More Fast Food in Davis?

[chris5.livejournal.com]

The Planning Board is entertaining proposals from the SUBWAY chain to open a franchise in the old Bertucci's site at 197 Elm Street. Does Davis really need this? We already have McDonald's, Domino's, and WingWorks and they're all eyesores that spew trash and odors. SUBWAY is a bland, corporate entity, which goes directly opposite to the funky, enterpreneurial shops and excellent food choices that have slowly been moving into Davis Square.

Contact Alderman John Connolly to express your views, his information is on the City of Somerville web page: www.ci.somerville.ma.us

There will be a public hearing on March 10 at 7:00 PM at City Hall so come and be heard!

Comments

[eameschair.livejournal.com]

What we really need is a Flour Bakery.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

That sign! I was just reading about it in some book the other day! Auuuugh, what was that? Death and Life of Great American Cities maybe? Auuuugh!

[enmascarado.livejournal.com]

They still have them decorating Katz's deli in NY.

-Dan

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

It was that book, then! I remember it talking about Katz's. That's awesome that they still have the sign.

[enmascarado.livejournal.com]

They have t-shirts too.

-Dan

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Oh goody. Something else to protest...because Somvervillians just aren't happy unless they're protesting something.

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

Heh, thanks. That's the funniest thing I've read all day. :)

[bigrock.livejournal.com]

I live in Somerville and these places stay open because people go to these businesses. While I do not personally go to McDonalds, i'd rather have a Subway in the neighborhood than a McDonalds.

I try to support local businesses as opposed to large corporations (I frequent the Blue Shirt Cafe the most out of any business in Davis Square)

I don't think Domino's and Wingworks are bad, but I haven't been there in months.

I've never been to the McDonalds in Davis.


What really needs to be done in Davis Square is to have more than 1 and 2 story buildings to allow for more businesses, and hopefully that would bring down rents so smaller businesses could actually afford to have a business there.

[enmascarado.livejournal.com]

Bertucci's closed. The McDonalds is not highly trafficed. The only large chains that thrive in Davis are Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, so there may not be a market for Subway. There currently isn't any funky, enterpreneurial shop or excellent food choice in that space now. Why not let the marketplace decide?

A used building is better than an empty one.

[dcart.livejournal.com]

I have no opinion on the Subway.
But I doubt much of what makes Davis special would be there if we simply "let the market decide" everything. A lot of what makes Somerville interesting wouldn't be there at all.

Every single rule, regulation, and law that touches business is an opposing force to "the market". I doubt many free marketeers would like the world that would derive from seeing their theory in practice.

[prog.livejournal.com]

Just the same, I think a lot of people in this area are concerned about the more specific case of vacant lots or abandoned buildings encouraged to stay that way, due to those who immediately reject the proposals of corporations interested in setting up shop there. (I'm thinking of a particular point of contention troubling the eastern part of our fair city...)

[enmascarado.livejournal.com]

You don't have to have a free market to have a market, just goods and/or services being exchanged. Even with the regulations that are in place, there is a market to Davis Square. I'm not suggesting that any rules be removed for Subway. If it can open under the existing rules, let it sink or swim on it's own merits.

-Dan

[forgotten-aria.livejournal.com]

As much as I don't like chains in general, Subway has got to be my biggest excetion. They are the only chain I know that makes an issue of making their information known. Their toppings and bread are fresh and they are doign a lot of things right.

The building has been empty for a long time now, it's fairly far out of Davis square proper and I don't really see it competeing all that much with the other small busniess there since even the sandwhich/sub places have a different menu and will fill a different niche.

Perhaps if there were an alternative besides leaving the building empty, if there were some other busniess who wanted to move in there, but since there isn't I think that Subway would be one of the best chains to move in.

[seaweedgirle.livejournal.com]

I'm not a fan of chains, but Subway is one of the few that has options for vegetarians, vegans, and those interested in non-artery clogging bites.

[chuckm.livejournal.com]

I have to say I agree with several of the folks above. A local restaurant is better than a chain restaurant, but a chain restaurant is better than an abandoned building.

Are there alternate proposals for use of the building? It's been empty for quiter a while now.

[xselcior.livejournal.com]

But will the new business take advantage of the bocce court in the basement?

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

What we need is for that McDonald's to go full-service instead of this half-assed shit with a limited menu. No shakes? What's that?

In addition, I hereby protest your claims against Wing Works. Their wings are the best in town, and they've never once bitched about having to deliver when I live about 45 seconds away.

Feel free to rail against Domino's, as they're evil, but I won't tolerate whining about Wing Works. It's not even a chain, for fuck's sake. Do you have a problem with Dragon Garden and Diva, too?

[penguin42.livejournal.com]

I once heard that Wing Works flipped off a box of kittens...

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

They were being dicks. I don't know what their problem was.

If only

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

If only this was the most pressing problem facing the world. Sorry if one business owner who bought into a franchise runs another business owner who didn't buy into franchise out of business I just can't get upset. Both employ local people. I mean if we are going to complain about local restaurants in the Davis Square area let us start with Mikes. It may not be a chain but it has some of the worst food I've had.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Like others have said, Subway is far from the most evil fast-food chain. Of course, I'd much rather see a non-francise place, preferably one that was primarily a soup place. We need more soup in Davis!

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

What are you, insane? We don't need more soup in Davis. We need more BBQ and places with meat on swords. JFC.