The Observation Deck

Wasn't someone hoping this would happen?

http://blog.cleveland.com/lakewoodsunpo ... ewood.html

Bryan

While I have noted, on a number of occaisions, my general issue with franchise restaurants, nevertheless, I think this is really positive news. It shows a large corp. sees potential in Rockport specifically, and Lakewood generally.

We all care about the TYPE of buniness that fills our spaces and while Appleby's may not be my cup of tea, there can be no doubt that they will provide a strong presence and be a draw for not only Lakewood residents, but others from outside as well. The type of business that can only help strenghen the east end of Detroit. Great news. Let's start working on Trader Joes!

Jeff

I think this is exciting news. I am very pleased with the work the people are doing at Rockport. They are fighting an uphill battle and wining.

Lets also remember the owners of the Applebee Franchise are Lakewood Residents as well.

So good news all around.

Jeff Endress wrote:Bryan

While I have noted, on a number of occaisions, my general issue with franchise restaurants, nevertheless, I think this is really positive news. It shows a large corp. sees potential in Rockport specifically, and Lakewood generally.

We all care about the TYPE of buniness that fills our spaces and while Appleby's may not be my cup of tea, there can be no doubt that they will provide a strong presence and be a draw for not only Lakewood residents, but others from outside as well. The type of business that can only help strenghen the east end of Detroit. Great news. Let's start working on Trader Joes!

Jeff

I don't know... I'm not sure a stong pressence made by Appleby's is something that will play well with other local Lakewood restaurants taht at this time, seem to be flourishing. And I'm not sure trying to draw in Trader Joe's would be good for Nature's Bin... Sure, Trader Joe's has their own brand of items, and may be less expensive on certain things... but we already have Nature's Bin, which is close, and convenient. As well as providing vocational programs for people with disabilities...

If people really want these places, they aren't far outside of Lakewood's border. There's no reason we need them so close when we have unique places of our own.

Chris,

I would suggest, however, that with a population around 50k, Lakewood has more than enough people to sustain both Trader Joe's and Nature's Bin as well as an Applebee's and other local establishments.

Using myself as an example I will say that I really dont shop at the Bin. I will go periodically for the fruits or vegetables, but the array of groceries that are provided are quite specialized and do not fit my lifestyle or dietary choices.

Trader Joe's seems to focus more on gormet farer and provides additional product choices that I dont believe compete directly with Nature's Bin while having some offerings that may. I think, a Whole Foods or Wild Oats (Whole Foods lite) would be far more problematic for the Bin.

As for Applebee's - it is a completely different menu and dining experience than some of our small restaurants, and while there are lot of Lakewood residents that do not prefer chain restaurants, there are a LOT that do. Why send them outside of Lakewood, when we have so many empty storefronts?

If I am going to The Place to Be or Players, I am going there regardless of whether there is an Applebee's and if I am gong to go to an Applebee's I will go there regardless of whether it is in Lakewood or Rocky River.

Now IHOP might have to worry - but considering the last time I went in there....

A little worry might be good for them.

Always,
Charyn

Charyn Compeau wrote:Now IHOP might have to worry - but considering the last time I went in there....

A little worry might be good for them.

Always,
Charyn

Good analysis.

Restaurants that fail in Lakewood sometimes like to blame the City. It has been my experience that a failed restaurant (like Crazy Rita's) fails because of bad food and bad service. Of course some places like the rib place in the Lakewood Center building have been offering bad food and bad service for years....

An Applebees might liven up that corner of town. If there is a market for it it will succeed. If not it won't. The market usually makes the right decision.

Of course my preference was for a tear down all the way to the tracks with a replacement park for Kaufman Park but if there was a market for that idea I suppose someone would have done it.

Of course some places like the rib place in the Lakewood Center building have been offering bad food and bad service for years....

[/quote]


You're right they don't have *the* best food ever, but I love the patio. I'll go anywhere with a decent patio.

Usually I equate Applebee's with bland, big-box retail-driven soulless suburbs ... which mostly is right ... but hey, if they want to build in Lakewood, it's a good thing. More business for the city, even stuff that I'd never go to, is good for the city, because there will be plenty of people who do go there, and there will be a number of Lakewood residents who will be employed there. The more the merrier ... I'd love to see more businesses opening up shop, even stuff you usually only see in the outer-ring suburbs ... and why not, it makes good business sense. We've got 50,000 consumers within our city limits, and tens of thousands more right over the borders in Cleveland. And many of these consumers would like to shop or dine at a place close to home, so they can save gas costs.

And the east end is pretty underserved, in terms of the sheer number of restaurants, so it should actually draw fairly well.

I'm still wondering about the rumor I heard about a new Dunkin Donuts to be built on Detroit in the parking lot next to the empty Rosati's storefront.
Again, not very likely a place I'd patronize often, but it would still be great to have one in town, paying taxes and employing residents, and I'm sure plenty of folks WOULD stop there ... so it could be another success in the 'Wood.

Charyn Compeau wrote:As for Applebee's - it is a completely different menu and dining experience than some of our small restaurants, and while there are lot of Lakewood residents that do not prefer chain restaurants, there are a LOT that do. Why send them outside of Lakewood, when we have so many empty storefronts?

I don't think Applebee's coming into a newly constructed space means other businesses filling in currently empty storefronts.

One of the problems with chain stores is the desire to tear down what is already there to build to suit so that when they go out of business it is even more difficult to fill the empty space.

And where one chain goes, soon, others will likely follow...

Should we not be happy that a new business is coming to Lakewood???

Stephen Eisel wrote:Should we not be happy that a new business is coming to Lakewood???

we should... but with caution. chain's are double edged swords.

with reading people's concerns about money staying in Lakewood in many earlier threads, I have to think that chains are not a way to do so.

chris richards wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote:Should we not be happy that a new business is coming to Lakewood???

we should... but with caution. chain's are double edged swords.

with reading people's concerns about money staying in Lakewood in many earlier threads, I have to think that chains are not a way to do so.

How much tax revenue is that parcel generating right now?

c. dawson wrote:Usually I equate Applebee's with bland, big-box retail-driven soulless suburbs ... which mostly is right ... but hey, if they want to build in Lakewood, it's a good thing. More business for the city, even stuff that I'd never go to, is good for the city, because there will be plenty of people who do go there, and there will be a number of Lakewood residents who will be employed there. The more the merrier ... I'd love to see more businesses opening up shop, even stuff you usually only see in the outer-ring suburbs ... and why not, it makes good business sense. We've got 50,000 consumers within our city limits, and tens of thousands more right over the borders in Cleveland. And many of these consumers would like to shop or dine at a place close to home, so they can save gas costs.

And the east end is pretty underserved, in terms of the sheer number of restaurants, so it should actually draw fairly well.

I'm still wondering about the rumor I heard about a new Dunkin Donuts to be built on Detroit in the parking lot next to the empty Rosati's storefront.
Again, not very likely a place I'd patronize often, but it would still be great to have one in town, paying taxes and employing residents, and I'm sure plenty of folks WOULD stop there ... so it could be another success in the 'Wood.

excellent points!

ewwwwwwwww Applebee's.

I guess my friends won't have to drive to Rocky River to consume this garbage!

At least it's a new business, and I think it will do well here.

Ivor Karabatkovic wrote:ewwwwwwwww Applebee's.

I guess my friends won't have to drive to Rocky River to consume this garbage!

At least it's a new business, and I think it will do well here.

c'mon! they have great mini cheeseburgers