The Retail Thread

[Jay in Cowtown]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

PF changs is coming to canada? i know loads of people who love it but its nothing special - not in vancouver anyway

its like sit down manchu wok food court food

I think it's great, eat there every time I'm south of the border... how can it not be anything special in a city that doesn't even have one?

[Rusty van Reddick]

PF Changs is not coming to Calgary so it doesn't belong on this board.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by chatchie

Not sure if anyone really cares or has already mentioned it but looks like another US chain (restaurant in this case) will be coming to Canada.. I guess if nothing else it adds to choice..

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2011/04/08/pf-changs-expands-to-canada.

I'd be happy about this. It's not something I rave over but it's a place I eat in from time to time in Vegas, and for what it is, it's decent.

Rusty, I would have sworn I heard they were coming to Calgary, but now you have me doubting.

[jeffwhit]

I think the single worst meal I've ever had was at a PF Changs.

Brown salt.

[jeffwhit]

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

PF Changs is not actually food so it doesn't belong on this board.

fixed.

filler.

[AB Born]

Sunridge Mall is getting a Mobilicity (I guess they are launching in Calgary at the end of April) and a Cora. I wonder how Mobilicity will compare to WIND Mobile, I don't believe they are the same company...

[SpongeG]

mobilicity is everywhere here, they have more stores than wind - my friend has mobilicity - its quite cheap but he is always having service issues - limited areas and inside some buildings he gets no service at all

[You Need A Thneed]

I'm looking forward to Cora at Sunridge. Excellent breakfast/brunch. Finally closer to where I live.

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by freeweed

I'd be happy about this. It's not something I rave over but it's a place I eat in from time to time in Vegas, and for what it is, it's decent.

Rusty, I would have sworn I heard they were coming to Calgary, but now you have me doubting.

Really? To me, PF Changs serves the purpose of "safe" Chinese food when travelling, the same way McDonalds is "safe" road trip food. I can never imagine going to PF Changs any time I have a better / known alternative, such as the dozens of other Chinese places in Calgary...

[monocle]

Originally Posted by Me&You

Really? To me, PF Changs serves the purpose of "safe" Chinese food when travelling, the same way McDonalds is "safe" road trip food. I can never imagine going to PF Changs any time I have a better / known alternative, such as the dozens of other Chinese places in Calgary...

MacDonald's has nearly killed me twice while traveling.

First time, I mistook "Fiesta Burger" to mean a burger party, not a gut-busting raw Big Mac that doubled me over with puking/diarrhea/assplosions for nearly a week with Montezuma's revenge in Mexico.

2nd Time... Samurai Pork Burger in Bangkok, had me running for the shitter faster than the escelator could travel, throwing wee asian girls out of the way as I searched for the can.

FUCK MACDONALD'S.

[SpongeG]

well you went to the wrong place MacDonalds - you should have gone to McDonalds

with PF changs you know what you're going to get there is consistency across the chain if you like brocolli beef in seattle you know you will like it in winnipeg

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

well you went to the wrong place MacDonalds - you should have gone to McDonalds

with PF changs you know what you're going to get there is consistency across the chain if you like brocolli beef in seattle you know you will like it in winnipeg

That was my point - I knew McDs was a poor choice of example, but I figured most would get what I was saying... Relative consistency that meets your expectations (no matter how low they are).

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Me&You

That was my point - I knew McDs was a poor choice of example, but I figured most would get what I was saying... Relative consistency that meets your expectations (no matter how low they are).

yeah for sure

most times consumers want that and thats why chains can do so well

its weird a lot of chains from the states or out east stop at the alberta border they just don't do so well in BC and than chains started/based in BC seem to do really well - like Nandos, white spot, Earls, Joey, Cactus Club

but Red Lobster, East side marios, Cora, Montanas and Olive Garden etc have very minimal locations here

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Jay in Cowtown

I think it's great, eat there every time I'm south of the border... how can it not be anything special in a city that doesn't even have one?

its good i eat there in seattle - but its not like anything gourmet or that great really - Vancouver is a foodie city and home to some incredible asian restaurants - it would have a hard time here i think

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

its good i eat there in seattle - but its not like anything gourmet or that great really - Vancouver is a foodie city and home to some incredible asian restaurants - it would have a hard time here i think

And that again makes my point... When you have something local that you're familiar with, why visit the chains? I'm comfortable with my favorite local pizza place, so why go to Pizza Hut while in Calgary? Same with Chinese... Why go to PF Changs at home? That was my point... Now, if I were craving Chinese in Seattle, or another city I'm not that familiar with, PF Changs is a decent option because it can be nearly impossible to sift through the local options and even once you make a decision, it can be risky... I just don't know why someone would visit a chain in their hometown

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Me&You

I just don't know why someone would visit a chain in their hometown

This may seem shocking, but some people actually sometimes prefer the food from some chains.

[Jay in Cowtown]

Originally Posted by freeweed

This may seem shocking, but some people actually sometimes prefer the food from some chains.

We need a Diner's Drive-ins & Dives Canadian version... I've found a fair amount of small private restaurants in our city, but I'm sure there's a shitload more. As far as chains... they're usually shit, especially the ones up here like Montana's & Boston Pizza, but I have found a few south of the border I like including PF Changs and also Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

[SpongeG]

i love Joey and cactus club - not against chains - I would eat at PF changs before I would eat at most chinese restaurants here

Chinese food in vancouver is more authentic than the westernized version - some of the food just grosses me out like chicken feet or cow stomach - not found at PF changs

anyway seems Calgary is getting a "Flip Flip Shops" Store - the trend that will just not die

This summer, Kingston will open his own location in Langley, which will become the training shop for new Canadian franchisees. Already, Flip Flop Shops has four additional locations slated to open in Canada within the next year in Calgary, Alberta; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and two in Toronto, Ontario.

http://www.franchiseworks.com/franchise_news_story.aspx?nid=1066

[Ferreth]

Originally Posted by freeweed

This may seem shocking, but some people actually sometimes prefer the food from some chains.

My litmus in terms of trusting an opinion about if a place is good or not: if the person primarily eats at chains, their opinion is worthless to me, at least as far as food quality goes. I'm not an all local person either - there are a few favorites from certain chains that I'm a regular for. Swiss Chalet Chicken (skip the sauce) for example is my work-late pickup on the way home food. But when in doubt traveling, chain food all the way, although I do enjoy discovering local eats if I can, it's just more variable in quality than chains.

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

Swiss Chalet Chicken (skip the sauce)

Blasphemy! I always use amost two whole sauces myself.