Here's a little thought experiment.
Let's say that both Jack Astor's and Milestone's have decided to enter the Moncton marketplace. Milestone's is not speculative in this regard - they've been looking for a local Moncton franchisee for quite some time on their website. Jack Astor's is less certain.
If both restaurants have decided to come, this might explain what's going on downtown, at Mapleton Crossing and at the new Holiday Inn development on Mapleton Road.
I betcha there are several developers fighting over these franchises, and this explains the confusion as to where they are going to set up shop.
We have this proposed building for Main Street where the firebombing occurred over a decade ago. The developer basically stated that he was in negotiation with a higher end national restaurant chain to become a tenant in this building. Several members of SSP noted that the styling of the outside of this building matched
Milestone's.
Something has since happened. Construction of this building should have started by now, but the lot remains vacant and boarded in.
In the meantime, the proposed Holiday Inn development north of the TCH on Mapleton Road has been announced. One of the components of this project is a building containing two national chain sit down restaurants.
Members of the forum have rightfully pointed out that the styling of the two restaurants would fit Milestone's and Jack Astor's. Could it be that the developer of the Holiday Inn property has lured Milestone's away from the proposed downtown location?
Now we have this unexpected site preparation occurring at Mapleton Crossing next to Cabela's.
Nobody knows for sure what's going on here, but some workers at Cabela's apparently told a forumer that Jack Astor's was going to move in there. The construction site is too large for a Jack Astor's but it could be part of a larger development......
So - my suspicious little mind thinks that both Jack Astor's and Milestones are destined for the city. The only question is where will they set up. I think the downtown has lost out. I think Milestones will definitely be part of the Holiday Inn development, but that Jack Astor's might be in play either for there or for Mapleton Crossing.
It will be fun to see if my suspicions are correct.