A new fresh grill and wine bar called Seasons 52 is planning a 9,000-square-foot restaurant to replace El
Torito Mexican Grill in front of The Fashion Mall at Keystone. The chain, part of Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc., has
11 locations in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The restaurant's menu changes seasonally and
comes with a promise that none of the choices has more than 475 calories. Offerings include carmelized sea scallops, garlic
chicken flatbread, grilled rack of New Zealand lamb and char crust filet mignon. The parent company of the Olive Garden and
Capital Grille concepts filed permits on June 10 to build the new restaurant at 8650 Keystone Crossing. The new restaurant
probably will open in 2011, as the location is not included among four Seasons 52 restaurants slated to open this year. An
employee at El Torito said the restaurant will close in the next few months.
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Welcome to Property Lines, Indy's source for neighborhood real estate news. Your host is Scott Olson, IBJ's real estate beat
reporter. Edited by Cory Schouten.
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First, let me say that I love the idea of communities being self-sufficient and people in the community not needing cars, living, working and shopping all in their neighborhood. To sum it up; I love good urban planning and hate urban sprawl. However, there are two reasons that I am against this development. First, this building doesn't fit. Density can occur in Ripple by building up top the street and better use of land. The scale of this project should be downtown. Secondly, I would be willing to bet that if a whole foods in Ripple is built, the Nora store would be closed. Here's my reasoning. The Nora Whole Foods expansion plans have been put on hold. I'm guessing they are waiting to see what happens with the Ripple proposal. Communities next to each other should work together to end sprawl and not work against each other and take other neighbors assets. Develop something both communities can be proud of and will attract more development and density. There's my soap box for the day.
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My apologies, Lou - it was the Indy Star that printed cost for entertaining "celebrities" during Indy 500. Sorry for confusing the always timely IBJ with Indy's Gannett reprint news source.
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That's fine if you want a grocery store that has festivals and live music. I guess with the prices they charge, they can afford to host such activities. As for me, I choose to spend my money more wisely and if I want to go to a festival or a concert, I will pay for that separately - not through my grocery bill.
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TIF is not just to attract development but to attract a higher use for that development. Carmel wisely is using TIF for numerous public parking garages. Asphalt seas of parking pay little taxes and bring even less value to a commercial area. Also density is what is going to save Indy and Broad Ripple. The days of trying to compete with burbs are long gone.
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The Prestige was an awesome movie.
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El Torito was a chain also. I promise you won't be disappointed with Seasons 52. It will be the best restaurant in the Keystone at the Crossing area. They also build a very classy, elegant, first class building.
But good luck to them, someone in the building is better than no one in the building.
Luckily (and uncharacteristically), there are many excellent, authentic, independent Mexican restaurants in Indy, mostly owned and frequented by Mexican immigrants. Just look along the near westside around Washington St.
To those where local communities are not priority, enjoy your new Darden cookie cutter. For the rest, find out the facts of the impact at the350project.net
You can not expect independent restaurants to be supported just because they're independent. People are not going to spend their money at a crappy restaurant just because it's "independent". I have been to too many independent restaurants here that are just plain awful. And then when they close, they and others cry "people in Indianapolis only like chain restaurants". No!... the restaurant wasn't supported because of one, or a combination, of the following reasons: service was awful or food was awful (preparation and/or ingredients). Don't get me wrong, there are some good ones here... but not many in Indianapolis.
As for me, I'll take the Cookie Cutter restaurant over a crappy independent restaurant any day. What I spend my money on is more important to me than if a place is locally-owned or not. I could care less if it's owned by someone in Florida... American is Amarican, doesn't matter to me if it's Indiana or Florida.
And to some of you, what is your definition of a chain restaurant? Is it based on the number of locations or is it based on whether or not the restaurant is owned by a company? If it's based on the number of locations, then what's the magic number that makes them a chain... because some people on this this blog (maybe not this thread) spout off "independents" that have multiple locations. If your definition is based on if it's owned by a company... does it have to be a public corporation? Finally, how many of these so-called "evil" chains started as independents?... quite a few. How did they grow so large?... by putting out a consistently good product (consistently being the other key word).
If you put out a good product you will grow... if you don't, you will become stagnant or you will fail, plain and simple. So, quit whining about chains and open up some more good independents if you want to win the battle!!!
Most people tend not to seek out independent restuarants because they do not know they exist. Most cannot afford the advertising and prime locations (where large scale chains can). I don't think Indianapolis has a large amount of awful independent restuarants, I think it has more to do with people wanting the familiar and a lot to do with laziness. We've had many great indepents suffer due to people not seeking them out and trying them, and not due to having poor quality, service, ect. Not everything is black and white.
No doubt this is an experimental city for large restaurant chains. No doubt that Indy Guy is a living example of why. What came first, the chain restaurant that could give a hoot about the community? OR the customer who could give a hoot about the community?
I guess it doesn't matter much, both end in a community with no identifiable character or sense of sustainable social harmony.
"Good enough" is no longer good enough in the restaurant biz...as with anything; the free market will determine who succeeds and who fails. Your argument is accurate to a point, but at some point Wal-Mart breaks the back of a local grocer that offered a superior product, patronized his neighbor's business and gave back to his community. Like Shane says, chains are savvy and their pockets are deep...for every chain that fails in Indy, they can counter by another store in another state. Independents don't have that privilege, and some think it deteriorates their signature character to multiply (think St. Elmo's). That spot would have been beautiful for Harry & Izzy's...a potentially growing group of restaurants that is family owned and operated.
But, as for you MH... you only get upset and attack me for your argument... so, I'll go ahead and assume that you were an independent restaurant that put out a crappy product; and now are upset because you thought it was a chain that put you out of business. Exactly the independent I was talking about. Look in the mirror, buddy. And to your, "Good enough" isn't good enough in the restaurant biz... well, a lot of independents think they can stand on "good enough" just because they are independent and that doesn't cut it. Yes, the big chains can afford to be just "good enough" to survive... but, they've built up to that. If they started out at "good enough", they would have never become large chains. And if I can't get it through your thick skull that people are not going to spend their money on something that they don't think is a good product/service, regardless if it's independent or not... well, then you're the independent that will fail time and time again. And next time, read more thoroughly... I never said a great independent is not as good as a chain. So, quit your whining, and try again.
Plus for all skeptical of the portion sizes.. Give it a try! The portions are medium. NOT like cheesecake factory where you can share with 4 ppl one entree and leave in a yummy food comma. INSTEAD Seasons 52 is winning ppl over with the cooking style and level of service. I have been to at least 3 locations. They grill over an open wood fire grill AND use no butter, no fryer. Instead they caramelize the food to bring out flavor and mix the freshest ingredients to please the palate. My only suggestion is make a reservation. I've been to the Orlando, King of Prussia, and Perimeter restaurant. The place stays busy. I love the concept and all of Dardens other brands. Seasons is my favorite.
Indy Guy-- Try and let me know what you think!
Elizabeth J. Musgrave