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McQuiston: Locally owned still on top

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By Zack McQuiston

Monday, November 16, 2009

Welcome to Lawrence, Noodles & Company! Finally, I don’t have to resort to the long, frustrating drive to Olathe to enjoy your delicious globe-trotting noodle dishes. Now all I have to do is hoof it down to the corner of Eighth and Massachusetts streets.

There’s just one problem: Why would I go to a chain restaurant for my noodle fix when there are perfectly good local alternatives just down the street? After all, that’s what Massachusetts Street is all about: Quality local establishments with devoted local owners serving tasty local food to loyal local customers. It’s not like a noodle restaurant is a new concept in downtown Lawrence. Places such as Zen Zero offer up Thai noodles and Mad Greek handles Mediterranean varieties.

On top of that, with new-found competition from chain restaurants who can say the newest won’t run the locals out of town? An arguably similar situation occurred when Jimmy John’s contributed to the closing of Mass. Street Deli, a Lawrence fixture for 34 years. Is there anything stopping Noodles & Company from doing the same?

Actually, there is. Just look at nearly every other recent instance of this familiar scenario.

Here’s where the anti-chain argument, loses ground. In recent years, there haven’t been that many downtown restaurants driven out of business by national chains.

Sylas and Maddy’s Ice Cream has been holding its own against corporate competition since 2003 when Cold Stone Creamery opened down the street, and doubly so since Ben and Jerry’s opened in 2006. Jefferson’s has withstood Buffalo Wild Wings’ presence admirably. Mad Greek seems to be doing fine despite Pita Pit. And La Parilla doesn’t seem to be feeling the burn from Chipotle. In fact, the local businesses appear to be thriving in spite of the competition.

With these examples in mind, maybe this newest chain isn’t such a bad thing for the downtown area. People recognize chains, which attracts new customers to Mass. Street, who in turn find their way into local, sometimes better, restaurants.

I’ll admit I found my choice for the best cup of coffee in town, La Prima Tazza, by leaving behind Starbucks at the suggestion of my brother. I was going to Buffalo Wild Wings long before I made my way to Jefferson’s, which is technically a chain, but only the second store. Heck, I even made do with Cold Stone before I ever had Sylas and Maddy’s. Those were dark times, believe me.

As long as the loyal amongst us keep shopping where we choose to, then all that can happen is an influx of customer traffic to downtown Lawrence. I don’t think anyone would argue that’s a bad thing. The original, truly local options in town have no reason to be worried, and the locals don’t need to contemplate financial donations to keep their favorite places afloat. There’s enough room downtown for big and small businesses alike.

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Comments

McQuiston: Locally owned still on top

I still find it sad that they are replacing Yello-Sub at the top of the hill with....A JIMMY JOHNS! how insulting! we already have at least 3 jimmy johns already do we really need another one? BRING BACK YELLO SUB!!!!

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