something Davis Sq probably doesn't need

[ron_newman]

Someone wants to open a Quizno's sub shop franchise at 401 Highland Avenue, where Disc Diggers used to be. The proposal keeps getting postponed from one Planning Board meeting to the next; it supposedly comes up again at this Thursday night's meeting.

While I can't see a real basis for showing up to oppose it, I also don't see it filling any real need, given that you can already get sandwiches of various kinds at Au Bon Pain, Blue Shirt, Mike's, Diesel, Christo's Seven Star, Subway, O'Natural's, and probably other places I've forgotten about.

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

If it doesn't fill a real need, then it'll go out of business.

[ron_newman]

I never see anyone in McDonald's, yet it somehow stays in business. It's often empty while Anna's across the street is jammed.

I would not like to see a wholesale invasion of chain franchises into Davis Square.

[cos]

That is patently untrue. The location here is key. There are a large number of people in Davis Square, and they often want food. Having [generic chain food place] there is unlikely to have much effect on the number of people of people who are in Davis Square wanting food, but likely to draw some percentage of those people who would otherwise be going to some of the other places. That doesn't mean it's filling a need, it just means it's got a good location and it's convenient. And is doing so at the expense of other businesses - some of which may be filling a bigger need. Who's to judge that?

The mere fact that a food place located in Davis Square makes enough money to stay in business, is no reflection of whether it's filling a real need. It is a reflection of the fact that Davis Square is a prime location for any business to want to be in. And why is that? Because of all the little independent business that fill the square, many of them unique. A generic chain business would be feeding off that trough while at the same time actually doing its small part to dilute it - to weaken the reasons Davis Square draws so many people. As long as the chain places remain a minority, Davis Square is robust enough to stand that without much harm. If they become a majority, there may very well be harm, to all the businesses there (though with the Somerville Theater and Johnny D's as anchors, it'll continue to do pretty well).

As a warning case, look at Porter Square. Sure, it has a red line stop, and it even has a couple of unique local businesses (like Toad), but there's no critical mass there, it's mostly chain. So for the most part, people go there to get groceries and leave, or to change from the commuter rail to the red line. It's not nearly the sort of place Davis Square is. It is, however, a great place for a new Quizno's :)

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Of course there are other factors here. For example, Quizno's isn't quite [generic chain food place] at the moment, because there are so few in the region. As long as it remained one of the few Quizno's in metro Boston, it would be a draw. That would change if a few others opened up, particlarly in Somerville and nearby cities. That's just one example, there are plenty of other things worth considering. I just want to dispute "If it doesn't fill a real need, then it'll go out of business" as a way of looking at whether we want it here or not. I think it's a tired canard that generates heat and no light on this sort of decision, and I see it far too often.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

in order for it to fill a need, they need to supply something that nobody else does, or at least the perception they do.

i happen to think they do. they're a growing concern on the east coast, quite succesful on the west iirc. they have a good, tasty product set that isn't replicated by the other concerns.

more importantly, they have the craziest ads. "they got a pepper bar in there" :)

so, why oppose it? if they don't get in, someone else will, who can pay the rent - someone you might really oppose. perhaps another starbucks? perhaps a chik-filet? the christians would love that :) closed every sunday by god's law.

#

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

That's it! A Starbucks! That side of the square really doesn't have a Starbucks of its own. If you're on Highland, you have to walk *blocks* to get to one.

[ron_newman]

This makes me less than enthusiastic about a Quizno's. Still, I can't really bring myself to go to City Hall and oppose it. That part of the square is pretty dead at night, and will be even more so if (as I've heard rumored) Out of the Blue restaurant relocates to the former Pluto store on Elm Street.

[dreamgirly19.livejournal.com]

Yea I moved here from CA and missed my daily sub. They def. dont make the same kind of subs other sub stores do imo.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

so the mormons own chik-filet? big deal. tasty chicken.

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

I like Starbucks. I like their coffee better than anything else in the square. Go on, throw tomatoes at my head because I prefer a :::gasp::: non-local product. Of course, I prefer the tea drinks at Diesel. I think shutting down options for people based on morality doesn't make us much better than Republicans or Fundamentalists. It just means that we think we're right, and we might be but exerting one's right-ness by force? I don't like the tactic.

[srl.livejournal.com]

Somerville residents (and frequent Davis Square visitors) showing up at the planning board meeting to speak against the creeping chain-store invasion would be one useful way to do something about it.

[dreamgirly19.livejournal.com]

i LOVE quiznos. I for one hope they DO open on there!

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

If whining hippies deny me this, I shall go on a rampage. Mark my words.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I didn't even realize there *was* a McDonald's until after I'd lived in the neighborhood for over a year, despite the fact that I walked by it regularly. It took another several years before it stopped surprising me every time I noticed it.

I wish Bertucci's hadn't turned into a Subway.

"I like the subs"

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm, Quiznos. Tasty toasted goodness. I for one would like to have one nearby.

As for that Hep A, that's happened at other places as well. It's not like Quiznos is putting botulism in their subs.

[turil.livejournal.com]

But wouldn't you rather have some really fun and interesting place that also has "toasted goodness" and that also brings in money to the local economy rather than sending it off to some corporate headquarters in who knows where, to be pocketed by some billionaire who spends it on liposuction for his cat?

Oooh, how about a place like the Friendly Toast in Portsmouth, NH? It's an awesome retro diner that serves really inexpensive old style diner food as well as old-style diner food done with a more modern sensibility (mohita smoothies, scrambled tofu, sweet potato fried covered in tabasco sauce and brown sugar). Something like that would be sweet.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the chain store creep is very disappointing. The very reason that Davis Square was rated one of the top places in the US (by Rolling Stone), was because of it's diversity. Bringing monotonous national chain stores in will destroy that appeal. A Quiznos (whatever the heck it is, I've never seen one) is just not going to bring business into Davis Square. An independent business, with a unique and useful product, will. For example, a small, funky art/craft supply store might be a nice addition to the area. Or a health food grocery store. Or an activist book store (like the very fun Lucy Parson's Center). Or a small performance space...

Oh, and Hi Ron!

too many restaurants?

[ron_newman]

Some Davis Square residents seem to be tiring of restaurants and wanting something else to come into vacant commercial spaces. Before the November city election, I received a leaflet from one at-large candidate (I think Bruce Desmond), signed by many neighbors who had successfully opposed two restaurants proposed for the Citizens Bank building.

(And hi, Turil!)

[cutieperson]

a small, funky art/craft supply store might be a nice addition to the area.

you mean like Spark Crafts, which has been open for almost a year now?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Or a health food grocery store.

I'd kill for one that's closer than Pemberton Farms. We had Celia's for a little while which was fabulous but had the worst business plan ever. It was a perfect place to get dinner food or ingredients on the way home, but they closed at six so I tended to miss them. And they had an amazing salad bar. Okay, really what I want is a woderful, organic salad bar. *sigh* It was upsetting because they made great food but I knew they'd never last with those habits, and indeed they closed after a short while.

Although in their defense, for a metro area of its size, Boston doesn't seem able to support much of a vegetarian or health food market, for whatever reason. There are some, sure, but just about every other city I've been in that even approaches this size has more. I'm not sure one would survive long in Davis even if it was well-run.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

The real question is, has anyone else expressed interest in that space? I'd support a local business over a chain, but I'd support (some) chain stores over an empty space.

[seaweedgirle.livejournal.com]

Totally what he said. I'd prefer a locally-based biz, of course ... but Disc Diggers has been closed for just shy of a year. Thriving business of any sort is better than no business.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I'd never heard of Quiznos (how do you pronounce it, even?). Could be worse, I suppose.

Buuut, I noted on their menu that they have a French Dip type sandwich, but they call it "Steakhouse Beef Dip" instead.

I'll try it, but I'm going to ask for "that sandwich that's generally called a French Dip."

I'll do eet een a French accent, yez.

[simply-juniper.livejournal.com]

Pronounced exactly as it looks: quiz-nos.

Planning Board info

[ron_newman]

For those interested, the Planning Board meeting is at 6 pm on Thursday, December 15, in the Aldermen's Chamber on the second floor of City Hall.

If you go, be aware that there are multiple items on the agenda, with no guarantee as to order they will be dealt with. Also, this item has been repeatedly postponed and could be once again, so you may end up going there for nothing. For more information, send e-mail to Lara Curtis, LCurtis@ci.somerville.ma.us .

Here's the agenda item:

401 Highland Avenue: (continued from previous meeting) (Applicant: Santokh
Singh; Owner: Demi Samallas; Agent: Richard Smart) The Applicant seeks a
special permit with site plan review (S.Z.O. §7.11.10.2.1.c) to establish a
fast order food establishment with no drive-up service and a variance for
failure to provide required parking (§9.5.10) to establish a Quizno's
restaurant. Central Business District (CBD) zoning district.

ugh... more chains

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

why would anyone welcome another chain to Davis? I actually am happy to go by the Subway and see few people in it. Chains are a blight. Look at Harvard or Porter Squares. Dead ends. They suck out of the community and give nothing back. Generic - like Starbucks. (yes, I do go there and sit at the outside tables when the weather is fine).

I would frankly support a boycott (and more) of all these carpetbagger places - because that is what they are.

Re: Subway

[ron_newman]

Funny thing is, this is the second time around for Subway in Davis Square. Many years ago, I think in the 1980s, Subway was across the street from the Somerville Theatre, where China Sun is now. They had a nice manager (I'd love to know where she ended up) and a good location, but ultimately didn't make it.

If they had to take over the old Bertucci's -- which was the first-ever Bertucci's -- I wish they'd kept the bocce court.

how to see all comments on one page?

[ron_newman]

When I look at this comment page now, only some of the comments are displayed. The rest are just links. How do I get all comments to display on one page?

Re: how to see all comments on one page?

[larksdream]

You can't. LJ automatically collapses threads like this when comments go over 50 on one page. Personally, I find it immensely annoying.