Subway's 50th Grand Forks location
Ok, not quite 50th...but we certainly do seem to have plenty of Subway restaurants in town. For those of you who haven't heard, a new Subway restaurant will soon be opening in downtown Grand Forks. Signs have gone up on the former Red River Cafe building on DeMers Avenue announcing the new location. Check out the Herald story and Grand Forks blogger Rick Abbott's post.
If you've been reading GFL for a while, this probably won't be big news to you - it's been mentioned in several comment threads. A new Subway restaurant in town isn't usually big news, but this time it's a little different. If memory serves me correctly, this will be the only chain restaurant in downtown Grand Forks. East Grand Forks has Applebee's, but Grand Forks' downtown has been basically chain-free for quite some time (as far back as I can remember).
I'm sure this will rehash the chain vs. local debate again. As for me, I'm happy to see yet another new business coming downtown. Recent additions to the downtown scene include Joe Black's, Dakota Harvest Bakers, The Toasted Frog, Gilly's, O'Really's, and Porpoura. On top of this, we've seen many new housing developments opening, under construction, or in the works. Downtown has been doing better lately than it has done for years. Many of the empty storefronts have been filled and I'm guessing there will be even more businesses coming downtown in the near future. It's great to see Subway filling a spot. Also, anyone working or living downtown has had to leave the neighborhood if they wanted to eat at a fast food restaurant...this should help change that. It's good to see a mix downtown (chains and locally-owned places, fast food and fine dining).
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The Forum reports that Fargo will have a Golden Corral in the next four months.
Thought I'd send that along for those of you who constantly think Grand Forks isn't a leader. :o)
I value locally-owned business, however I think Subway is a perfect addition to downtown GF. I see it as an alternative rather than a competitor. We've got sit-down, fancy, liquor-licensed, and specialty food services in that area, but no fast food. And if there's got to be fast food, Subway is about as healthy a choice you can have.
If it's open late, they'll see a surge of business after 2am bar close...
I live close enough to walk to downtown, and I think it will be nice to have a Subway. I would think they would do well, better than the Red River Cafe (food was OK, but they were fairly expensive).
Downtown should be called drunkfest! That is all it is good for. I live downtown and every night all the kids come down there to get wasted. I am not complaining because I do the same thing and I go to college. I wouldn't say that it is doing great for the town because there is not family cafe's or anything. Please don't tell me 3rd street cafe is a family place because it sucks. Anyway drink away!
About sandwich places, WTF ever happend to Grand Junction grilled subs? I thought they were opening this past April at the new location. Are they somewhere else, i have yet to see it?
I believe Grand Junction is still located in the Happy Harry's Plaza off Gateway.
The Grand Junction there closed. It moved to the strip mall in the 1700 block of South Washington, directly behind the old Philips gas station. Not sure if it is open yet or when it is going to open, but work was being done to remodel that space into the Grand Junction.
OK now, someone pleez respond to this one, pleez. I think it would be a very good idea to put a Mcdonalds on the corner of Demers and I wanna say north 4th street in downtown. Right now its just an emty lot of grass with two buildings on both sides. I believe Norby's Work Perks is on north 4th street. It's kind of a small lot but it could be used primarily as a drive-thru. If someone knows what "lil" grass lot in downtown I'm talking about please tell me what you think! I believe that it could go somewhere if city planners knew about this. There's nothing there and it could be put to some good use!!!
I think it would be a good park, personally. Screw McDonalds.
As for Grand Junction, I was down there yesterday morning (On S Washington). It looks like they have a sign in the window but aren't finished remodeling. It's a horrible location if you don't already know it's there.
A good park? No, it doesn't have to be Mcdonalds, but it would still be a good location for a drive thru restaurant!
I'm actually pretty happy. I'll be student teaching at Central High School this fall, and this will be both affordable and healthy, compared to my other downtown options.
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