Five New Restaurants Coming to Town Center

[Metro Jacksonville]

Five New Restaurants Coming to Town Center





Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2016-may-five-new-restaurants-coming-to-town-center

[ben says]

While I'm happy JAX is getting a retinue of new dining options, I can't say I'd eat at a single one of these. They all look terribly middle America, average, and chain-y.

...let me guess, I come across as snobby.

[Sentient]

While I'm happy JAX is getting a retinue of new dining options, I can't say I'd eat at a single one of these. They all look terribly middle America, average, and chain-y.

...let me guess, I come across as snobby.

Well these are all chains... so.  we get 3 "new" Applebee's, a "new" Olive Garden and a gimmicky meat place (7k sq ft!).

and your City Council members are over the moon while making it difficult for homegrown entrepreneurs to bring authentic food and drink to your neighborhoods.

But we get what we deserve and demographic say we get.  Jacksonville "The Timid New City of the South!"

[Captain Zissou]

I may give the Italian place a try, but the rest are a big pile of nope. 

While I get that the zoning and surrounding neighborhoods are different, It's sad that a locally owned 150 seat restaurant has to wage a legal battle for months to open in Riverside/Avondale, but these monstrosities at the Town Center get a ticker tape parade when they announce their plans to come to the area.

[Captain Zissou]

PS- Go look at some of the facebook comments on this post. SMH

[spuwho]

I may give the Italian place a try, but the rest are a big pile of nope. 

While I get that the zoning and surrounding neighborhoods are different, It's sad that a locally owned 150 seat restaurant has to wage a legal battle for months to open in Riverside/Avondale, but these monstrosities at the Town Center get a ticker tape parade when they announce their plans to come to the area.

It is interesting that a new place can walk into SJTC but go through zoning and permit hell anywhere else.

[Downtown Osprey]

Going to hit up Red Robin - just because LOL. But, I agree with everyone on this thread how frustrating it is for someone LOCAL to have to deal with bullshit small-towned minded people to open something up. Yet they don't blink an eye to all these bland/boring places.

[spuwho]

Texas de Brazil is ok and I will stop in occasionally.

Red Robin was pretty good when I lived in Seattle, but many of the franchises I have eaten at have been a big meh.

The rest compete or overlap with several offerings in Jacksonville and until I taste it, I dont see the urge to go.

I still think SJTC is reaching food saturation levels and I am thinking that over 50% of these new offerings will be gone in 3 years.

[Dapperdan]

Texas de Brazil is very nice. I have been to the Orlando one several times. All of these are entering our market for the first time and some are new franchises, so to me, that is good news.

[coredumped]

...let me guess, I come across as snobby.

I won't be visiting any of these places either. I've been to a red robin and cheddars and they were just OK. Typical chain type food with way too much sodium for your own good.

You can probably go to the back of these restaurants and watch the same Sysco truck go to each loading dock and deliver the same stuff.

I guess I'm snobby too!

[Adam White]

I have no issue with chains. They fill a place in the market and there are some that are quite good. I don't know anything about these, but I'm glad the Town Center is (or appears to be) doing well.

[Jomar]

Texas de Brazil is very nice. I have been to the Orlando one several times. All of these are entering our market for the first time and some are new franchises, so to me, that is good news.

I completely agree with the local vs. franchise frustrations, but I have to admit I have a soft spot for Texas de Brazil too.  The prices put it solidly in the birthday/anniversary-only category, but totally worth it!  I doubt I'll be darkening the doorways of the other four, though, they all seem like pretty cookie cutter concepts.

[I-10east]

I still think SJTC is reaching food saturation levels and I am thinking that over 50% of these new offerings will be gone in 3 years.

Half in just three years? No way in the world.

[I-10east]

I have no issue with chains. They fill a place in the market and there are some that are quite good. I don't know anything about these, but I'm glad the Town Center is (or appears to be) doing well.

Yeah, it's doing very well.

[KenFSU]

New, nationally-known companies investing in the Jacksonville market.

New job creation.

Net positive economic impact.

Sure sounds like a win to me.

Ever try getting a table on the weekend at the Cheesecake Factor, Maggiano's, PF Chang's, California Pizza Kitchen, Brio, Ted's, Wasabi, Mimi's, or any of the other "cookie cutter" chains?

I think they'll be fine without the snobs.

Jacksonville loves its chains.

In a town that has long ignored, suppressed, and bulldozed its own history, we use national chains and (sporting events) to provide us validation that Jacksonville is a "real city."

The NFL. Macy's. IKEA.

It's interesting, but also, a trend that you can really feel reversing itself in recent years as more and more people start expecting, rather than being surprised by, good things happening in the city.