[St. John's] Restaurant Thread

[goodgrowth]

Originally Posted by Arrakis

Don't hold your breath on that.

Issues with parking/poor transit options+ no facelift/lack of pedestrian friendly roadways is really going to strangle business down there. Not to mention AHL hockey is on it's way out..

Mini Rant:

My issue with the "Heritage policy" isn't even that we have one...it's that its one-way or half-assed. OK fine you want have a heritage look for marketing purposes but you need to do more than just have rules/restrictions on development of buildings. At least put some planning and work into the roadways and sidewalks as well...make it look nicer. Like why does George Street have shitty ass normal asphalt? How many cars are really driving over that compared to people walking over it? Like why can't you redo that entire road with nice looking brick..maybe have some trees/street lamps/bike racks/benches/bus stops?...I know this stuff costs money but that street isn't even that big...is it even 200 meters? I dunno maybe no cares but things like this would make downtown look nicer and seem more pedestrian friendly in my opinion.

Anyway probably wrong thread for this but oh well.

[elizabethf1985]

Drove by the old Gracie Joe's location and there's a sign in the windows saying "Bellisimo's Bistro and Espresso Bar", apparently coming soon.

[Arrakis]

Another fast food chain is coming to town. Pannizza is according to their website opening three locations in 2017, 80 kenmount road (strip mall behind Montannas, also in the Avalon Mall and in the Village mall too. Plus two more locations in 2018. The Shoppes at Galway and another location at the airport. They need more food places near tha airport with 3 hotels practically at the airport now.

Here is a link to their web page
https://www.pannizza.com/locations/newfoundland/

[Sox]

Originally Posted by Arrakis

Another fast food chain is coming to town. Pannizza is according to their website opening three locations in 2017, 80 kenmount road (strip mall behind Montannas, also in the Avalon Mall and in the Village mall too. Plus two more locations in 2018. The Shoppes at Galway and another location at the airport. They need more food places near tha airport with 3 hotels practically at the airport now.

Here is a link to their web page
https://www.pannizza.com/locations/newfoundland/

I have heard that the owner of The 5th Ticket on Water Street is the one bringing this Franchise. Looks like a SUBWAY style takeout for Pizza. From looking at the website, I can honestly say that it really looks delicious and I have no doubt it will do really well here. Can't wait to try it myself.

2 drawbacks that I see : 1. I bet there is no Delivery option, and 2. WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU OPEN IN THE VILLAGE ?????? Anywhere else in that area would be great, any strip mall on Topsail Road other than the Village would be a better location, but the Village is a lost cause, and it will not survive there.

Good luck: can't wait to try it . Looks Delish !

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by Sox

I have heard that the owner of The 5th Ticket on Water Street is the one bringing this Franchise. Looks like a SUBWAY style takeout for Pizza. From looking at the website, I can honestly say that it really looks delicious and I have no doubt it will do really well here. Can't wait to try it myself.

2 drawbacks that I see : 1. I bet there is no Delivery option, and 2. WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU OPEN IN THE VILLAGE ?????? Anywhere else in that area would be great, any strip mall on Topsail Road other than the Village would be a better location, but the Village is a lost cause, and it will not survive there.

Good luck: can't wait to try it . Looks Delish !

One of these just opened in the Vancouver area. It 'looked' good. It executed poorly. The food sucks. They serve fries that they 'bake' through their pizza oven.. they're disgusting.

Ron.

[rad709]

Speaking of make your own pizza places, one just opened on Harvey Rd. Called Olio.

https://www.facebook.com/createolio/

[Engibeer]

Originally Posted by rad709

Speaking of make your own pizza places, one just opened on Harvey Rd. Called Olio.

https://www.facebook.com/createolio/

I didn't think they'd fill the old Stoggers location so quickly...

Looks like a great concept. That location isn't fantastic parking wise but most people seem to make do with Timmie's parking lot.

[Sox]

I used to go to Stoggers all the time to grab a slice, until I got fed up trying to get parking.

This place will unfortunately suffer the same fate ! This is quite possibly, the absolute worst location for a food place in all of St.John's ! I feel sorry for them. Looks like a nice concept, but there is minimal foot traffic here, and like I said above, parking is abysmal !

Good luck to 'em

[jthetzel]

Pizza at Olio is quite good. They are looking to have an online order system in the near future, but for now it's an old school paper form. For lunch yesterday, five different pizzas were available by the slice.

For parking, perhaps they can lobby city council to convert one or two of the 2 hour metered spaces to 15 minute maximum. Jumping Bean, Fixed, Soul Azteka, Ches's, and Leo's all seem to do well in the area. Lot's of business from secondary students between noon and 1:00.

[Sox]

Originally Posted by jthetzel

Pizza at Olio is quite good. They are looking to have an online order system in the near future, but for now it's an old school paper form. For lunch yesterday, five different pizzas were available by the slice.

For parking, perhaps they can lobby city council to convert one or two of the 2 hour metered spaces to 15 minute maximum. Jumping Bean, Fixed, Soul Azteka, Ches's, and Leo's all seem to do well in the area. Lot's of business from secondary students between noon and 1:00.

FOR THESE PRICES, IT BETTER BE GOOD ! Wow this is a pricey Pizza

[Engibeer]

Originally Posted by Sox

FOR THESE PRICES, IT BETTER BE GOOD ! Wow this is a pricey Pizza

Meh, seems pretty on par with Piatto and Pi price wise.

[donkeyote]

A new Restaurant was approved by the city at the old Aqua location downtown sometime in the past month and a half. Anyone know what it is? In a long ago post here someone mentioned Steve Vardy (Adelaide) was rumoured to be opening a taco joint there. Any new whispers?
Thanks!

(long time lurker, first time poster.)

[Sox]

I have my doubts you will see anything open up in the downtown, for the foreseeable future at least. There are a couple of projects in the works already that look like they have stalled completely, combine with the poor economy, the Winter months, and the thought of competing with a bunch of new franchises opening on Kenmount Road, doesn't make downtown a good option right now.

There was a project opening next to the old Tickle trunk that just stopped all of a sudden and there is now a for rent sign in the window, there is a Pizza restaurant next to Obriens music that hasn't had any action on it in over 8 months, and the new project by Yellowbelly in the old Velma's location also looks like it has been stalled now for months.

I just cant see , someone risking putting anything downtown right now.

[Marty_Mcfly]

Originally Posted by donkeyote

A new Restaurant was approved by the city at the old Aqua location downtown sometime in the past month and a half. Anyone know what it is? In a long ago post here someone mentioned Steve Vardy (Adelaide) was rumoured to be opening a taco joint there. Any new whispers?
Thanks!

(long time lurker, first time poster.)

Interesting, I thought something was already approved and started for Aqua, though now that I think about it I may be confusing it with the old Bistro Sofia location.

Originally Posted by Sox

I have my doubts you will see anything open up in the downtown, for the foreseeable future at least. There are a couple of projects in the works already that look like they have stalled completely, combine with the poor economy, the Winter months, and the thought of competing with a bunch of new franchises opening on Kenmount Road, doesn't make downtown a good option right now.

There was a project opening next to the old Tickle trunk that just stopped all of a sudden and there is now a for rent sign in the window, there is a Pizza restaurant next to Obriens music that hasn't had any action on it in over 8 months, and the new project by Yellowbelly in the old Velma's location also looks like it has been stalled now for months.

I just cant see , someone risking putting anything downtown right now.

Yellowbelly's expansion into old Velmas is continuing along at their expected rate. I would assume any possible slowdown at this point would be at the hands of the NLC and their archaic growler laws. Tap rooms don't come quick, they need to be designed, built, and then implemented. That kind of thing can take over a year, depending on how quickly the designer and contractor works. Economy isn't hurting their expansion at the moment what so ever.

[Jon1978]

Looks like their online ordering system is up. I haven't tried to use it yet but it looks like they are putting their create-your-own option online.

https://www.createolio.com/

[AnUrbanLife]

Originally Posted by Sox

I have my doubts you will see anything open up in the downtown, for the foreseeable future at least. There are a couple of projects in the works already that look like they have stalled completely, combine with the poor economy, the Winter months, and the thought of competing with a bunch of new franchises opening on Kenmount Road, doesn't make downtown a good option right now.

There was a project opening next to the old Tickle trunk that just stopped all of a sudden and there is now a for rent sign in the window, there is a Pizza restaurant next to Obriens music that hasn't had any action on it in over 8 months, and the new project by Yellowbelly in the old Velma's location also looks like it has been stalled now for months.

I just cant see , someone risking putting anything downtown right now.

That's simply not what's going on, there is turn over but that's normal and healthy. Nothing is sitting empty for very long, shops are reinvesting in their buildings, the projects you mentioned aren't stalled they simply take a long time to get up and running, new restaurants and stores are opening.

Downtown is doing surprisingly well for a supposed period of slow economics. If you want to know what bad downtown economics looks like visit London Ontario some time.

[Firdale]

Any body hearing any talk of Five Guys opening in St. John's? Love that place!!

[Offshore1]

Originally Posted by Firdale

Any body hearing any talk of Five Guys opening in St. John's? Love that place!!

Not until now. I'd love to see one open here - excellent at what they do, inexpensive ( U.S. anyway), unpretentious. Is there anything to this?

[wmemeadusjr]

Originally Posted by Firdale

Any body hearing any talk of Five Guys opening in St. John's? Love that place!!

I'm hoping the Shoppes at Galway will include a Five Guys.

[wmemeadusjr]

Burger King on Ropewalk Lane has their signage up and most of the interior looks to be finished. I passed by there several evenings and people have been working away at the restaurant. This is month 20 of the project I believe.