Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Restaurant news

Two interesting tidbits from our city's restaurant scene...

A tipster informs me that Hooters is currently scouting for a location in the city of Grand Forks. This rumor has been circulated before, but my source has shed light on the company's attempts to find an appropriate location for the "delightfully tacky, yet unrefined" restaurant. According to my tipster, Hooters wanted to build on the empty lot in front of Kohls (at the intersection of 32nd Ave. S. and S. 34th St.), but the department store did not want that type of restaurant in that spot. I'm not entirely sure if that means that this lot is owned by Kohls. Now, Hooters is apparently trying to find a more appropriate location for their new restaurant. Any ideas where a more appropriate spot for a Hooters might be?

Also in local restaurant news, it looks like Grand Forks may soon be down to just one Arby's location. The Columbia Road location, which is the older of the city's two Arby's, is currently listed for sale. I assume that means that this building will no longer house an Arby's. If that is the case, this would make the 32nd Avenue location the only Arby's in town.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would think there would be little resistance to a Hooters along S. 42nd St. near the Alerus...if they want to spend the ungodly amount of money requested by Danks for the land. I think it would also fit in well in University Village...but since that has only been built to please rich alumni and not students, I won't hold my breath about that location.
Has anyone been to the Arby's on S. Columbia lately? wow...it is really, really bad (service, food, cleanliness, etc) suprised it lasted this long, really.

Anonymous said...

I would think there would be little resistance to a Hooters along S. 42nd St. near the Alerus...if they want to spend the ungodly amount of money requested by Danks for the land. I think it would also fit in well in University Village...but since that has only been built to please rich alumni and not students, I won't hold my breath about that location.
Has anyone been to the Arby's on S. Columbia lately? wow...it is really, really bad (service, food, cleanliness, etc) suprised it lasted this long, really.

elucidarian said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
elucidarian said...

I have never had good service there. Three times in my life have I given it a chance, and they blew it each one. The worst was when I went inside about 6 years ago. The place had garbage on the floor. There were two employees I could see. One was this poor guy handling everything: the drive through, the food, and the counter, where I waited a little too long. The other employee was on the phone near the office. She was loud, obnoxious, and swearing up a storm (not angrily, just habitually), as if nothing else was her concern. Then I got my food, which left nothing to redeem my visit. That was the last time.

dale said...

That Arby's has actually been for sale since before the one on 32nd opened. They did take down the sign for a while, though (assuming it's back, I haven't looked.)

Bottom line is that it's in a horrible location. If you want to exit the restaurant and go south on Columbia, you're likely to wait a long time to turn left. Compounding it is that there is no way out to the east, so you're left with the uncontrolled intersection on Columbia, or cutting through the Hugo's / Perkins lot to get to a stop light.

When it was built (20 years ago, maybe?) that wasn't much of a problem, but greatly increased traffic means that even the most oblivious potential tenant is going to notice it when they check out the site.

Anonymous said...

Anybody know what's being built right east of the Sam's Club? Looks like a block foundation is already in and seems quite large of an area.

Anonymous said...

It is a new Lithia Toyota car dealership.

Amy said...

I think Hooter's would be a slam dunk in the University Village area. College students love hot wings and beer... and um, the ambiance would probably go over well too!

Eric J. Burton said...

hooters has great food and I can't wait for my new hang out... Great wings.

Anonymous said...

I think 42nd street or close to the university would be a good spot. I have to agree with previous comments about the Arby's on columbia, I've had no luck there the last couple of times either.

Anonymous said...

GF needs a Thai restaurant...period.

Anonymous said...

Fargo-Moorhead now has two Thai restaurants.

Anonymous said...

I cant wait to see boobies!!hehe

Anonymous said...

Haven't seen many GF women who would "fit" the Hooter's uniform.

Anonymous said...

Tell me about it.

Have you seen the Fargo Hooter girls. Worst ones every.

Anonymous said...

Haven't seen too many GF boys who could dance with Chippendales.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

I cant wait to see boobies!!hehe



Amazing!

Anonymous said...

Who actually enjoys HOOTERS? That place is not great food. The women are generally ok, but why do you really want that with a meal? It's like guys need an excuse to mix dining with strip clubs and you get something that isn't a strip club, or a good lace to eat. Sort of for the indecisive, or guys with the ol' testicle lock box back home with the wife.

Arby's was always synonymous with Ex-lax. If they straighten THAT out they might have good enough business.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know when Hooters plans to open? I know they still need a location but is there an estimate on when they will open? Also, I heard that they are interested in the old Ponderosa building but I'm not sure if thats just a rumor.