Roanoke v. Lynchburg (Richmond, Charlottesville, Blacksburg: neighborhoods, schools, university)

[Francis.]

i thought Chilis were everywhere. To me it is basically an Applebees type of restaurant, nothing special.

[Watchful]

Originally Posted by Francis.

i thought Chilis were everywhere. To me it is basically an Applebees type of restaurant, nothing special.

I know right. If you ever hear me saying "What we really need is a Chili's," just go ahead and put me away right then and there!

One of the truly amazing things about Roanoke is that there are 70 eating places downtown, and only one of them is a "national chain" (Subway). I love the emphasis on local dining options!

Restaurants | Dining | Downtown Roanoke, VA

[sregorat3]

Originally Posted by Watchful

I know right. If you ever hear me saying "What we really need is a Chili's," just go ahead and put me away right then and there!

One of the truly amazing things about Roanoke is that there are 70 eating places downtown, and only one of them is a "national chain" (Subway). I love the emphasis on local dining options!

Restaurants | Dining | Downtown Roanoke, VA

The concentration of restaurants in downtown Roanoke is a rarity among smaller cities. I'm sure that having the Hotel Roanoke as an anchor is a start, but the fact the virtually every regional conference and show has a stop in Roanoke really boosts restaurant business. Another thing about Roanoke that sets it apart from other cities of its size is that it's hospitality businesses are not clustered along one or two strips. I could easily live in Roanoke, though my first choice is Lynchburg. My sister and her family have actually enjoyed living in Roanoke more than Raleigh.

[CapsChick]

I agree, the last thing we need are more chain and fast food restaurants in Roanoke. I love eating at the locally owned establishments, and Roanoke has some true gems! Several great places that are NOT downtown.

Anyway, I'd take a Wegmans over that entire list.

[roanoker 4]

Originally Posted by CapsChick

I agree, the last thing we need are more chain and fast food restaurants in Roanoke. I love eating at the locally owned establishments, and Roanoke has some true gems! Several great places that are NOT downtown.

Anyway, I'd take a Wegmans over that entire list.

I love the local restaurants in Roanoke simply because I know their standards are high and I have enjoyed the experience. But for someone visiting Roanoke they look for normalcy of a restaurant as regards its standards, prices, menu, etc. Downtown has done well with its local menus but please bring us more chains!

[Francis.]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

I love the local restaurants in Roanoke simply because I know their standards are high and I have enjoyed the experience. But for someone visiting Roanoke they look for normalcy of a restaurant as regards its standards, prices, menu, etc. Downtown has done well with its local menus but please bring us more chains!

Why don't they get more chains? Even Aiken SC has a Chili's.

I'm guessing some chains go to Blacksburg/Christianburg and then don't come to Roanoke. If I lived in Roanoke, I'd probably be willing to drive over to Blacksburg for a chaine reastaurant that I liked, on the weekend every now and then.

One chain Roanoke has that the Carolinas doesn't that I've seen is Penn Station East Coast Subs. You have a T.G.I. Fridays which there aren't a lot of in South Carolina.

Afer a brief glance on Google maps, looks like Jason's Deli, Texas Roadhouse, Fuddruckers, PF Changs, Chili's , Mellow Mushroom, Jersey Mikes Subs are the ones that jump out at me as not having. I was surprised there is a Red Robin there b/c SC areas just started getting those.

[cam4vt]

Originally Posted by Francis.

Why don't they get more chains? Even Aiken SC has a Chili's.

I'm guessing some chains go to Blacksburg/Christianburg and then don't come to Roanoke. If I lived in Roanoke, I'd probably be willing to drive over to Blacksburg for a chaine reastaurant that I liked, on the weekend every now and then.

One chain Roanoke has that the Carolinas doesn't that I've seen is Penn Station East Coast Subs. You have a T.G.I. Fridays which there aren't a lot of in South Carolina.

Afer a brief glance on Google maps, looks like Jason's Deli, Texas Roadhouse, Fuddruckers, PF Changs, Chili's , Mellow Mushroom, Jersey Mikes Subs are the ones that jump out at me as not having. I was surprised there is a Red Robin there b/c SC areas just started getting those.

Its a give and take usually. We used to have a fuddruckers in salem and a jersey mikes. Fuddruckers closed down awhile back but im not sure why and jersey mikes was shut down because of bad management. We don't have texas roadhouse but we have longhorn steak house and others. No chilli's but we have TGIF and applebees etc. Blacksburg is getting a mellow mushroom but not roanoke (yet). No PF changs in the area though. Also we have had red robin for years now. Chains do weird things my friend. No two areas are the same.

[Francis.]

Originally Posted by cam4vt

Its a give and take usually. We used to have a fuddruckers in salem and a jersey mikes. Fuddruckers closed down awhile back but im not sure why and jersey mikes was shut down because of bad management. We don't have texas roadhouse but we have longhorn steak house and others. No chilli's but we have TGIF and applebees etc. Blacksburg is getting a mellow mushroom but not roanoke (yet). No PF changs in the area though. Also we have had red robin for years now. Chains do weird things my friend. No two areas are the same.

lol I understand that, roanoke appears to have most of the chains, which was my point. Larger metroes inSC just recently started getting PF Changs and Jersey Mikes and REd Robins.

Fuddruckers isn't that good in my opinion and red robin is the same kidn of thing.

[sregorat3]

Originally Posted by Francis.

lol I understand that, roanoke appears to have most of the chains, which was my point. Larger metroes inSC just recently started getting PF Changs and Jersey Mikes and REd Robins.

Fuddruckers isn't that good in my opinion and red robin is the same kidn of thing.

Just go to Lynchburg for Texas Roadhouse and Jersey Mikes. Sometimes chains expand based on distribution as much as population.

[Francis.]

Originally Posted by sregorat3

Just go to Lynchburg for Texas Roadhouse and Jersey Mikes. Sometimes chains expand based on distribution as much as population.

that's true, i made the point erarlier that maybe Roanoke's proximty to Lynchburg and Blacksburg/Christianburg is why it doesn't get all the chains b/c maybe some chains just open up in one of these 3 cities due to their proximity to each other.

I think there is a Texas Roadhouse over in BLacksburg too