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.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

I've often wondered how that McD's stays open if it never has any customers. Do they perhaps do a takeout business at lunchtime, serving people who work at businesses in the area and are looking for something to eat at their desks?

The Porter Sq. McD's closed, which kinda surprised me because that one *does* get customers.

Porter Square

[ron_newman]

A while ago, I recall reading that the Porter Square Shopping Center management was non-renewing leases of franchises that it no longer wanted to have around. So Dress Barn was replaced by Porter Square Books; Parade of Shoes by Radio Shack; McDonald's by Qdoba.

[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.

#

[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.

Re: Porter Square

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

McDonald's owns Qdoba, anyway.

Re: Porter Square

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Jack in the Box owns Qdoba. McDonalds owns a Mexican chain called Chipotle.

[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.

Re: Porter Square

[ron_newman]

McDonald's doesn't own Qdoba. McDonald's owns a different Mexican chain, Chipotle, which hasn't yet shown up around here.

I just looked on Qdoba's web site and am surprised to find that Qdoba has been owned by Jack-in-the-Box since 2003.

Re: Porter Square

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

oh, snap, you're right.

[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]

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

[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.

"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.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

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

chick-fil-a

[ron_newman]

Not Mormons, just fundamentalist Christians. Every Chick-fil-a is closed on Sundays, even in malls that otherwise require every store to be open on Sundays.

I don't think their stores exist in New England at all. But oddly, the Harvard Science Center cafeteria served their food when I was taking Extension School classes a couple of years ago. (Maybe they still do -- I'm not around there much anymore.)

[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!)

[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.

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[cosinezero.livejournal.com]

Only if our chant is "WE LOVE DEEZ SUBS"

Re: chick-fil-a

[bex77]

No more Chik-fil-a at Harvard's Science Center. They discontinued it a couple of years ago. The only one I've seen in this area is in the food court at the Burlington Mall.

Re: chick-fil-a

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

There's one in the Burlington Mall. I could have sworn I saw something saying they were owned by the Mormons.