The Observation Deck

McDonald's on Sloane Avenue closed their doors this week cutting off anyway for Lakewoodites
to get their Big Mac Fix, unless you count the McDonald's on Highland Ave. for almost two
weeks. Will the city survive their move from Clifton Park area to the Detroit Avenue Chow
Line, and the new home of the people that put such phrases as "Fast Food" "Do you want
fries with that" and "Super Size" to the American cultural. And now in November the
legendary McRib (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McRib) to Lakewood's infamous
home of the the most diverse menu in the area, the Detroit Avenue Chow Line.


Kudos to McDonald's that has shown some class in the very unpopular move.


They will be closed for two weeks, but open in time for the McRib. The McRib has reached
this legendary stature in the fast food community because McDonald's has decided to
limit access to the cult item. They are in fact available all year long, but the areas move
around like simulated pork chess pieces. McRibites, often drive 500 miles to get a McRib
when not available in their area. While you might think this is like "Harold and Kumar
Goes to White Castle" it is more, and it brings a true destination as City Hall promised to
the Chow Line.




Kind of strange seeing a stripped down McDonald's.

They usually are torn down immediately, but McDonald's have allowed Nature's Bin to
move into it with some slight modifications made by Nature's Bin. Nature's Bin are good
people and a great local business. Thanks!




They really went out of their way to make sure everyone knew they were closed, but not leaving Lakewood.


A nice thought is posted on the sign that will no longer shine its yellow glow into the
Clifton Park community just North of the track. Well their loss...


... is the Chow Line's gain, and some of the other residential areas in the neighborhood.

Don't forget McRib, November 1!

Live well Lakewood and be happy.

.

Jim,

Thanks for sharing!

I can't wait for the ribbon cutting ceremony!

I hope Mayor McCheese and his sidekicks, Captain Crook and the Hamburglar, show up.

Good luck keeping Grimace away ... Grimace just loves City Hall's "Detroit Avenue Chow Line" ribbon cutting ceremonies!

Matt

Jim,

I need more Chow Hound!


Sort of like:


Is "Chow Hound Night" in the future?

I need more Chow Hound!!

Scott

Scott,

The “Chow Hound Club” just obtained this behind the scenes exclusive of City Hall's "Detroit Avenue Chow Line" McDonald's ribbon cutting ceremony preparations:



Matt

Scott Meeson wrote:Jim,
I need more Chow Hound!

Scott/Matt

I cannot promise more Chow Hound here. They are their own group much like LEAF, LakewoodAlive, Chamber of
Commerce, etc. They came to me months ago with an idea, that many thought were silly and wondered if I
could help. I said I can help with some things like photos, and would go through the archives on stories. But
it would be presumptuous of me to promise anything at this point.

I have also covered some of the awards ceremonies, right now them giving Gift Certificates that are good at
any restaurant on Detroit Avenue, but little more than that. They have asked me to keep my camera handy as
they are kicking off a couple promotions to help celebrate the diverse food and entertainment in Lakewood and
the area. From the historic best concert location in Lakewood the Phantasy Theater (going through some really
positive changes), to Blackbird Bakery, from John's Diner to Eddies 'N Eddies.

It is great fun working with some fresh out of the box thinkers.

So all I can say is stay tuned, according to them, it is about to get $$$$$$$$$illy!


.

While myself, my family and our neighbors are still not thrilled it's a McDonalds, it really is better than an empty movie theater. We're hoping they are good neighbors and embrace the community.

Here's to a McRib!

Matthew

That's the spirit. One of the many projects we worked in in the early days of the Observer was developing
branding, slogans, and other items that would help define and describe Lakewood. Of course when we tried,
many of the now civic leaders and elected officials thought it was stupid. Of course now we know why, they
wanted to get the credit for doing it, and they needed to control what came out of it.

However, Joan Roberts who I believe moved out 3 or 4 years ago came up with a slogan, than Ken Warren and
many other people saw reflected day after day in Lakewood, and in what people were bringing to Lakewood.

That slogan was, "Good enough for now."

It is nice to see that nearly 6 years after studying the city, that slogan is still alive and thriving in Lakewood.

McDonald's better than nothing, 4 Dollar stores on Detroit Avenue, Good enough for now. Close our public
parks as early as 4pm, Good enough for now.

Housing stock falling apart because the housing department was gutted and then joined with the development
department who cares only about commercial development, Good enough for now...

I believe that McDonald's will be great neighbors, after all when on Sloane there was only one murder that I
remember. Of course that along with the hours, the early morning deliveries, and the
trash started the let's get them out of here and in another neighborhood program.

But McRibs, and in the spring Shamrock Shakes will make everything seem...

Good enough for now.

.

Jim--

Good to see that you can help the Chow line people (I too think they have great and fun ideas, and my kids are loving the stickers and are waiting to join the puppy chow line or whatever) and still maintain some perspective on the fact that it's not the most fun to have some of these places around. I had hopes for that Detroit Theater space, as did some others, the most interesting, a partnership between a local very active church and the Cleveland Cinemateque. By the time people knew the place was a goner, it had already been traded away by our City.

Speaking of ribbon cuttings, I'm not sure how they use their fryers, or whatever produces grease at Quaker Steak And Lube but you can smell grease all the way down Andrews (I park halfway down the street when I get coffee around there) And this is before 10 AM which means it's grease from the night before. I was thinking, boy, you wake up, walk outside on your front steps to smell the Fall air and look at the blue sky and whammo. Grease in the face. Never mind sitting on your front porch, sipping your morning coffee and reading the paper. Again I had the thought, "Glad I don't live on this street." I have a restaurant (local, non-chain, also on the Chow Line) at the end of my street and they serve french fries and chicken wings-- I'm not sure what they're doing that doesn't wreck the whole top of my street but maybe they should share their technology with Quaker Steak and Lube. Talk about reducing the property values on a residential street. "This street smells."

Not "good enough."

Betsy Voinovich

I guess I'm still caught in a time warp, thinking about an alternative future for Detroit that almost happened. Building on the success of Rosewood to get the condos and gym at Bunts, upscale apartments to take advantage of the demand for new apartments, an increasing demand that feeds development at Rockport......oh well.

Jammy Baggers was busy last night. We drove down Detroit to see what was going on. Quaker Steak was kinda empty (they have laid off 50% of the new hires), Eddie's had some empty tables but business seemed ok. Pacers's was empty.

Develpment in the Cleveland area is a zero sum game, especially the restaurant business.

FWIW:

http://www.restaurant.org/research/forecast/

http://www.restaurant.org/research/video/

Bill Call wrote:I guess I'm still caught in a time warp, thinking about an alternative future for Detroit that almost happened. Building on the success of Rosewood to get the condos and gym at Bunts, upscale apartments to take advantage of the demand for new apartments, an increasing demand that feeds development at Rockport......oh well.

Jammy Baggers was busy last night. We drove down Detroit to see what was going on. Quaker Steak was kinda empty (they have laid off 50% of the new hires), Eddie's had some empty tables but business seemed ok. Pacers's was empty.

Develpment in the Cleveland area is a zero sum game, especially the restaurant business.

Betsy

I have found that it is always best to get in front of a problem. After the property is sold,
built and developed it is nearly impossible to unfold or undo. Like it or not, we are being
labeled as the Burger Dollar Store City.

When the city rushes to accomplish anything just to prove they are doing something you
are going to have some issues, but with a city hall willing to ignore the constant cries for
basketball hoops, family-friendly park hours, ignoring residential streets to continuously
preen the "Miracle .8ths of a Mile" aka Downtown, residents are just going to have to get used to it.


Bill

We were promised hoops, high ends shopping downtown, boutique hotels, and the end of
taxes as we knew them. Hey they overstated a little. Big deal! Bags of Swedish Fish for a $1!
A reason to celebrate.

As many have said so many times here. The good places will succeed, and those that are
not will fail. The natural selection process of the Free Enterprise system.

Nice condos, Rockport, High End shopping

Want to buy a bridge?

Or some trees?

No matter it is Lakewood and I would rather be no other place.

Scott

The DACL art is copyrighted, I really do not want to infringe on their "schtick" or
intellectual property. I know in Lakewood it is "cool" to take intellectual property.
But not here.

peace


.

Scott

The DACL art is copyrighted, I really do not want to infringe on their "schtick" or
intellectual property. I know in Lakewood it is "cool" to take intellectual property.
But not here.

peace


.[/quote]

Jim

I placed my mouse pointer over the dog and copied the URL Only the URL was copied and placed within the image brackets.(?)

Scott Meeson

Scott Meeson wrote:Scott

The DACL art is copyrighted, I really do not want to infringe on their "schtick" or
intellectual property. I know in Lakewood it is "cool" to take intellectual property.
But not here.

peace


.

Jim

I placed my mouse pointer over the dog and copied the URL Only the URL was copied and placed within the image brackets.(?)

Scott Meeson[/quote]


Scott

No problem, I was just thinking that people might read your post as if you were a representative of the DACL.
No big deal, I know that the CKC is very protective of their logo, and you might say I did the introduction.

I am also very sensitive, as this city over the past ten years have co-opted so many ideas it makes me wonder
how anyone could go into start-up or whatever it is call and talk about any idea.

I am sure they can speak up if needed.

.

Scott

Scott please accept my apology.
Got a note you were doing it right, and I think we have something to announce pretty soon.



Detroit Avenue Chow Line Brings it Home Again!

In a recent Money & Co. survey, Five Guys was rated favorite burger chain in America! Out of the 40 or so places to order burgers on Detroit Avenue, Lakewood's Detroit Avenue Chow Line has not
only a Five Guys Burger just a couple blocks left of the center of Downtown Lakewood, but also its regional office! Yeah! DACL!

It also is the home of two other Burger Chains mentioned in the article: Burger King-- 5 strong places out of last place-- and McDonald's, which was three out of last place!

So there is much to brag about on the Chow Line this week!

However, the addition of Money & Co's survey favorite #2, an In-N-Out Burger, survey favorite #3, Fuddruckers, with an A&W, #4, would really put us in better standings for a good burger in Lakewood. Not that we don't have plenty of great burgers, but diversity, different kinds, would be cool.

Burger King, and DACL newcomer McDonald's, cheer up, it was only one survey. As other DACL members have found, there is GOLD on Detroit Ave.

Celebrate today at Five Guys with a "Job well done" at the counter.

From the LA Times!
Five Guys voted favorite burger chain, McDonald's near bottom
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-five-guys-burger-mcdonalds-20120918,0,2348963.story


.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Scott please accept my apology.
Got a note you were doing it right ...

"Good Neighbors Talking Over The Digital Fence About Chow On The Detroit Avenue Chow Line"