Tops

Rick Uldricks · Post by **Rick Uldricks** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:14 am

A full-service bookstore in Lakewood would be a great thing. Then I wouldn't have to travel to Cracker Park in Westlake. The Bunts/Detroit location would be ideal for this.

Jeff Endress · Post by **Jeff Endress** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:07 am

Jay ventured a prediction about the GE site being turned into a "GetGo"...

I would tend to agree that when GE occupies Tops, they will put in a GetGo, but I think logically and reasonably, it will end up in a reformated parking lot of the Tops location.

1) There is space in the present lot for a GetGo, which would also place the station adjacent to the store, without the barrier of Detroit;
2) THis would be a consolidation on one site, leaving the old GE available for sale/development and therefore maximize both usage and return
3) The GE site is larger than needed for a GetGo, and construction there would further fracture a site which already has a street dividing it (Parkhaven Row), further reducing its development potential.

I can envision a development, turning Parkhaven 90 degrees to the east, and running it into Bunts, consolidating the GE site with its separated parking lot next to Hixons....

Jeff

Teresa Andreani · Post by **Teresa Andreani** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:39 pm

Perhaps the vacant GE could be used as a swing site for the high school during construction. I can envision mobile classrooms or alternate staff parking on the Hixson/parking lot site. How about biology class in "Frozen Foods" or gourmet cooking class in the Bakery?

Bill Call · Post by **Bill Call** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:59 pm

Jeff Endress wrote:3) The GE site is larger than needed for a GetGo, and construction there would further fracture a site which already has a street dividing it (Parkhaven Row), further reducing its development potential.

I can envision a development, turning Parkhaven 90 degrees to the east, and running it into Bunts, consolidating the GE site with its separated parking lot next to Hixons....

Jeff

A friend who works for Tops told me years ago that Tops bought the house behind Giant Eagle just to keep the store from expanding. (I didn't verify his statement but if true that illustrates the cut throat nature of this business.)

If Giant Eagle bought that lot your idea makes a lot of sense.

I am sure our Department of Development is already in contact with Giant Eagle and various developers to take advantage of this great opportunity.

There are limited lots available for development so it is important to do this right. In this case "right" means a development I like. Hopefully the City won't end up with another Marc's Plaza. In my mind a GetGo at that site is worse that a Marc's Plaza

As to the issue of Giant Eagles prices, I may be able to get a copy of my friends price comparison study between Giant Eagle and Tops. If so I will share (most of it) with the readers.

There is no such thing as free gas.

Jeff Endress · Post by **Jeff Endress** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:32 pm

There are limited lots available for development so it is important to do this right. In this case "right" means a development I like

.....and that's what I've always liked about you, Bill. You're ultimately one of the most agreeable guys around, if approached correctly :wink:

Jeff

Stan Austin · Post by **Stan Austin** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:50 pm

I'm trying to blend the two posts of Teresa's cooking classes with Bill's free gas theory!

c. dawson · Post by **c. dawson** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:18 pm

actually I just had a bad thought ... you know who would like a piece of property like the old Giant Eagle site ... one of the big drugstore chains. Sure, Walgreen's is going in on Madison and Warren, and CVS, Rite Aid, and Discount Drug Mart already have locations, but I could see one of them relocating to that site, or Walgreen's opening a second store.

And I'm not entirely sure that a drugstore there would be necessarily good for Lakewood.

How about a nice standalone restaurant? A number of people on this forum seem to really want an Applebee's, though there's any number of other chains with better food that I'd prefer. That would be a great site for a good-sized family restaurant. Bob Evans ... Olive Garden ... Ruby Tuesday ... any of 'em would be good there.

Jeff Endress · Post by **Jeff Endress** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:35 pm

I'm trying to blend the two posts of Teresa's cooking classes with Bill's free gas theory!

Which gives us the perfect segue into the Appleby's discussion.....

Jeff

Charyn Compeau · Post by **Charyn Compeau** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:44 pm

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:26 pm

The winner? I'd never have guessed it - but it was Heinen's with the lowest everyday prices

I saw that and was shocked, but the fine print is that they didn't use coupons or store cards, which I would never go shopping without. Plus they spent something like $40 on just a few items. I really don't think it was a realistic price comparison.

I would really love to see a nice family restaurant in the old GE location. It doesn't necessarily need to be a big chain but an alternative to bars and frou frou restaurants would be nice. Don't get me wrong I like a frou frou dinner every now and then, but it would be nice to take my kiddos too.

Phil Florian · Post by **Phil Florian** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:27 pm

Danielle Masters wrote:
I would really love to see a nice family restaurant in the old GE location. It doesn't necessarily need to be a big chain but an alternative to bars and frou frou restaurants would be nice. Don't get me wrong I like a frou frou dinner every now and then, but it would be nice to take my kiddos too.

Hey, that's why we got a IHOP!

Applebees and those chains are becoming more and more like crowded and noisy bars. The movie Office Space had it right. It is all about the "flair."

Though I don't miss much about living in that town, Cincinnati had a ton of more family-style restaurants than this area. We had a family-owned chain of three restaurants called "Demetrios" (there is one up here, too...related?), our little neighborhood in Greenhills had a family restaurant in the middle of the downtown plaza and so on. Almost one every block. The food was absolutley boring and predictable but that is what comfort food is all about. Does John's Diner fit this bill? I haven't been in there to see. What about that Italian place on the east end of Detroit? It was pretty mainstream from the one time I was there. I would consider Peppers to be very family friendly. Being married to an woman from a half-Italian family makes this easy to see, though.

What about the Carriage House or whatever that place is next to bella dubby? What is that place like? That looks pretty mainstream and totally lacking in any frou-frou qualities. Have we had more traditional American cooking in a restaurant that didn't hang around or hasn't it been tried? Lakewood can't have ALWAYS been a haven for the frou and frou.

Jeff Endress · Post by **Jeff Endress** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:37 pm

Okay....I'm gonna wonder a bit from the topic at hand which appears to be what to do with the GE site. Lakewood is hardly a frou frou haven.....While certainly we have a number of upscale eateries, they are certainly not legion. Three Birds, Pier W, Swingo's and Players...Did I miss one? But, perhaps I misunderstand the definition of "family restaurant" and "bar". To my mind, I have no problem with a "family restaurant" that also serves alcohol. I would attempt to draw the distinction on where the establishment places its emphasis. Do you go there for the food, and maybe a beer, or do you go there to drink and maybe get a taco?
We used to Stouffers, Clark's, Miller's..... the kind of places where you would see entire families out for Sunday dinner. They all served alcohol....they also had high chairs. The "Kid's Menu" was a child's portion of the regular menu.

But, if you're willing to let your kids experiment with flavors, you're willing to expose them to food outside of the burger safety zone, and not be limited to looking for chicken fingers with fries, you can expand your definition of "family restaurant". How about Szecuwan Garden (what kid doesn't like fried wontons or egg rolls) Nikkos (I'm told kids in Greek regularly eat Gyros) Aladdin's (just tell them the Humus is chip dip) Indian Garden (they'll love the tandoori chicken and naan). Of course you've got the Winking Lizard, the spotlessly clean iHop, with more standard fare.

I guess I'd prefer that we let the service and atmosphere define "family restaurant' and not the cuisine. The standard "family restaurants" are cookie cutters of each other. Hard to tell the difference from a Max n Ermas, to a TGIF Fridays, to a Red Robin to a Chili's to an Appleby's to a Been-again (Whoops sorry, Bennigan's) to a Ruby Tuesday....family friendly, boring franchise interstate eateries.

I'm hoping for a Chuck E Cheese.

Jeff

ryan costa · Post by **ryan costa** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:51 pm

I would like revenge on stores that require a discount-power-super-advantage-disco card to purchase items at promotional discount prices. They prevent me from maintaining an efficient key chain and wallet system.

Rick Uldricks · Post by **Rick Uldricks** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:15 am

Seems like we already have plenty of restaurants here and most types of cuisine/atmospheres are represented. What Lakewood does not currently have is a book store. The GE property would be ideal for a Barnes & Noble or Borders style store. Perhaps with a coffee shop and an outdoor seating area?

Esther Hazlett · Post by **Esther Hazlett** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:38 am

Would love to see more (are there even any?) bookstores here in the 'wood. Does anyone remember a place called (I think) A Turn of the Page?

It used to be in Marc's plaza. Extremely helpful, thoughtful people. I miss that store.