Qdoba Porter Square Closes

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Looks like another Porter Square chain restaurant has closed -- this time Qdoba. That makes at least three fast food places in there since I can remember (Popeyes, McDonalds, Qdoba). I usually wouldn't care, but I've been winning free meals in their trivia contests and it's the only one I can get to on foot.

Comments

[thespian.livejournal.com]

it closed about 3 weeks ago (june 11). oddly, they didn't send out a notice, and they *did* send out mail that was location-oriented. I showed up to take a friend there for father's day with a buy one get one free coupon, and they were gone.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

There's one at Downtown Crossing; it's pretty easy to get to on the red line.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

There are several that are easy to get to on the T (including Harvard Square), but I drive to work so would rather not spend the extra money to get a free burrito. I'll probably drive out to Medford.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Anyone know what's going in here, or hear any rumors? I saw that the front of the place is covered in Dunkin Donuts logos now, but I'm assuming that's just advertising for the DD's next door and not indicating an expansion.

[808.livejournal.com]

There was an article in the Globe a couple of months ago about financial trouble the chain as a whole has run into. I don't recall the details, but I think they were being sued by a food supplier for not making payments. I don't know if Qdoba's are independently owned or not. I'll miss it. I like their queso. If Anna's or Chipotle carried queso I'd be there in a heart beat. I remember moving here from Texas in 1995 and not having any place to go to for tex mex/southwestern food. So I'm grateful for even one. :)

[808.livejournal.com]

Ah. here is the story (http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/03/16/qdoba_beset_by_tax_problems_suppliers_lawsuit/)

[teko.livejournal.com]

I agree, they had a way with queso! Pretty much everything else was lackluster, though, especially with Anna's so nearby to the one in Porter.

[ron_newman]

You can bike to the Harvard Square location (assuming it is still open) from Davis in about 7 minutes.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

You're talking to a man who hasn't owned a bike in 35 years.

[firepail.livejournal.com]

it advertises all the businesses in the plaza with their logos, not just D&D.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

You can also walk to Harvard Square in about 15 minutes...

[ron_newman]

You must walk fast. It takes me about 30 minutes, for what Google Maps says is a 1.8 mile walk.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's just that DD has the most eye-catching logo. It's a nice fabrication; I like that the plaza management put that together for the vacant window space rather than soap swirls or newspaper.

[frankmcs.livejournal.com]

Not sure but the Porter/Davis area is in desperate need of a Panera.

[ron_newman]

None of those anywhere in Cambridge, to my surprise. Closest ones seem to be at BU or in Arlington Heights at the end of the #77 bus line.

At this location, however, they'd be competing with Cafe Zing at Porter Square Books, a business I'd like to see stick around.

[grapefruiteater.livejournal.com]

Porter Square could use a few more places where you can meet someone for coffee and sit down for a little while and talk. Porter Square Books is often too crowded to really sit down, and if you want to have a semi-private conversation, it's close quarters. I'd rather have an independent business move in, but if Panera can provide a good neighborhood gathering spot, I'd welcome them.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

there is ABP in Davis...

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

I don't think Panera and ABP are all that comparable. Panera's sandwiches are much bigger and heartier than ABP. Overall I'd say panera is more of an upscale, eat-in place than ABP which is more of a hit and run kind of joint. They could easily coexist a half mile, possibly even a half block from each other.

I think porter could use a replacement for the Gap that was there. (affordable mainstream clothing)

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

while that may be so, they are owned by the same company (last time i looked into it, which was several years ago).

[ron_newman]

The relationship between Au Bon Pain and Panera is complicated. They were once owned by the same company but no longer. According to Wikipedia,

In 1993, Au Bon Pain Co. purchased the Saint Louis Bread Company, which was founded by Ken Rosenthal. At the same time, the St. Louis Bread Company was renovating its 20 bakery-cafés in the St. Louis area.
In May 1999, to expand Panera Bread into a national restaurant, Au Bon Pain Co. sold its other chains, including Au Bon Pain, which is now owned by Compass Group North America. Au Bon Pain Co. then renamed itself Panera Bread.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

I used to work for the St. Louis Bread Co, and worked there when Au Bon Pain purchased it, and then Panera purchased both.... There are still St. Louis Bread Co's in St. Louis, but also Paneras.

[milan27.livejournal.com]

Um...Rudy's? Rudy's was here when my dad was my age.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I went to Qdoba in Medford two nights ago and the woman helping me told me she worked in Porter Sq and found out two days before it closed she was losing her job. Apparently it closed because it was independent and was going corporate and there were some issues with the landlord and the corporate policies whatever that means. Just figured I would pass the news on.

[duneidieann.livejournal.com]

there's a Coming Soon: Panera sign in the window of the ex-Qdoba.

[ron_newman]

Looks like your wish is about to come true.