[Burnaby] The Amazing Brentwood | 15 Towers | 186m | 56 flrs | U/C & Proposed

[Klazu]

Chili's was mentioned above but that we don't have here. We had Applebee's in Port Coquitlam for some time. Only one Olive Garden and Krispy Kreme, which are always busy as noted. There is also a Chucky Cheese in Langley.

I hear stories about Tony Roma's and other chains having attempted it here before but backtracked since then. I am concerned about Montana's shutting down locations as I love the place. Red Lobster can be good and Cheesecake Factory is nice, so those would be great.

Any location like this would be great for one of the town centres, as it would be something different from the Earls and Cactus Club Cafes.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

East Side Marios which is basically exactly the same had a few locations here in BC but they all shut down, ditto for Swiss Chalet, for some reason those Ontario chains just can't make it in BC.

That's because the homegrown mid-high chains like Earls and Cactus Club do it so much better... (and they have expanded to Ontario)

[Denscity]

Milestones and Boston Pizza are also based in BC.

[officedweller]

Milestones took a misstep when they were taken over by Cara (?). Now owned by another company.

As of September 27th, 2021, Milestones ownership will be moving from Recipe Unlimited Corporation to Foodtastic Inc. This means that all Milestones restaurants will no longer be accepting the Ultimate Dining Card, SCENE points program, or CAA membership discounts.

[jollyburger]

Cara's specialty is killing off restaurant chains.

[SpongeG]

Small Victory is open as of today.

[VarBreStr18]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Small Victory is open as of today.

This is the 5th coffee shop in TAB: Starbucks, Mcdonald, Soon, Tim Horton, Small victory.

[s211]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

for some reason those Ontario chains just can't make it in BC.

I can't think of a single "food" chain from Eastern Canada that's worth eating at. It's all bland, factory pre-cooked and processed.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by s211

I can't think of a single "food" chain from Eastern Canada that's worth eating at. It's all bland, factory pre-cooked and processed.

It's all the same though. I remember people raving about "East Side Marios" in Ottawa.

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by s211

I can't think of a single "food" chain from Eastern Canada that's worth eating at. It's all bland, factory pre-cooked and processed.

Exactly. East Side Mario's was somehow worse than the Spaghetti Factory. Red Lobster had lobster but everything else on the menu sucked. Swiss Chalet had the "it" factor 25+ years ago but really turned into a specialty diner for the geriatric with changes around the mid 2000's. You can get a better quality rotisserie chicken from Costco.

It's the same reason why Knight and Day, The Pantry and ABC Country Restaurants have closed. The days of overcooked meat, with mash and steamed unseasoned vegetables are over. Bland, tasteless, unoriginal food...I think chains like Earls and Cactus Club have done it right by offering an array of different cuisines that can cater to a large group. You want Italian but your friends want a poke bowl or jambalaya? Well Cactus Club has it all, and it's decent quality and you know the standards will be up to par. It was well known that ABC would microwave entrees or have certain menu items sitting out under heaters or in warmers.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It's all the same though. I remember people raving about "East Side Marios" in Ottawa.

Recipe Unlimited (Cara) now controls St. Hubert as well. Watch them slowly destroy this brand.

Ron.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

......

On a weekend at the Delta store, the drive-thru lineup can be 50 cars long.

Edmonton has a few Red Lobsters, tried it once it was awful, granted I ordered chicken as I don't eat seafood, my friend wanted to try it as he had never really heard of it, he was from Korea, anyway he ordered some shrimp stuff and said it was awful.

They also have a few Olive Gardens, since they are owned by the same company they are located next to each other there. The OG in Langley is always packed busy, the food isn't that great but it's cheap and the endless salad and breadsticks is nice.

East Side Marios which is basically exactly the same had a few locations here in BC but they all shut down, ditto for Swiss Chalet, for some reason those Ontario chains just can't make it in BC.

As For Quizons I recently read that they went from 5000 stores worldwide to under 350 that's a huge drop. There are only 211 left in the USA. I can only find 2 locations for the Vancouver area, one in Surrey and one in Richmond.

Isn't there a Swiss Chalet in the Gilmore area? (like a few blocks from the Skytrain station)
Or did that one shut down too?
I know as recently as last year you could still order from them through these food delivery services. during the pandemic.
The one in Kits did close down a while ago, as the lot it was sitting on was slated (or sold) for redevelopment, I believe

And there's a Quizno's at Commercial St. right under the Commercial-Broadway Skytrain station (next door to the McDonald's)
They seem to be doing fine.
But then again it might be because they customers from far and wide eager for the only Quiznos fix left around..

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

Isn't there a Swiss Chalet in the Gilmore area? (like a few blocks from the Skytrain station)
Or did that one shut down too?
I know as recently as last year you could still order from them through these food delivery services. during the pandemic.
The one in Kits did close down a while ago, as the lot it was sitting on was slated (or sold) for redevelopment, I believe

And there's a Quizno's at Commercial St. right under the Commercial-Broadway Skytrain station (next door to the McDonald's)
They seem to be doing fine.
But then again it might be because they customers from far and wide eager for the only Quiznos fix left around..

Yeah.. way more than 2 Quiznos locations in the lower mainland. Probably ~20.

https://restaurants.quiznos.ca/en

Ron.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

Isn't there a Swiss Chalet in the Gilmore area? (like a few blocks from the Skytrain station)
Or did that one shut down too?
I know as recently as last year you could still order from them through these food delivery services. during the pandemic.
The one in Kits did close down a while ago, as the lot it was sitting on was slated (or sold) for redevelopment, I believe

And there's a Quizno's at Commercial St. right under the Commercial-Broadway Skytrain station (next door to the McDonald's)
They seem to be doing fine.
But then again it might be because they customers from far and wide eager for the only Quiznos fix left around..

Swiss Chalet still there. The one at kensington closed

Barcelo's is a really good chicken chain. And it's has good prices as well

[rofina]

Originally Posted by s211

I can't think of a single "food" chain from Eastern Canada that's worth eating at. It's all bland, factory pre-cooked and processed.

Mary Browns is the best fried chicken chain. Period.

Their spicy chicken is #1.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

Yeah, this kind of regional isolation of eateries isn't unique to BC.
I remember when I was studying in Quebec and they didn't have a single Quiznos or Taco Bell in the entire province for the time while I was there ( things may have changed in the time since I left).
It was rather odd - especially considering it wasn't because there was some like local alternative options that were keeping those chains out.

Same thing even happens in the US.
You have some nationally renowned brands that will only be available and operating in certain states or specific regions of the country and nowhere to be found anywhere else, like Whataburger in Texas or In-N-Out in California.

In BC it would make some sense that no one has seen any potential or benefit in opening a sea food eatery like Red Lobster since fresh sea food is really ubiquitous here......unlike in the landlocked prairie provinces.

But yeah, the 'no Quiznos or Taco Bell in Quebec' still bemuses me to this day and made it more of a premium anytime you left Quebec to visit friends of family in neighbouring provinces where they had them and you couldn't wait to get your hands on them.

Perhaps in Quebec the people there prefer their own home-grown baguettes and bakery or deli shops? When I was in Montreal, foot-long baguette sandwiches in Supermarkets only sold for $3.00 to $5.00. Can't beat that kind of price.

Same explanation as to why Starbucks has never been too big there I suppose. They already have had a pretty well-honed coffee culture there.

[s211]

Originally Posted by rofina

Mary Browns is the best fried chicken chain. Period.

Their spicy chicken is #1.

I literally had to google that. Never heard of it before, so unless it's some Scout/hipster secret, I don't get it.

Oh look, if I don't tell their website my location, it defaults to ONTARIO.

[Klazu]

Chez Cora is from Quebec and in my opinion great. It has been nice to see them expand.

I don't actually mind Swiss Chalet. Simple tasty food, if you ask me. Their Thanksgiving and Holiday Dinners are pretty solid and the place is cheap.

[Repthe250]

Whoops didn’t mean to throw everyone off topic lol.
I used red lobster as an example because Ive had a GC in my wallet for over 2 years that I haven’t been able to use due to the border being closed.

BC used to have a decent presence of big American chains such as Tony Roma’s, Hooters, Applebee’s, TGI Friday’s, Macaroni Grill, Rainforest Cafe… but as of the last two decades have all disappeared despite thriving in Alberta and Ontario

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by Vin

Perhaps in Quebec the people there prefer their own home-grown baguettes and bakery or deli shops? When I was in Montreal, foot-long baguette sandwiches in Supermarkets only sold for $3.00 to $5.00. Can't beat that kind of price.

Same explanation as to why Starbucks has never been too big there I suppose. They already have had a pretty well-honed coffee culture there.

Actually, I heard that the explanation was a bit more simpler than that (for Taco Bell at least).
Apparently the beef used by the (US) suppliers that the Taco Bel franchisees used did not meet the Quebec provincial govt. standards, and even though there had been accusations of protectionism by the provincial govt. for Quebec beef farmers, fact of the matter is that they faced the same issue when trying to expand to other provinces as well.

As I understand it, they now have 3 or 4 locations there, but all in the Greater Montreal region (the 'burbs) but none still in the Metro/Downtown area.

I'm not sure if the issue is the same for Quizno's.

But restaurant culture is huge in Quebec, and especially in Montreal, and they have very discerning tastes for eating out, so it's no surprise that fast Food eateries (particularly if they are American) would struggle to get a foothold there.
Unless you're global brands like the Mickey D's, the KFC's and the Subways and the like.