# Empty fast food restaurant - what should take it over? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 24, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359 "2017-05-24T19:09:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/41 "2017-05-25T17:08:27Z")
There was a Burger King in the middle of the village that bugged out long ago, stood vacant for a couple of years. A sandwich shop (as if we needed MORE sandwich shops) opened for a short time and then folded. Today, the old Burger King restaurant is now a Mexican restaurant, just barely above fast food, but with cloth napkins and a surprisingly extensive menu. I hope this one stays a while, there are plenty of other Mexican restaurants around, but this one is nice, and convenient. There is a ridiculous amount of traffic on the street, and not all that much parking, that might be a factor. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/42 "2017-05-25T17:13:29Z")
[This](https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8568142,-77.1079917,3a,75y,343.01h,91.89t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1stLkfiwl20tzJ7LNW8ttWag!2e0!5s20080601T000000!7i3328!8i1664) used to be a Roy Rogers. The patio seating was added by the diner that took over from RR, it’s also been [a restaurant associated with a fleet of food trucks that serve international fare](https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8568126,-77.1079933,3a,75y,342.72h,90.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sdgj3EFsnLYmhvbwyCahIIw!2e0!5s20120601T000000!7i13312!8i6656). Now it’s hole in the ground in the process of being redeveloped. Would be nice to see Bob & Edith’s move back in. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/43 "2017-05-25T17:20:54Z")
We could use a vegan/crunchy-granola/catfish tacos/exotic wraps and smoothies place in some of the failed diners and restaurants. There are several of them around, where all the cool kids go, but mostly in the university section and downtown. Busted hamburger joints are invariably remodelled and turned into OTHER hamburger joints with heart-sinking regularity. Johnny Rockets at the mall closed down and was replaced by a new different looking Johnny Rockets. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/44 "2017-05-25T17:22:16Z")
We had a Nation’s close-up, and I just read a Five Guys will be taking it’s place. I am good with that as the Nation’s was horrible, and I occasionally have Five Guys. It will be interesting to see if the new tenant can do well where the previous, similar tenant failed. There is a In-in-Out less than a mile down the street. A Quizno’s closed and was replaced by a Noodles and Company, which we visit more than the Quizno’s. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/45 "2017-05-25T17:33:18Z")
Well, Subway is closed and empty, so I vote for Pollo Rico > **[El Pollo Rico | Home](https://www.pollosricos.com/)** > > At El Pollo Rico, we specialize in authentic Mexican charcoal grilled chicken & carne asada. Order online or come on in and find out what makes our food so Rico! Yum. Chicken and crack sauce. That’s the green avocado, lime, and jalapeno sauce. Best stuff on earth. I’ve got 4 pizza joints within 400 yards of my front door, so no more pizza. Plenty of burgers, tex mex, and wraps. 2 bbq joints. A gastropub with French inspired food and a growler pub with $8 tater tots. But no charred chicken. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/46 "2017-05-25T17:50:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’ve already got nearly every form of fast food known to Man within a couple-blocks radius of here, and of the few that we’re still missing, I’m indifferent to most of them. Based on your “location” in the land of Cleves (I use “presume” so if I’m wrong you can’t pull the ‘Felix Unger’ schtick) that you reside in Ohio, which nowadays is apparently the last remaining outpost of [Mr Hero](https://www.mrhero.com/index.php). For a brief shining time in the late 1980s/early 90s there were several Mr Heros (then called Mr Philly) on Long Island NY (and indeed, even in Manhattan), and I ate many times (possibly too many) at those locations. Now, those in the know will say Mr Philly cheese steaks are nothing more than Steakums on a club-roll covered with butter and cheese, and they would be quite correct - OTOH, then contemporary cheese steaks from Long Island venues were slices of week-old roadkill between stale dinner rolls slathered with rancid butter and unspecified white goo, so Mr Philly was a major step up at a reasonable price point for us. We lost the last Jack’s decades ago, and from what I understand Jacks is no longer the grease-filled tacos of the old Jack in the Box days (It was much improved when I had sampled the updated Jack’s in Los Angeles…around the turn of the century!) Quizno’s largely disappeared - I dunno, I think most people during the day get their sandwiches from local delis rather than even Subway. We did get a Sonic, and a few more Arby’s, but the few Roy Rogers (which IMO had better roast beef) remain in limbo. What we do have a lot of are nail parlors, vape shops, gold buying outlets, and storefronts decorated with CBRE “For Rent” signs…oh, and plenty of chain drug stores of course…:smack: ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/47 "2017-05-25T18:07:00Z")
I’d love to have a White Castle in downtown Chicago. (Yes, I know of the one on Cermak. That is not downtown.) But does White Castle even have storefront locations, or is every one of their restaurants a stand-alone building with parking and drive-through? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/48 "2017-05-25T19:00:46Z")
I’d like a Taco Bell closer to me. A few years go I would have wanted a KFC but a convenient KFC wold have probably killed me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/49 "2017-05-25T19:49:38Z")
Waffle House. The nearest one is over 180 miles away. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/50 "2017-05-25T20:11:26Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > We recently lost Carls Jr (blech) and a Jack in the Box. (weeping) > We got a check cashing place and an urgent care. > We lose. Our Pizza Hut was razed and the rumor was it would become medical offices. But now there is a for-rent sign. Olive Garden is still my top choice, with Outback and Longhorn as runners-up. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/51 "2017-05-25T20:23:34Z")
I’ll second the Wienerschnitzel. Yummy stuff. In-n-Out ain’t all that, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/52 "2017-05-25T20:37:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **SirRay** : > > Based on your “location” in the land of Cleves (I use “presume” so if I’m wrong you can’t pull the ‘Felix Unger’ schtick) that you reside in Ohio, which nowadays is apparently the last remaining outpost of Mr Hero. Half a block east and a block south. Believe me, if there weren’t one here already, it’d be the top of my list. And who cares about their cheesesteaks? Getting a Mr. Hero cheesesteak means not getting a Romanburger. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/53 "2017-05-25T23:07:52Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Popeyes or KFC. Something better if there is one. Are there still Pioneer Chickens? There’s no fried chicken place nearby. There is one Pioneer Chicken off the I-5 in Boyle Heights (Los Angeles) that is definitely still in business. There’s another that still comes up in Google but I can never seem to actually find it. I only go there after visits to ChinaTown or Little Tokyo, so it’s always dark and I’m tired so maybe I’m just missing it. Or maybe it’s gotten swept up by Starbucks like everything else. To the OP, I’d say Rally’s/Checkers because Glendale is too far to drive even for their awesome fries. Then again, Ventura county doesn’t seem to want them (or vice versa). –G! \*Sometimes I stop by after heading home from Pioneer Chicken. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/54 "2017-05-25T23:21:41Z")
I’ve got just about everything I want within 5 miles of my house, so what I would want them to be would be an old-school A&W, with the Papa, Mama, Teen and Baby burgers and a full-scale [Naugles](http://nauglestacos.com/menu.php), with the original menu intact. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/55 "2017-05-26T20:57:46Z")
Every time I see a new restaurant being built or taking over a closed location, I hope for Joe’s Crab Shack opening soon. So far I’ve been disappointed, though. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/56 "2017-05-30T18:30:25Z")
Portillo’s. It’s a Chicago-area hot dog and Italian Beef place, and there’s plenty around, but the closest one to me is just a little too far to go to unless I happen to be in the area for something else. There’s a Buona Beef, but I prefer Portillo’s. Or Johnny’s. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/57 "2017-05-31T03:32:52Z")
> [@wellanuff](#): > > Waffle House. The nearest one is over 180 miles away. That’s the one! Only 120 miles for me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/58 "2017-05-31T05:53:52Z")
I forgot about Waffle House! And I thought that the nearest one for me was 167 miles, but there’s one a little closer, only 113 miles. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/59 "2017-05-31T06:33:37Z")
They should turn it into a delapidated front for a deep underground government control room for an experimental anti missile system. Why not have a pepsi? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empty-fast-food-restaurant-what-should-take-it-over/787359/60 "2017-05-31T06:56:19Z")
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