Applebees Coming to Lakewood

[Stephen Eisel]

People don't go to a city because it has an Applebees. They come because it has a Melt.

Have you ever seen the Applebee's parking lot in River on a Friday or Saturday night???

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

People don't go to a city because it has an Applebees. They come because it has a Melt.

Have you ever seen the Applebee's parking lot in River on a Friday or Saturday night???

very good point.

I've never seen it even somewhat empty.

[chris richards]

People don't go to a city because it has an Applebees. They come because it has a Melt.

Have you ever seen the Applebee's parking lot in River on a Friday or Saturday night???

I would speculate that those people generally are locals, not from out of town. Do you visit other cities to go out to eat at applebees?

[john crino]

I guess I will preface this by saying "yes I am happey any construction and new busniness in Lakewood is great" but.....Applebees seems like a desperate move on the those doing the leasing.
Was the lot or lots that ABs is going to occupy not supposed to be townhomes and a park-like setting?
Abs may set the tone for the remainder of Rockport and not neccesarly in a good way. I am not sure exactly where it is going but I assume the people who chose to live in Rockport townhouses would prefer looking at townhomes and a park-like setting across the street from their new house and not an ABs. I thought Rockport was going to be a "different type of urban living" not a stripmall in North Olmsted.

[Bryan Schwegler]

I would speculate that those people generally are locals, not from out of town. Do you visit other cities to go out to eat at applebees?

Yes when I want to eat there, because there isn't one in Lakewood.

[chris richards]

I would speculate that those people generally are locals, not from out of town. Do you visit other cities to go out to eat at applebees?

Yes when I want to eat there, because there isn't one in Lakewood.

perhaps i should rephrase: not from out of the area. area being lets say 30 miles or more? i dunno. now it's getting foolish.

The point is, that unique places to eat and shop make cities more memorable.

[Stephen Eisel]

People don't go to a city because it has an Applebees. They come because it has a Melt.

Have you ever seen the Applebee's parking lot in River on a Friday or Saturday night???

I would speculate that those people generally are locals, not from out of town. Do you visit other cities to go out to eat at applebees?

Yes, I visit the RR Applebees once in a while.

[Dee Martinez]

People don't go to a city because it has an Applebees. They come because it has a Melt. ]

Does a restaurant have to be a tourist draw or make some deep civic statement? Why can't it just be a place where people go to eat?

We need to get over ourselves a little here.

[Brian Pedaci]

Our kids actually are ecstatic that there's going to be an Applebee's going in less than a block from our house. The only thing which would have pleased them more, I think, is a Chuck E Cheese

Look, don't you think that Forest City approached numerous other restauranteurs about locating within the Rockport Square development? I'm pretty sure that Applebee's isn't their ideal, given the type of residential product they're building. It just might have been the one that said 'yes'.

FC needed someone who was going to come in and build from the ground up, not renovate an existing storefront. Where's the local whizbang restauranteur who's going to do that? Chains are pretty much your best option for that kind of investment.

So what if it's just another Thank God It's Ruby Apple Tuesday Friday And Erma Bee's? As has been mentioned here before - it'll be busy, it'll generate revenues, property taxes (once the 5 year abatement wears off, assuming its covered under that as well) and payroll taxes. It'll give FC the stable food service presence they want, and eventually funkier fare may follow for the East End. For now, though, I'm certainly very happy with the news.

[Bryan Schwegler]

The point is, that unique places to eat and shop make cities more memorable.

I agree, but you also can't only have those things. Cities also need things that are common and familiar.

For example there are a lot of people who would never eat at Melt because it's too "different". Personally I think they're crazy, but I know they exist. But these same people would eat at Applebees because they know it, it's familiar, and wherever they go it has the same menu.

Some people just aren't adventurous.

I think the best mix is a mix of unique and different as well as chains and national stores. It's variety that I think appeals to the broadest group of people.

Personally I would have preferred an Olive Garden if we needed a chain restaurant, but Applebees will do.

I also wonder if we're just overreacting a little bit here. We're talking about one Applebees not leveling Detroit and turning into mini-North Olmsted.

[john crino]

FC needed someone who was going to come in and build from the ground up, not renovate an existing storefront. Where's the local whizbang restauranteur who's going to do that? Chains are pretty much your best option for that kind of investment.

My question is: Is ABs going up where it was supposed to be more townhomes and the actual "Rockport Square"?

[Jim O'Bryan]

My question is: Is ABs going up where it was supposed to be more townhomes and the actual "Rockport Square"?

John

Forest City had decided not to use the property on the north side of Detroit. With the down turn in economy, and the lack of home sales, they wanted to count their blessings and make money.

It is the economy and lack of sales that will see other "supposed projects" announced a couple years ago never get built.

Although I was speaking with one developer that has done everything he has said and more in Lakewood, looking very closely at a project for high end apartments near Rockport that are both beautiful and a beautiful idea that will add much value down that direction.

Of course this is the different between good developers and schlocks. They do what they say, while looking at the good of a community. Forest City took the wise road for all of us, as did Tom Barrett.

FWIW

.

[chris richards]

The point is, that unique places to eat and shop make cities more memorable.

I agree, but you also can't only have those things. Cities also need things that are common and familiar.

I also wonder if we're just overreacting a little bit here. We're talking about one Applebees not leveling Detroit and turning into mini-North Olmsted.

Let me preface this by saying that I understand I sound extreme, I am not. And yes, perhaps this whole thread is overreating.

I jsut want the city of Lakewood to be careful, it is easy to say, it's just one Applebees and then welcome in more and more chains to the detrement of local businesses. And while this may not be the case in Lakewood, I have seen it happen in other cities, Ashtabula is one. LaGrange, GA is another, where when I first went there, the only chains were ruby tuesday and golden corral... There were bountiful local eateries. When I went back to visit, most of those restaurants were gone, replaced by chains. So, I'm a little sensative on the subject.

If Lakewood is going to become a "national role model" then everything that happens here becomes a civic statement. Is Applebees just a place to eat? Is that saying, is Lakewood just a place to live? Or is Lakewood more? Is having an Applebees more of a statement than just a place to eat? Maybe it is not, These are messages we need to think about and plan to take on as the city developes itself for success in the future.

They are just things to think about as the city goes forward.

[Bryan Schwegler]

I understand your position Chris and I too would hate to see Lakewood turn into a strip mall heaven.

But I also recognize that "local" is always not the answer either. Just because something is local doesn't make it better. Just because something is local doesn't mean you should give a subpar business your money.

Take restaurants, there are several notably outstanding restaurants in Lakewood, but they're the minority. There are also alot of really bad or just mediocre places that could disappear and no one would care.

A chain will not ruin those local places that are truly good or provide something a chain can't. It's all those mediocre places that have to worry.

And sometimes those chains pay more taxes, pay higher wages and provide better benefits than local places which is better economically as well.

[Dee Martinez]

I jsut want the city of Lakewood to be careful, it is easy to say, it's just one Applebees and then welcome in more and more chains to the detrement of local businesses. And while this may not be the case in Lakewood, I have seen it happen in other cities, Ashtabula is one. LaGrange, GA is another, where when I first went there, the only chains were ruby tuesday and golden corral... There were bountiful local eateries. When I went back to visit, most of those restaurants were gone, replaced by chains. So, I'm a little sensative on the subject.

If Lakewood is going to become a "national role model" then everything that happens here becomes a civic statement. Is Applebees just a place to eat? Is that saying, is Lakewood just a place to live? Or is Lakewood more? Is having an Applebees more of a statement than just a place to eat? Maybe it is not, These are messages we need to think about and plan to take on as the city developes itself for success in the future.

They are just things to think about as the city goes forward.

My questions:

If the "city of Lakewood" wants something other than Applebees, what does the city do go get it?

It the city ACTIVELY does NOT want an Applebees, what legal recourse does the city have to stop it?

On what constitutionall basis can the city stop Applebees and approve Melt?

My impression is that, TIFs aside, this is private property developed by private firms.

You seem to put forth the idea that the Mayor or some other poohbah is sitting at a desk giving yeas and nays to various retail supplicants looking to do business in the city.

Please answer my questions with factual answers as you understand them. I really want to know what you perceive the citys "powers' to be in this regard.