KCRag Forum

The part that gets me on missing fast food is the missing support for tourists/events.

Any idea I could think of that somehow downtown doesn't have the right demographics is voided by this idea.

Sidewalks being empty wouldn't be relevant today to opening one along the streetcar and there hasn't been a sign of that in the past few years from most brands. Going back further even a long running walking friendly location like The Plaza doesn't have (much( fast food within easy reach of it, even just outside the core shops. There have been a few but not as much as I would expect.

flyingember wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 1:02 pm The part that gets me on missing fast food is the missing support for tourists/events.

Any idea I could think of that somehow downtown doesn't have the right demographics is voided by this idea.

Sidewalks being empty wouldn't be relevant today to opening one along the streetcar and there hasn't been a sign of that in the past few years from most brands. Going back further even a long running walking friendly location like The Plaza doesn't have (much( fast food within easy reach of it, even just outside the core shops. There have been a few but not as much as I would expect.

My guess is that drive thru requirements stop the placing of fast food restaurants DT. I'd think that Midtown will see many more in the near future. Dunkin Donuts is adding a location across from Costco and every time I've gone to fast food in Midtown (the older chains: MCD-2, Wendy's, Subway, etc) the lines are extremely long. Just haven't seen any of the new players make the jump yet.

I think once the office people return and we all come back into the light things will change. Yes the pandemic has shown work from home will work, but it has it challenges and the office building will still be needed. I'm hoping that the economy gets back up to speed quickly which will allow for new and exciting things to happen. I work downtown and can't wait to get back. But I di find it odd the lack of fast food joints, especially when you factor the convention crowds and office workers. I would think fast food places could adjust their schedules to be open when the people are there.

Infamously the McDonalds franchise owner that "owns" the downtown market demands a drive thru

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 1:42 pm Infamously the McDonalds franchise owner that "owns" the downtown market demands a drive thru

We can totally live without this.

Just addressing the topic of chains downtown. While I don't mind it, it would add value for many visiting downtown.

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 1:42 pm Infamously the McDonalds franchise owner that "owns" the downtown market demands a drive thru

I would hope if enough competition appears without a drive thru they'll change their mind.

The one that was on the Plaza didn't have one.

Neither did the downtown one. They are both closed so not sure that's a great data point

Ugh. Just TIF a Carl's Jr.

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:08 pm Ugh. Just TIF a Carl's Jr.

Didn't work for Whopper Bar

There is a reason the Cosentinos buffet lines are popular. Meals at that price point when people come downtown for events with families doesn't exist in many current food establishments.

Need more spaces constructed in new buildings downtown that have infrastructure for kitchens, refrigeration, storage, and venting.

I don't know how widespread this is, but the company I work for is letting employees decide whether or not to return to the office. Indications are that most won't come back. In some ways I think that kinda sucks, but once the tide started leaning that way, I was sucked in by it as well. Who wants to go work in an empty office? At least at home I can have my cat in my lap (or, vastly more likely, laying on my keyboard or trying to attack my mouse cursor... hmmm, actually, maybe I should reconsider...)

I think a lot will try it right now because commanding everybody come back 100% would be an employee relations disaster. After that, we will see changes and ultimately see more in the office, most doing a hybrid thing.

^A JLL report claims that WFH was 8% of Fortune 500 office workers before COVID. Is likely it will settle into place higher than that given WFH tech/practices have improved (including IT/HR onboarding/provisioning) and some companies were planning to boost WFH before COVID anyway. JLL thinks WFH will hit 20% by end of this year. If it holds steady at 20% or higher, not great news for office industry.

Rotating employees in without dedicated desks might become more commonplace, but that reduces space needs in the long run. I didn't have a dedicated desk my last job for many years, work from anywhere. Sometimes in office 1-2 times a week, sometimes not for a month or so while perhaps working from a friend/relative's place somewhere else.

Starbucks gone. Will be renovated in Made in KC Coffee

normalthings wrote: ↑Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:04 pm Starbucks gone. Will be renovated in Made in KC Coffee

In addition to the one a block away?

I was assuming it would replace the one in the New Yorker, which would be a little unfortunate (I love them in that space) but possibly a more prominent location? You know what they say about assumptions though.

A Starbucks will have to popup somewhere in the loop.

mean wrote: ↑Sat Apr 24, 2021 11:33 pm I was assuming it would replace the one in the New Yorker, which would be a little unfortunate (I love them in that space) but possibly a more prominent location? You know what they say about assumptions though.

That New Yorker spot is bigger right? So this spot would just be coffee?