaced a cool restaurant with yet another pizza place.

That said, I'm totally cool with Mellow. I have no doubt they'll make good use of the space. The parking will be nuts; time for transit, everyone!

[Dashing Dan]

The last time I went to (pause)towne the waitress called the salad I was about to order "pedestrian".  My response was "then why is it on the menu?".  Needless to say, I've never been back.

Hey - I'm on the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee.  What's wrong with "pedestrian?"

Seriously, I don't get it with Mellow Mushroom.  The one near Tinseltown is just a chain, and there was one in Nashville that was just a chain. We ate there once or twice, but it was blah.  I'd rather not see a chain restaurant in Avondale.

[ben says]

The last time I went to (pause)towne the waitress called the salad I was about to order "pedestrian".  My response was "then why is it on the menu?".  Needless to say, I've never been back.

Hey - I'm on the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee.  What's wrong with "pedestrian?"

Seriously, I don't get it with Mellow Mushroom.  The one near Tinseltown is just a chain, and there was one in Nashville that was just a chain. We ate there once or twice, but it was blah.  I'd rather not see a chain restaurant in Avondale.

Talk to ten people, you'll get ten different responses/thoughts/feelings on chain restaurants. By and large, I'm not for them. BUT, I do think MM can do a good job reusing the gas station lot and the adjoining restaurant space. Plus, it'll bring lots of business and MM fans to the area. I said it once but I'll say it again: 'town (and maybe Emily's) moving, IF they stay in Riverside, can be a fantastic thing. It'll either a) enhance the Park/King area beyond belief or b) take over 2 vacant spots in 5 Points. Win-win, IMO. To me, Riverside IS the "core"...the more dining options we have, the more people we coming to/from the area, the better. Bring it on.

[ben says]

Not to mention "Riverside" and "Breweries" and "lots of beer" are three phrases that are quickly becoming synonymous. YAY.

[Dashing Dan]

We've already got enough restaurants.  What Avondale needs is a clean and safe convenience store. 

[cline]

The last time I went to (pause)towne the waitress called the salad I was about to order "pedestrian".  My response was "then why is it on the menu?".  Needless to say, I've never been back.

I'd rather not see a chain restaurant in Avondale.

Well, the Prudential Network Realty, Exit Realty, and Coldwell Bankers are all big chains.  So is the Sherwin Williams Paint Store.  They're not restaurants but chains nonetheless.

Technically, Underwoods, Mojo, and Peterbrooke are chains as well.  Albeit local ones.

[mtraininjax]

Would have preferred the 7-11, which carries stuff I might need on short notice. How many times a week do I need pizza?

+1

To me, Riverside IS the "core"...the more dining options we have, the more people we coming to/from the area, the better.

Not to 'town its not. As it was described earlier, Riverside is more of a transient neighborhood with a lot more tenants and renter buildings than Avondale which is more homes and permanent residences. The main reason for the move is that the costs are going up for them, not that they did not have success and people at the restaurant.

Riverside is not the best location for them, they would do better to stay as close to Avondale as possible. I don't want to banish them to the Preservation Tap House location there on St. Johns, but its gotta be cheap, since its just sitting there, but something in one of the spaces like Prima Piatti or one of those storefronts would be better, since it gets a lot more storefront traffic of the kind of people who will eat duck and lentils.  Time will tell.

It will be interesting to see how Chew fares in the new space as well. If I were Meghan, I'd wait and see how Insetta's new place does before putting an anchor down in Riverside/5-points. Riverside-Avondale at Park and King seems more likely, for immediate occupancy, to me.

Well, the Prudential Network Realty, Exit Realty, and Coldwell Bankers are all big chains.  So is the Sherwin Williams Paint Store.  They're not restaurants but chains nonetheless.

These are needed in this area, just like the 7/11 CHAIN was needed as well. The fact that these "Chains" are owned and operated by local people, with roots to Avondale, should really not matter, we feel like we are supporting our own, and the owners are providing a valuable resource to the community.

[cline]

These are needed in this area, just like the 7/11 CHAIN was needed as well. The fact that these "Chains" are owned and operated by local people, with roots to Avondale, should really not matter, we feel like we are supporting our own, and the owners are providing a valuable resource to the community.

I'm with you man.  Just throwing it out there since we were talking about chains.  But you're right.  The truth is most chains are owned by local people (franchisees) who live within the community.