What's up with all the Chain Stores on 30A?

[Uncle Timmy]

Yes, good stuff, Amavida. Here's a thought and I mean it seriously. Would 30A allow food carts?

Foods that could be appealing with a food stand on wheels would be drinks, hot dogs, pretzels, bagels, pita sandwiches, wrap sandwiches, how about mideastern wrap sandwiches (hummus, grilled chicken, whatever

Paula,

What a great idea! I had some good food from the street vendors in NYC last time I was there. Especially the mid-east wraps!

My cousin who lived in Manhattan at the time made funn of me for eating street meat, as they jokingly refer to it, but I couldn't get enough.

It would be a great, low price alternative for 30-A. I would suppport this.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Chain, chain, chain....chain of fools.

 

[Scooter]

My dream would be to have an open air sand floor bar (kinda like Foxy's in the BVI's) with parrots, cats and a dog laying around right on Grayton Beach. Man that would be the life!:clap_1:

 

[Paula]

Uncle Timmy, we drool for the mid-east wraps down the street from us here. Lamb shish-kabob wrap with tabouli makes me cry.

 

[Allifunn]

What's up with all the Chain Stores on 30A?

Starbucks is dominating 30A! Do we need more? We now have a Subway; soon a Tropical Smoothie. Who knows what others have already committed!

Have the property developers lost their creativity? Do our local newspapers really need to glorify these national fanchises over the independent local establishments that have been in our community for a long time?

Maybe it is time that a a message is voiced. Chime-in if you have any thoughts!

Mr windmills

 

[Smiling JOe]

... Likewise it would be sad to loose Brunos Pizza to Dominoes; or Angelinas to Carrabbas. This leaves us with the challenge of how we want to shape our community and what do we want to be?

I have not eaten Dominoes pizza in many, many years and I have never eaten at Carrabbas, but I cannot say that I would be sad to see Brunos replaced. 100% of my experiences with Bruno's pizza has been negative, and it involves the mgt and employees, though the pizza is nothing to write home about. In fact, if Papa Johns came in that spot, I might even like it. There is nothing like some good old rubbery crust dipped in fake "Real" brand butter, especially when it is delivered to your door.

I think Bobby is right about the larger chains being the only ones who can afford to open around 30A and expect to stay in business with rents being in the $27 + per sf, triple net, price range. I think the only way we could possibly see some local eats is that if someone built and leased small units in a common building, like a food court at the mall. Dining area could be shared by all, but mostly do take out walk up window. Limit the sq ftage to around 500sf and people may actually be able to make a small food place successful and long-lasting.

(For the record, I do not really want to see fast food, including Papa John's or Dominoes in this area.)

 

[Teresa]

Tootsie: I could not agree with you more about Publix since they provide a necessarry service to the community and furthermore it is a Florida based company that supports our states needs. There is however countless examples of communites like ours that stood by and watched as national chains came in and displaced local businesses. Furthermore when a dollar is spent at a national chain it provides limited support in the community since many of the services (accountants, payrolls, banking, etc) that support these national chains are near their headquarters (many miles from 30A). In addition, these chains do not purchase products from their local communites since and in most cases are not community contributors. I for one would rather purchase goods from my neighbors, the same people that sit on our school boards, the same people that help build and support our community. Like you said, it woudl be very sad to loose Sundog Books to Borders. Likewise it would be sad to loose Brunos Pizza to Dominoes; or Angelinas to Carrabbas. This leaves us with the challenge of how we want to shape our community and what do we want to be?

donnie - you have some excellent points about how chains effect our community, what they can take away from our community (business, character, etc). most of us don't really think about this. :roll: thanks.

 

[Paula]

How about a place that makes something that's pretty easy to deliver, not too expensive (e.g, for families) and work with Paradise taxi to provide home delivery food. Could just offer take-out and delivery and not manage a restaurant, which would lower costs? The goal would be quality food and service, a clean and maybe quirky place, word of mouth advertising, repeat business, and making enough of a profit of course. I think it would be hard for someone who needs to support a family to start this as his/her only job, though. It would take a while for it to take off.

 

[Smiling JOe]

How about a place that makes something that's pretty easy to deliver, not too expensive (e.g, for families) and work with Paradise taxi to provide home delivery food. Could just offer take-out and delivery and not manage a restaurant, which would lower costs? The goal would be quality food and service, a clean and maybe quirky place, word of mouth advertising, repeat business, and making enough of a profit of course. I think it would be hard for someone who needs to support a family to start this as his/her only job, though. It would take a while for it to take off.

I think the take out part is exactly what is needed. While delivery sounds great, it is difficult to find drivers who will work for tips, especially with today's gas prices and the length of 30A.

 

[amavida]

Paula,

Thats a thought! Great and creative idea!