Panera on Main Street?

[JeffreyS]

I went to that Subway yesterday because Moss Fire was too busy.

[ChriswUfGator]

I dont think anyone really is.

The comment came from the unhatched 'retail development coordinator' of Springfield, Zoo, whose opinion is famously negative and usually wrong.

Most people would like a Panera.  There isnt any real debate about it.

Im the most anti corporate person there is, but a corporate anchor is a good thing.

In five points the tipping point was, believe it or not, Subway sandwiches.

+1

I summarized zoo/SPAR's position months ago back in the thrift store thread, when I called him out saying: "For the good of Springfield, we should shut down everything until such time as it either becomes a Neiman Marcus or the buildings collapse in on themselves".

Honestly, WTF? We don't want 'mom & pops', but we don't want 'chains' either, we don't want 'this', but we also don't want 'that'. "We don't want"..."we don't want"..."we don't want." That's the new Springfield mantra. Then Strider asked people "Well, what DO you want then?" and I don't think there was really a coherent answer. And it's not just zoo, either, I'm not trying to pick on anyone in particular. It's this whole group over there who are just negative all the time about everything.

I will re-post the same picture I posted then too. Doesn't it just look ridiculous when people make a big deal of withholding something that nobody was chasing after in the first place:


People should be happy there's someone willing to take a chance over there, not just armchair quarterbacking and complaining about how it could always be better. Everything could always be better. I could win lotto for $100 million, that sure as $h!t would make things better. But then I'd have to start b!tching cause' it wasn't $200 million, right? At what point do you start being happy with what you have?

[Dan B]

Yeah, we are a real bunch of assholes Chris. You nailed it.

…I hope the corporate guys and local franchisee are open to the idea

Definitely…

It'd be great for me…

I would love to see Panera open in Springfield though.

While I would welcome a Panera, I think the odds are stacked against it.

oddly enough some people may actually like panera and would like a choice.

Who cares if it is a chain. Bring it to Main St.

I happen to feel it would be a nice addition to the other shops

I hope they do put one on Main in addition to the one they are sure to put in San Marco.

The only comment about it being a chain from Zoo was in the form of a question. She clearly supports it

…I hope the corporate guys and local franchisee are open to the idea….
… Anyone worried about it being a chain?

The only true negative comment about it was from this poster, who may or may not even be a resident!

Why would you want a national chain to come into your area and hurt 2 locally owned and operated breakfast/lunch spots?

[stephendare]

I dont think anyone really is.

The comment came from the unhatched 'retail development coordinator' of Springfield, Zoo, whose opinion is famously negative and usually wrong.

Most people would like a Panera.  There isnt any real debate about it.

Im the most anti corporate person there is, but a corporate anchor is a good thing.

In five points the tipping point was, believe it or not, Subway sandwiches.

+1

I summarized zoo/SPAR's position months ago back in the thrift store thread, when I called him out saying: "For the good of Springfield, we should shut down everything until such time as it either becomes a Neiman Marcus or the buildings collapse in on themselves".

Honestly, WTF? We don't want 'mom & pops', but we don't want 'chains' either, we don't want 'this', but we also don't want 'that'. "We don't want"..."we don't want"..."we don't want." That's the new Springfield mantra. Then Strider asked people "Well, what DO you want then?" and I don't think there was really a coherent answer. And it's not just zoo, either, I'm not trying to pick on anyone in particular. It's this whole group over there who are just negative all the time about everything.

I will re-post the same picture I posted then too. Doesn't it just look ridiculous when people make a big deal of withholding something that nobody was chasing after in the first place:


People should be happy there's someone willing to take a chance over there, not just armchair quarterbacking and complaining about how it could always be better. Everything could always be better. I could win lotto for $100 million, that sure as $h!t would make things better. But then I'd have to start b!tching cause' it wasn't $200 million, right? At what point do you start being happy with what you have?

Great post!  and the photo never stops being hilarious even though it cuts to the bone.

I don't think that many of the regular metrojacksonville posters that Dan B. quoted are the problem, obviously.

Most people on this website tend to be postive people who want good things to happen.

Our posters have never really been the problem.

[untarded]

Having Panera come to Springfield would be a great for us!!  Chains can bring a level of commercial stability that mom and pop start ups cannot.  They also bring a predictable target audience that mom and pops can grow and thrive on.  I doubt you'll find very many people at all in the neighborhood that wouldn't love to see this happen.

The only real concern should be how their location fits in the neighborhood and promotes many of the urban planning strategies that Lake has promoted.

Beyond that, how can the neighborhood voice it's support to their corporate folks and would it have any influence? 

[Omarvelous09]

This would be a great thing for Main St. i really hope the old Boomtown location is seriously considered. As far it effecting the local businesses....i don't think they would be in danger of losing customers. 3 layers and Uptown draw more of a upwardly mobile/cool crowd. Panera would cater to those who work in the area, who aren't necessarily accustomed to independent places and who feel more comfortable with chain establishments.

Just think....you could have coffee in the morning @ 3 layers, lunch @ Uptown...and curl up with a cup of tea and a book at Panera in the evening. 

[stephendare]

There is a Panera at the Northside mall near the Airport but that is still a pretty far drive. We go to Panera in San Marco all the time and will miss it, but not near as much since Uptown Market opened. I would love to see Panera open in Springfield though. I would think they'd have plenty customers from motorists heading into downtown. One of my friends called the corporate office when he was told by employees that the San Marco location was closing to suggest Springfield to them. When he told me this I thought no way would it ever happen but now I at least have some hope.

Well an official expression of support from the neighborhood couldnt hurt the cause.

[sheclown]

This would be a great thing for Main St. i really hope the old Boomtown location is seriously considered. As far it effecting the local businesses....i don't think they would be in danger of losing customers. 3 layers and Uptown draw more of a upwardly mobile/cool crowd. Panera would cater to those who work in the area, who aren't necessarily accustomed to independent places and who feel more comfortable with chain establishments.

Just think....you could have coffee in the morning @ 3 layers, lunch @ Uptown...and curl up with a cup of tea and a book at Panera in the evening. 

...and then go next door, to Team Recovery Thrift Store, and see work by local artists (Roland's "Berkman" piece, or his "Blood of Jesus" piece, Ms. Yang's (from the restaurant) origami (amazing!), and buy a pair of cheap $4.00 been-worn-before-but-it-just-makes-them-softer jeans.

[fsu813]

Dan,

thanks for proving Chriswuf wrong, he always seems to find a way to bash....even if there is no reason to.

[ChriswUfGator]

Yeah, we are a real bunch of assholes Chris. You nailed it.

…I hope the corporate guys and local franchisee are open to the idea

Definitely…

It'd be great for me…

I would love to see Panera open in Springfield though.

While I would welcome a Panera, I think the odds are stacked against it.

oddly enough some people may actually like panera and would like a choice.

Who cares if it is a chain. Bring it to Main St.

I happen to feel it would be a nice addition to the other shops

I hope they do put one on Main in addition to the one they are sure to put in San Marco.

The only comment about it being a chain from Zoo was in the form of a question. She clearly supports it

…I hope the corporate guys and local franchisee are open to the idea….
… Anyone worried about it being a chain?

The only true negative comment about it was from this poster, who may or may not even be a resident!

Why would you want a national chain to come into your area and hurt 2 locally owned and operated breakfast/lunch spots?

Nice cut & paste job there Dan, you sure are talented...at selectively picking posts that back up your point, while ignoring contradictory ones, that is. And while your list does include some of the people I had in mind when I made that comment, a couple forum notables didn't make your list, and another big chunk of the group I had in mind when I wrote that don't even post on this forum.

And I could go back and find posts from at least a couple of those posters, where they've reversed course or contradicted themselves here or in other threads, but you can add me to the list of people who like to check MJ at the airport and my flight is boarding soon. I gotta get my bin space, these JAX-CLT runs usually go pretty full.

[ChriswUfGator]

Just to do a quick job in the short time I've got:

Why would you want a national chain to come into your area and hurt 2 locally owned and operated breakfast/lunch spots?

Moving on this was discussed internally at SPAR on the day the news came out. If you're just getting to it today, Stephen, seems you're about 2 weeks behind.

I don't particularly want a full street of chains...

I like Panera, but if I used to go to the one in San Marco, I would not go downtown just for Panera. Has to be something more than something I can find somewhere else as well.

I wonder how they'd deal with campers? I know on Roosevelt I've come in in the morning and if I made a return trip later in the day, sometimes I've seen the same folks in there. I know Hardee's used to have an issue with bums sitting in there all day nursing their "bottomless cup of coffee", Panera would wind up in a worse scenario with all their comfy chairs and so on.

While I would welcome a Panera, I think the odds are stacked against it. Maybe in 3 years. =(

So umm...yeah. I guess you just conveniently missed these posts?

[ChriswUfGator]

And if you want, when I've got more time, I'd be happy to back up my point by quoting 234,321,658 posts from these same people from the "Thrift Store" thread, and we can just go from there to determine how receptive they are to new businesses opening up on main? lol

[ChriswUfGator]

Dan,

thanks for proving Chriswuf wrong, he always seems to find a way to bash....even if there is no reason to.

What??? Oh come on. This is the same thing as the other thread where I got accused of bashing. I was just pointing out that people shouldn't bash the thought of a new business opening up on Main, regardless of whether it is a corporate chain or not. Before, there was nothing, now there will be something. That's progress. But now, I'm somehow the one "bashing"?

You and Dan must be spending a lot of time together, you've picked up his strategy of "If I accuse them of doing what I'm already doing, before they get a chance to point out that I'm already doing it, then I win!".

[stephendare]

Dan,

thanks for proving Chriswuf wrong, he always seems to find a way to bash....even if there is no reason to.

What??? Oh come on. This is the same thing as the other thread where I got accused of bashing. I was just pointing out that people shouldn't bash the thought of a new business opening up on Main, regardless of whether it is a corporate chain or not. Before, there was nothing, now there will be something. That's progress. But now, I'm somehow the one "bashing"?

You and Dan must be spending a lot of time together, you've picked up his strategy of "If I accuse them of doing what I'm already doing, before they get a chance to point out that I'm already doing it, then I win!".

Nailed it.!

[Karl_Pilkington]

ok on a non-national chain note.... I patronized the Yangs takee outee on Main tonight and was pleasantly suprised.  Its definitely a family run place (the whole family was there, including kids) the prices were very good and their menu was pretty extensive.  Had some enormous portions, orange chicken, chow mei fun etc.. a ton of food for 20 bucks.  Its not gourmet Chinese, but its pretty good.  If you're into supporting main st. local businesses, give this one a try you probably won't be disappointed.