Louisville - Cheesecake Factory just around the corner...

[LouisvilleJake]

yeah yeah yeah...I know they are just a chain, however they are a chain I really like. With the PF Changs now u/c not far from Mall St Matthews, I am happy with the "chain" restaurant situation in this city.

2 of my 3 desires for this city down, 1 more to go...




The Cheesecake Factory Inc., a chain of upscale casual-dining restaurants with a menu built around more than 50 dessert selections, is in talks to open a location in Mall St. Matthews.


"We are in the midst of talking with the people there," said Howard Gordon, senior vice president of business development and marketing for the California-based company. But "there is no signed deal on it yet."

Nevertheless, space apparently will be available for the restaurant if it lands in the mall, located at 5000 Shelbyville Road.

After two decades of being in Mall St. Matthews, Fashion Shop clothing store is leaving the center because its lease, which ends Jan. 31, was not renewed, said Benjamin Levine, vice president of Fashion Shops of Kentucky Inc.

In early Feb_ruary, the company will move its store across the street to space that also houses two other concepts operated by Fashion Shops of Kentucky Inc.

"We've been there 20 years, and we'd love to stay," he said, adding that he had been told that the mall is "putting in a Cheesecake Factory."

Levine said mall officials did not give his company "any inclination" that there was space elsewhere in the mall where Fashion Shop could move permanently.

Mall officials did not return calls by Business First's deadline.

Restaurant would be first in state
Gordon said that if The Cheesecake Factory opens in Mall St. Matthews, it would be the company's first in Kentucky. The Cheesecake Factory Inc. is a publicly traded company with 87 full-service restaurants in more than 15 states, including Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee.

"Usually all the areas that we do go in usually are good food cities," Gordon said. "We look to add a different dimension to the hospitality industry for that city."

The Cheesecake Factory offers more than 200 menu items, including seafood, steaks and sandwiches, and a host of cheesecake offerings among its desserts. The restaurant, which Gordon said has an average check price of $16.09, also ranks among the top of the casual-dining category in terms of having the longest waiting times to be seated. (See chart at right.)

Easy access important
Gordon said The Cheesecake Factory locations average about 12,000 square feet and seat 400 people. Also, "we never advertise, so for us it's important to have a very good location with easy access."

Each restaurant usually employs about 300 full- and part-time employees, Gordon said.

Levine said his store's Mall St. Matthews space, located on the east side of the mall near the food court, is 20,000 square feet. He said his store will have a moving sale at the end of January and then relocate to its new space in the "first part of February."

Fashion Shop is slated to move into leased space in the Best Buy Center in part of the space that once housed Service Merchandise. The center already is home to Fashion Shop sister companies Mr. B's Trading Co., a women's accessories store, and Home, a furniture store.


"It will be a more efficient operation for us to be able to do that all under one roof," Levine said of the total 60,000-square-foot space. "There is room to do it all."

The Best Buy Center is owned by Dixie Associates, a Louisville real estate partnership.

Levine said the space will be "reconfigured" slightly to handle all three stores, but he could not yet provide an estimate for how much the project might cost. Levine also declined to disclose how the project is being financed, but he said English Construction Inc. will be the general contractor on the job.

Levine's company also operates Fashion Shop & Home stores, which combine apparel and home furnishings and decor.

Chain's arrival could be hard on 'little guy'
Stacy Roof, president and CEO of the Louisville-based Kentucky Restaurant Association Inc., said she is "thrilled to death" that The Cheesecake Factory might be coming to Louisville.

But at the same time she expressed concern about the impact it could have on local, independent restaurants.

"Any new restaurant business is good business and indicates that this a great marketplace," she said. Yet, "our independents are already struggling because there are so many chains.

"I would like to see more attention given to our independent restaurants. That's what makes this such a unique and special city," she added. "I feel for the little guy."

[Velvetj]

That's great news dude. It's about time huh? Louisville is movin' on up ;).

I like the Cheesecake Factory. I'm sure it's going to turn out to be a great "special occasion" place there. Congrats.

By the way, what's your last desire for Louisville?

[citykid09]

They have two in the Houston area, one is under cunstruction so that will make three in Houston.

[JTS LOU]

PF Changs is slated to open in June at the Hurstbourne business center (Whittington parkway)

[raqoff25]

What's the big deal with the Cheesecake Factory? I agree it would be cool to have one, although they are nothing too special. It seems like Louisville's future is resting upon a Cheesecake Factory! I say screw the Cheesecake Factory and support some local restaurants and local chains! That's why you should visit http://www.keeplouisvilleweird.com

[SChristopher]

Blah, its not like people are going to be eating at the cheesecake factory everyday sucking the business out of everywhere LOL. Cities need a good few restaurants that are familiar to out of towners and CK Factory is a very good restaurant and so is PF Changs, this is very good news to me, because Louisville was pretty behind on the restaurant thing....

[Lakelander]

Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs, and a host of these "popular" chain restaurants are scheduled to open in March at the new St. Johns Town Center development in suburban Jax, but I could care less. I wish they would have ended up opening in downtown, like they did in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

[Skanky the Boricuo]

PF Changs is not real chinese food.

[fwskyline]

Great news! Hearing the names of the restaurants just reminded me of Fort Worth, which just opened its first PF Chang's downtown filling (I think) the last retail space in the new Bank One Building. We're also getting a Cheesecake Factory downtown, at the base of The Tower (old Bank One Tower). Would have been cool for Louisville's new restaurants to be downtown too, perhaps in 4th Street Live!...oh well.

[lammius]

We had two Cheesecake Factories and a PF Changs in the Norfolk area. They're good, especially if you love to wait HOURS to get a table!

[Jasonhouse]

Cheesecake Factory? Good grief. You can buy that mass produced crap in Sam's Club, for crying out loud.

PF Changs is nice, and pretty cheap.

[Velvetj]

For a lot of some of the "smaller" cities, places such as CheeseCake, PF, and Ikea can actually add to the city's self esteem IMO. As a former resident of a "smaller" city, it was always very exciting to get things the "big boys" had. If this were L.A. or Miami, this wouldn't be a big deal at all, but I find it cool Louisville is finally getting a CCF.

On a related note, as I'm sure most of you already know, The CheeseCake Factory has spun off The Grand Lux Cafe Restaurants. These are a more "upscale" versions of the CheeseCake, so I am told. Houston's opened a couple of months ago (with it's "shock and awe" outside facade), but I have not heard any reviews. Who know's, maybe Louisville is in line for one of those as well.

[LouisvilleS]

Now we need to try to land a McCormick & Schmick's, Palomino, or Fleming's Steakhouse! :)

[SChristopher]

Palomino definatly, and they usually go downtown. The more I think about it, PF and CC should have been downtown like someone said. Downtowns always need unique things to draw people in, because they have to go to get what they want .... Right now there is alot downtown that can be had all over the city.

[streetscapeer]

^^^yeah...there are 6 cheesecakes in South Florida

West Palm
Boca Raton
FTL
Dadeland
Coconut Grove
Sawgrass Mills


I'm Lucky, cause it's one of my favorite restaurants:)

[citykid09]

On a related note, as I'm sure most of you already know, The CheeseCake Factory has spun off The Grand Lux Cafe Restaurants. These are a more "upscale" versions of the CheeseCake, so I am told. Houston's opened a couple of months ago (with it's "shock and awe" outside facade), but I have not heard any reviews. Who know's, maybe Louisville is in line for one of those as well.
I don't think there will be a Grand Lux Cafe in Louisville an time soon.
They only have locations in:
Chicago, Houston, and Dallas.

I'm Sure the next cities will probably be LA, and New York.

[cwilson758]

OK...first of all, I am happy that Louisville Forumers are pleased with the possible locating of a Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang's. As mentioned, they can help a Small City with its self-esteem. However, I can not help but think of the Louisville Forumers who have repeatedly dogged and belittled Indianapolis as saying that "it is only chain restaurants at least Louisville doens't have chains." All while using these two restaurants as examples of Indy's "lack" of "mom and pop" establishments. Now, they are the second coming of Jesus. I can't help but wonder if these comments were made out of jealousy?

These restaurants will be good for the area in which they locate. Indy has had both of these for a few years now (Cheesecake Factory at the Fashion Mall, PF Chang's downtown and Keystone). I like both of them, BUT Cheesecake Factory's menu is a bit over-whelming (and resembles Palomino's too much) and PF Chang's has been known to immediately cause severe abdominal discomfort.

[gych]

OK...first of all, I am happy that Louisville Forumers are pleased with the possible locating of a Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang's. As mentioned, they can help a Small City with its self-esteem. However, I can not help but think of the Louisville Forumers who have repeatedly dogged and belittled Indianapolis as saying that "it is only chain restaurants at least Louisville doens't have chains." All while using these two restaurants as examples of Indy's "lack" of "mom and pop" establishments. Now, they are the second coming of Jesus. I can't help but wonder if these comments were made out of jealousy?

These restaurants will be good for the area in which they locate. Indy has had both of these for a few years now (Cheesecake Factory at the Fashion Mall, PF Chang's downtown and Keystone). I like both of them, BUT Cheesecake Factory's menu is a bit over-whelming (and resembles Palomino's too much) and PF Chang's has been known to immediately cause severe abdominal discomfort.


a) A "Small City" with self esteem...what the hell does that make Indy? Are you forgetting that Indy is only about 70,000 bigger in the city and 300k bigger in the sprawling (more square mileage) metro? These two cities are close to the same size so I guess Indy is "small" too.

b) no one asked you to brag about Indy

c) wanna play games? We have Whole Foods Market (for years), and the ENTIRE state of Indiana doesnt even have one

d) I will not support these new chains and many others will not either, so I could care less about them.

e) Louisville now has the SAME chain restaurants AND has more local places of merit than does Indy. THATS my point.

[jase8]

Well, you can keep your PF Changs and The Cheesecake Factory IMO. MAYBE, if these places were put downtown, I would be slightly more enthusiastic. Why do we need more chain restaurants in the Shelbyville Road/ Hurstbourne Lane area? The area seems saturated with such crap already. At least if it were downtown convention goers and visitors could maybe appreciate it.

There are plenty of locally owned and operated restaurants in Louisville to support, many of which blow these chain restaurants out of the water.

That being said, I suppose a Cheesecake Factory in the Mall St. Matthews is a better option for the Fashion Shop space than some other cheesy store. But, I don't think it elevates the city to a new level.

[Cardpooch]

I don't give a rat's a** about either one of these restaurants. I haven't even been to the Hard Rock Cafe yet. At the same time, I do think that these establishments do help to elevate a city's image to CERTAIN visitors. Personally, I would rather the city focus on offering unique attractions rather than those that have become a dime a dozen.

Although they are currently expanding to new locations, the Lucky Strike Lanes is a good example of this along with the new Maker's Mark Tavern. I'd rather have a handful of smaller respected chains than a ton of chains already found everywhere else.

[Hobodog]

In Birmingham our's just recently opened and had hour plus long waits for the next 6 or 7 weeks and it is still a joint where you almost always wait.

[Jasonhouse]

Now we need to try to land a McCormick & Schmick's, Palomino, or Fleming's Steakhouse! :)


Fleming's???


Well, I guess I should feel good then, considering that the first one they built is about 2 miles from my house... It is pretty good, though pricey enough to be relegated to the "special occasion" group for me.

[cwilson758]

a) A "Small City" with self esteem...what the hell does that make Indy? Are you forgetting that Indy is only about 70,000 bigger in the city and 300k bigger in the sprawling (more square mileage) metro? These two cities are close to the same size so I guess Indy is "small" too.

b) no one asked you to brag about Indy

c) wanna play games? We have Whole Foods Market (for years), and the ENTIRE state of Indiana doesnt even have one

d) I will not support these new chains and many others will not either, so I could care less about them.

e) Louisville now has the SAME chain restaurants AND has more local places of merit than does Indy. THATS my point.


Dude---

You have an inferiority complex...or at least you do when it comes to Louisville. I am not bragging and I am certainly not trying to play games, merely point-out a bit of a double-standard. I am not claiming that Indy is not a small city, and, despite what you may think, when these types of places open up, they do give a bit of an "esteem-booster." I was only agreeing to an earlier post because the VERY SAME was true here in Indianapolis a few years ago. When these things do open, it takes even more away from having to drive some lace else. Geesh.

To your final point though, Louisville will always be behind it's neighbor to the north when it comes to these things...where's your Palomino, where's your Morton's, where's your Mo's, where's your Rock Bottom, where's ... oh god, obviously in Indianapolis.

[Jasonhouse]

This thread is about Louisville and Cheesecake factory...

Please relegate the penis measuring to another thread.

[cwilson758]

Lol

[JTS LOU]

I don't think there will be a Grand Lux Cafe in Louisville an time soon.
They only have locations in:
Chicago, Houston, and Dallas.

I'm Sure the next cities will probably be LA, and New York.


I dont think you really know b/c an example of this is Louisville getting Lucky Strike Lanes before Miami, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and a few other cities. These cities are planned to get them so that means Dallas, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Seattle, New York, Chicago or Washington,DC dont have them yet so it goes to show it doesnt matter whether you have 700,000 people or 9 million you may still see things that other cities above yours do not have. The only cities with one before Louisville was in the Los Angeles area and Boston.

Lucky Strike lanes is an Upscale bowling alley. If you go to the website at bowlluckystrike.com their is proof and also check out Felt it is on the website as well and Louisville is I believe the only location for that upscale Billiards and club.

[sleepy]

...where's your Palomino, where's your Morton's, where's your Mo's, where's your Rock Bottom, where's ... oh god, obviously in Indianapolis.

I prefer places that are immune to chains. That's why I loved New Orleans

[jase8]

where's your Morton's,

Downtown at 6th and Main.

But there are better places for a steak in Louisville, like Jack Fry's and Pat's.

[Velvetj]

I don't think there will be a Grand Lux Cafe in Louisville an time soon.
They only have locations in:
Chicago, Houston, and Dallas.

I'm Sure the next cities will probably be LA, and New York.

Actually, there are only a total of 5 Grand Lux's at this point, 3 of which you listed and the other two are in Beverly Hills and Las Vegas.

Also, let me say that I think you guys are taking this whole "chain" thing a little too seriously. Let's be honest here. Just because a place is "chained" does not mean it's food isn't any good. I find it silly that there have been those that lament the food of a place and a few years later after it has expanded into other markets, it becomes a "damn chain that's taking away from the local mom and pops". Are there chains that have nasty food....of course, but there are some mom and pops that have nasty food as well. IMO a place should not be blown off simply because there is more than one location. The whole idea of a establishments food being great until it opens additional restaurants, is unfair and silly. Lighten up guys.

My last post on this thread.

[Jasonhouse]

ps... Grand Lux Cafe is simply a rebranded Cheesecake Factory (like Ford and Mercury)... Heck, the menus are practically the same. It's kind of wierd, really. (and yes, I've eaten at both places)

[aion26]

I have a funny PF Changs story. I never heard of this resturant until last summer when my friend in Indy wanted to go there with a whole bunch of us while I was down there for a visit. We went, I had a pretty decent meal (they make the worst martini's there though... c'mon folks) I seriously thought is was an Indianapolis thing and when I asked about it, I was mocked as if I was the sort of person who lived under a rock and never heard of mcdonald's. Since then I heard a rumor that there is one in Chicago but I've never seen it, i think it might be in that touristy section of town with all the chain resturants that I don't really have a reason to go to. That is when I realized, you know, I go out to eat a lot, probably much more than I should, and I can't even tell you the last chain resturant I've been too except for my occaisional fast food pit-stop. It isn't that i'm a snob about such things (well actually I am but I try not to be a jerk about it, but my brother in law is a chef with his own resturant and I come from a whole family of foodies, my parents were part of an organic food co-op in the 1970's, so I come by it honestly) but there just aren't hardly any in almost every neighborhood I've lived in for 9 years I've lived in the city proper, if I want to go to and Olive Garden (heaven forbid), I'd have to figure out how to get out to the burbs to do so, and that is far more trouble than it is worth when I can walk two blocks up the street and have my choice of more interesting and unique resturants than I know what to do with .... I guess that is a common aspect to many cities, is it not?

That being said, I have eaten at Cheesecake factory before, it isn't a bad little place.

... and yes, there are indeed chains with fairly decent food (cheesecake factory being one of them) an mom-and-pop places with disgusting food, I've been to both.

[SChristopher]

Cwilson back down the line you hit the nail on the head. Cheescake Factory's menu reads like a book, it takes about 30 years to pick something (for me anyways) and PF Changs is a vice because everytime I eat it it makes me ill, but I still go back. BTW not a real good luch break restaurant unless you carry TP in your man purse.

[SChristopher]

Gych, can you really say knowledgably that Louisville has more restaurants than indy? Whole foods Market in St. Matthews was just completed last year, I dont know of any others? Anywho some change is good every once in a while, people eat every day....3 times a day even more for some, so uhhh I doubt a restaurant is going to be that put out. Anyways on Hurstbourne where the PF Changs is proposed it is a hell of little box chains with yards around them and big lots and strip mall chains, so some class and taste in the area will be much welcome....unfortunatly it falls rather close to that giant liquor store....When speaking of CSA Indianapolis is about 5-600k larger (emporis) and
about 83k in the city limits which on emporis is said to be in smaller confines than Louisville (Due to the fact that Unigov isnt the entirety of Marion County as Louisville is Jefferson in the 30 square miles that arent included you can add another 80. When talking in UA Indy is about 400k larger and UA usually isnt spawly. Small potatoes all in all but I just didnt want people mis-informed.

VelvetJ - Great post. Get over it lol, all of this chain stuff is taken so seriously, and for christ sakes it is being added to a mall, blah looks better than Louisville beautiful abandoned Lord and Taylor.

[rocket9561]

What is the big deal about P.F. Chang's? It is really just the first nationwide sit-down Chinese chain. It isn't upscale or unique or well, anything. It's the Olive Garden or El-Chico of Chinese Food IMO. They have popped up like crazy over the past few years...Nashville has 2 and even little Knoxville and Des Moines have one. The Cheesecake Facotry is a nice addition IMO and I'm glad Nashville is getting one as well. The eclectic menu makes for a good place to take guests.

[oresaw]

I was surprised that people get excited about PF Chang's too. I never thought the chain was exclusive at all. Hickory, NC has a PF Chang's it can't be that exclusive!

Congrats on your Cheesecake Factory though. Don't be too upset about these projects not opening downtown though. Now that they are in your market they may expand with a second location. This is happening in Charlotte with Morton’s having both a SouthPark location and an Uptown location. McCormick's and Schmick's (sorry if I butchered that name) are also reported to be not only opening a location in SouthPark but Uptown as well. So Louisville may always land a second location in a few years. I also think it is more than possible for a decent sized city to support both big name chains like these and the local dining scene. I don't think these chains popping up in Louisville will hamper the growth of Louisville's locally owned dining scene.

Another chain to look out for is springing up here in Charlotte as well. One of the guys from The Palm is looking to start a new chain similar to The Palm focusing on Tex/Mex cuisine.

[Skanky the Boricuo]

PF Changs is chinese food for people who don't know Chinese food. Like Rocket said...it is to Chinese food what the Olive Garden is to Italian food. It can taste good, yes, but so can a bowl of cereal. Its Americanized caca, and its not unique in the slightest...why else would it be so popular in suburban america? :) The only thing i like about them are the horse statues they put outside their restaurants.

[Jasonhouse]

^^^ That's exactly what I like about PF Chang's. It's very predictable.

Now, don't get me wrong. I've got two other places in town that I got to for Chinese. I've only been to PF Chang's a few times at the behest of others... But having a place like PF Changs is great when travelling IMO, because you know you ain't getting rat, cat or dog there.

[streetscapeer]

I can walk two blocks up the street and have my choice of more interesting and unique resturants than I know what to do with .... I guess that is a common aspect to many cities, is it not?

That being said, I have eaten at Cheesecake factory before, it isn't a bad little place.

... and yes, there are indeed chains with fairly decent food (cheesecake factory being one of them) an mom-and-pop places with disgusting food, I've been to both.


This just in, South Florida is getting it's 7th Cheesecake Factory in Palm Beach Gardens...Wtf..that's just ri-cock-ulous!..lol

Sorry off-topic


I'm ok with chains that are located in a downtown...as long as they don't overwehlm or overrun the unique restaurants in the neighborhood!
The same goes for South Beach..I'm glad that there's no cheesecake, or PF there, I'd like to see that place remain as unique as possible...(now all we have to do is get rid of that damn TGIF...LoL)

Anybody realize the chainafication of Time Square in the past years...let's see, Toy's R Us, Virgin megastore, Olive Garden, Applebee's, Chili's, etc
...or how about the chains that take on manhattan two-, three-, four-fold. some stores have like 5 branches in manhattan, I remeber driving up 3rd ave one and there was an Ann Taylor Lofts like every 20 blocks (i'm serious), all the way up the East side. My point is that while New York has chains to the nth degree, it somehow doesn't detract from the uniqueness of each neighborhood, and doesn't overwhelm the so called mom&pops!

[aion26]

Sorry off-topic

Anybody realize the chainafication of Time Square in the past years...let's see, Toy's R Us, Virgin megastore, Olive Garden, Applebee's, Chili's, etc
...

Oh yeah, I'm not a fan of chains, but well, there have been worse things in Times Square ;) ... well, maybe not worse than Olive Garden.

Chains happen everywhere, but I agree, as long as they aren't the only thing present or they don't detract from the neighborhood, then I can ignore them okay. When I start to get annoyed is if there are only chains, and nothing but chains, I could care less that there is a starbucks 3 blocks from my house, because there are also several indepentant places I can chose froom as well. If they can co-exist fine, if the chain drives eveyone else out, then screw 'em, they deserve all the distain they get.

[oresaw]

McCormick's and Schmick's (sorry if I butchered that name) are also reported to be not only opening a location in SouthPark but Uptown as well.

It's official McCormicks and Schmicks have signed a lease Uptown in Charlotte (in addition to their new lease at SouthPark). They will offer sidewalk dining as well which is always great.

[gych]

Dude---

You have an inferiority complex...or at least you do when it comes to Louisville. I am not bragging and I am certainly not trying to play games, merely point-out a bit of a double-standard. I am not claiming that Indy is not a small city, and, despite what you may think, when these types of places open up, they do give a bit of an "esteem-booster." I was only agreeing to an earlier post because the VERY SAME was true here in Indianapolis a few years ago. When these things do open, it takes even more away from having to drive some lace else. Geesh.

To your final point though, Louisville will always be behind it's neighbor to the north when it comes to these things...where's your Palomino, where's your Morton's, where's your Mo's, where's your Rock Bottom, where's ... oh god, obviously in Indianapolis.


Yes, we have Morton's, and it is the 5th or 6th best steakhouse in the city....if that!!!! Try Pat's, Del Frisco's, Jack Fry's, Z's, or hell, even upscale local places like Avalon for a steak before Morton's.

In the same way, although Indy does not have Whole Foods, there was a local place there I used to go to near Broadripple Village (forget the name) that kicked the shit out of Whole Foods! Perhaps Indy's local natural markets are too competitive for Whole Foods. I go to Whole Foods in Louisville mainly because I don't like many of the local markets like them except Doll's.

In the same way, Louisville is just now getting Cheesecake Factory because we have some serious kick ass local joints that most ppl would rather go to.

I think Louisville getting more of this name brand shit is a testament to more young professionals moving in as well--we are gaining hundrends of young professionals now where as the city tended to export more of them (see brain drain) in the past.

And for heaven's sake, just quit the smart ass comments man.

Where's your Lucky Strike Lanes, or Maker's Mark Lounge, or Whole Foods, etc??? See, you ARE playing games.

And as for our "neighbor to the north," most Louisvillians don't even think of Indy. If we want to do different shopping or dining, we hit Chicago. I just dont like the way you talk down about Louisville--obviously you have not been there in awhile. It's not like ppl from Louisville are going to travel to Indy to stay in the "big city" or to have a drink at your Rock Bottom. In most people's minds, Indy and Louisville are the same type of city. You want something bigger or better? Then you hit Chicago or perhaps even STL and definitely ATL.

[aion26]

In most people's minds, Indy and Louisville are the same type of city.

As someone who has been to both of those cities, and has lived here in Chicago pretty much her whole life, I can attest that this is indeed true. I've been to both Indy and Louisville and think they are both fine towns in their own way, but I certainly can't imagine how one would consider themselves 'the big city' in comparision to the other.

[Soulbrotha]

Dude---

You have an inferiority complex...or at least you do when it comes to Louisville. I am not bragging and I am certainly not trying to play games, merely point-out a bit of a double-standard. I am not claiming that Indy is not a small city, and, despite what you may think, when these types of places open up, they do give a bit of an "esteem-booster." I was only agreeing to an earlier post because the VERY SAME was true here in Indianapolis a few years ago. When these things do open, it takes even more away from having to drive some lace else. Geesh.

To your final point though, Louisville will always be behind it's neighbor to the north when it comes to these things...where's your Palomino, where's your Morton's, where's your Mo's, where's your Rock Bottom, where's ... oh god, obviously in Indianapolis.
http://www.pbase.com/soulbrotha4620/image/30784959.jpg


It would be nice if they could put the cheesecake factory right next to our MORTON'S :)

[Fear of Heights]

"Now we need to try to land a McCormick & Schmick's, Palomino, or Fleming's Steakhouse!"

Birmingham's Cheesecake Factory location opened last Summer and we also got a McCormick & Schmicks shortly after the Cheesecake Factory. We got a Fleming's location about 3 years ago. I haven't eaten at Flemings yet (or Schmicks or Cheesecake for that matter) but they all look like they'd be pretty good. We also got a Village Tavern restaurant right next to the Flemings location.

BTW, I'm suprised that Birmingham got a McC & Schmick before Charlotte. Seems like y'all would have gotten one before us.

[SChristopher]

Birmingham has a wealth of corperate crap, I am beginning to think its a test market because Columbus is and its the same way there.

[Fear of Heights]

True, but there are some really good local restaurants here too. Highlands Bar and Grille, Hot n Hot Fish Club, Bottegas, G, 195 Mizan Plaz, The Fish Market (downtown location), Micheal's/Jim n Nicks Steaks and BBQ (this is the man who started "Micheal's" decades ago and had the famous steak), Prairie Fire Grille, Magic City Grille, Brasil, Nona Rose, etc.

I don't know for sure if B'ham is a restaurant test market but it could be. One place in Alabama that has to be is Dothan. I'm not sure I've ever seen a city that size (60,000) with so many restaurants. I'm always amazed at the number they have whenever I drive through there on the way to and from Florida.

[SChristopher]

Oh yeah, I definately didnt mean it as a bad thing, I just noticed that Birmingham is like a metro 3 tiems its size when it comes to drawing stuff in.

[SkyHigh529]

Well, I just read on CCF's website that they are actually franchising, which explains their rapid expansion into smaller markets. As long as their is somebody able and willing to buy a franchise, they'll be hard pressed to turn them down (as long as certain minimum criteria are met).

[Fear of Heights]

Schris, I noticed y'all have a Stoney River Steakhouse at the Summit in Louisville. We're getting one in Bham just down the road from our Summit in a small mixed use development with our first of two Whole Foods Market. Is Stoney any good? I know they have a couple in Atlanta too so if any Atlantans have eaten there let me know. It's supposedly an upscale steakhouse.


P.S. What do you think of the Summit? The one here in Bham has turned out to be a huge success. There are quite a few restaurants and stores new to the area when it opened. It was built on a ridge/bluff overlooking I-459 (a literal "Summit") on land that you could never envision any development, much less a nearly 1 million square foot open air mall. From the parking lot of the Cheesecake Factory (which is on the highest level of the property) you can see about 2 miles of car lights/traffic down Highway 280 at night until traffic climbs up and over another small ridge. It's pretty cool

[SChristopher]

The Summit in Louisville is basically just a conglomeration of crap that we already have all over the city. I like to go there as an alternative, walk around and be outside ya know. If you look at the website and compare, you will see that they dont really compare haha. As far as Stoney River, I didnt even know it existed until the other day, they are a division of O'Charleys I think so I dont know...they look like they could be ok.

[Fear of Heights]

That's what I had heard too. The company that built both Summits does really good projects. I was actually fraternity brothers with one of the main project managers with the company. I've heard some complaints though about the Louisville location and how there weren't enough stores new to the area. I think the thing that made the one here in Bham so successful is the location and the unique setting of the project. The majority of the tenants already have locations in the metro area but there were a few new stores and restaurants. Most notably a Saks Fifth Avenue which we probably would have never gotten if Saks, Inc. hadn't been headquartered here.

P.S. I didn't realize that Stoney River was owned by O'Charleys. They made it sound like a fancy new small chain restaurant but the O'Charleys ownership makes it sound like.......an O'Charleys.