What Does Downtown Need?

[panamaniac]

You're both in luck! Soon we will have "The Works" for your diverse burger needs.

...in Uptown.

Having sampled both the Works and Five Guys on more occasions than I care to admit, I have to give the "sinfully good" award to Five Guys. The Works is very good and has a more creative and varied menu but falls a bit short on the "gloriously greasy" scale of true hamburger goodness.

[Anderson3133]

You're both in luck! Soon we will have "The Works" for your diverse burger needs.

...in Uptown.

I completely forgot about that. My friend has been raving about their burgers for years since he has moved to Ottawa.

[mpd618]

You're both in luck! Soon we will have "The Works" for your diverse burger needs.

...in Uptown.

Setting aside the location, it's totally different - The Works is a gourmet burger restaurant, while Five Guys is no-frills fast food.

[dscassel]

I'd be reasonably happy if more of the restaurants and take out places were open later on evenings and on weekends. Downtown's a wasteland outside banker's hours.

[zanate]

I'd be reasonably happy if more of the restaurants and take out places were open later on evenings and on weekends. Downtown's a wasteland outside banker's hours.

Not my experience last night, to be honest. The weather may have helped. Bustling... no. Occupied, definitely. More bikes at the racks on King St. near Queen at 8pm than at 6pm.

[UrbanWaterloo]

I was in Washington DC last week and tried out a Five Guys for the first time. Although I enjoyed the toppings selection (green peppers ), I wasn't impressed with the burger. The patty was a bit small and the bun was squished together. There was no combo discount so the cost of my meal was $13, in part because I ordered a large fries to share (it would have been closer to $10 with regular size). At the same price point I feel Fuddruckers, another American burger chain, gives you better value for your money. You get less fries, but the burger is larger and I like being able to top it myself. The value proposition is especially true if you prefer drinking beer over soda. There's only one Fuddruckers in Canada though, in Saskatoon, so it's a bit of a stretch to expect one in Downtown Kitchener anytime soon.

Even though I wouldn't be a regular Five Guys customer, I'd still welcome them Downtown simply because we need more of everything in Waterloo Region's cores. Another chain I think could do well Downtown is King's Buffet (and they're local).

Five Guys Downtown Alexandria - April 4, 2012

First a look down their King Street.






Peace sign for the camera.







Fuddruckers Downtown Washington DC - April 3, 2012





Located in Chinatown

[markster]

Of all things...

I randomly visited that Fuddruckers when I went for a 3 day trip to Washington a couple years ago.

I recall it being good, but I don't have any lasting impression of it, beyond it being a fairly standard gourmet burger.

[.FLH.]

I don't think our downtown's need American Burger chains to make them viable

[panamaniac]

Of all things...

I randomly visited that Fuddruckers when I went for a 3 day trip to Washington a couple years ago.

I recall it being good, but I don't have any lasting impression of it, beyond it being a fairly standard gourmet burger.

I must have walked past that location of Fuddruckers a hundred times when I lived in D.C. but I must admit I was never tempted to go in. So many other terrific restaurants in the neighbourhood plus, strangely, the name of the place really put me off.

[bcwessel]

A post on Kijiji is advertising the following opportunity:

DOWNTOWN KITCHENER PRIME GROCERY STORE OPPORTUNITY

Our community needs a grocery store downtown. The public are clamouring for it.

Seeking an experienced operator / owner for a centrally located grocery store walking distance to all downtown communities. Willing to do a straight lease or partnership.

Joint ventures considered. Willing to partially fund start up capital required.

Location offers plenty of accessible space, 35+ parking spots, located in a century old building with tons of character. Space is flexible between 12000 and 20000 square feet.

Vision is not for a Sobeys nor a Vincenzos. Something that appeals to all walks of life that could be repositioned to higher end prepared foods as Downtown matures and evolves. Please send a resume with your experience and vision for what our community needs!
Take this with a grain of salt for now, as I'm pretty sure the address given is the Kitchener bus terminal.

(Credit to Stephen Litt from The Madison Group for reporting the news first via Twitter.)

[KevinL]

Do we know which building this is?

[bcwessel]

Do we know which building this is?

As far as I can tell, that address is the Kitchener bus terminal. The address is:
a) a typo;
b) somebody getting creative to raise awareness of/support for the need for what many consider an "essentials" grocery store downtown for people to feel comfortable living there without a car; or,
c) the Region and City are really getting ahead of the ball in re-purposing their somewhat soon to be vacant property.

[KevinL]

The ad says a 'century old building', so certainly nothing on the Terminal's block.

[DHLawrence]

Maybe it's across the street and they got the number wrong? The off-track betting place could make a good grocery store.

[benjaminbach]

c) the Region and City are really getting ahead of the ball in re-purposing their somewhat soon to be vacant property.

Likely not an ad from the City, as the RFP process wouldn't utilize a Kijiji ad

[mpd618]

I think the address is meant to indicate "central location downtown", and that the actual building is something they're not disclosing yet. This seems like it is a Madison Group project, so maybe they will chime in here.

[bcwessel]

Likely not an ad from the City, as the RFP process wouldn't utilize a Kijiji ad

Yeah, the absurdity of "c" was meant to indicate that the address in the posting isn't the actual property. As mpd suggested, and judging by the source of the initial announcement, Madison Group is probably involved in some way. Does anybody know which properties they hold in the area?

[garthdanlor]

Maybe it's across the street and they got the number wrong? The off-track betting place could make a good grocery store.

Yes, my first thought was that they actually meant the old Charlie's restaurant/betting place. It's the right age and size, has some parking and, obviously, good transit links. Though, as other have suggested, the address was probably just pointing to a central location.

[DowntownRetail]

This building in the ad is what was Off Track Betting across from the Bus Terminal. I can confirm the Madison Group are not the new owners. It is a great location for a grocery store and will be directly on the LRT line and has available parking.

[panamaniac]

That building would indeed make for an attractive location, but do people seriously find people to run major businesses on Kijiji these days? I am more out of touch all the time.

In other news, there definitely seems to be some work going on at the old Eatons building - wasn't the space on the corner of King and Water originally slated to be a high end food vendor of some sort?