Comments on: Chipotle & Panera coming to VCU

By: Joe Boo

Joe Boo — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:49:07 +0000

Panera sucks period. Over priced, low quality fast food with glamorous marketing. If the food is so fresh, try this one. Ask for a sandwich without mustard or mayo. I guarantee you the response will be “We can’t do that, they’re all pre-made.” You mean to tell me a company that makes sandwiches a core product of their business finds hand making a sandwich such a monumental task that they must be premade? Panera isn’t trendy, their shrink wrapped food isn’t good, the value for your money sucks, their re-heated soup is bland, and the whole atmosphere makes me want to vomit on every laptop toting abercrombie and fitch douche that walks in the door. You want quality food and value? Look around your neighborhood and visit a local establishment where they have to take pride in what they do or they don’t exist. If you really think you’re eating healthy and avoiding assembly line fast food because the ad says so and they offer free wi-fi you’re an idiot.

By: Katy

Katy — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:19:49 +0000

the panera is definite. I work at another one and a lot of people are planning to transfer to the VCU location

By: Katherine

Katherine — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:48:39 +0000

I’d be excited if this were true, it would really help out the Grace Street area. I go to Tropical Smoothie or Qdoba like maybe twice a month and they are really good for student org fundraisers.

However I go to Crossroads almost 3 times a week for coffee and hot chocolate among other local places. So, I agree it’s all about balance. I also find local places (like 821) to be waaaay cheaper.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:13:06 +0000

Speaking as a downtown resident, the more choices the better. I like the indies, but I like being able to choose from a name brand too. A sourdough bread bowl of soup ain’t always a bad thing.

By: chris

chris — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:55:47 +0000

This is a problem in college towns everywhere. Local businesses thrive on continuity and customer loyalty, and this can be really difficult to come by where so many people are here for only 4-5 years. Even in my college town of tiny, remote Clemson, SC there were tons of wonderful locally owned places, but they always seemed on the verge of survival. It was a constant effort by the upperclassmen to pressure every incoming class to branch out from the thousand generic sub chains. It’s one of the valuable parts about leaving home for school. How many of us have never chosen comfort over something new?

Panera’s not great, but I gotta admit, when we moved to Richmond, my wife and I went there often if only because we had no internet/cable/phone or access to my VCU account and our broke asses could share a cup of coffee and enjoy 3-4 hours of free wi-fi guilt-free.

By: Miles

Miles — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:47:10 +0000

Parker: I agree with everything you’ve said. And some with others. Yes, the name and branding of places like Chipotle and Panera are soothing to little punks that come down from NOVA to go to VCU. These are the only restaurants they know, and have known their whole life. They’re soothing, familiar, affordable, and of course, tasty. Except for Panera, with it’s sandwiches being made-up of 80% bread. No thanks.

And it took me about a year to truly realize the amazing tastes that Richmond has to offer, especially in the campus area. Kuba, 821, Crossroads, Harrison St, Nile,Ellwood’s, Ipaneama, Joe’s, and now Black Sheep. Of course Chipotle will probably end up accepting Ram Bucks. It took locals and friends of mine that were familiar with the restaurant scene in the Fan to really turn me on to these places.

But that’s what growing on a city is all about. I was a freshman from Buckingham County, not knowing shit about Richmond, and now strive to only eat locally and support local businesses. They employee about 90% of my friends, and keep me full.

I do have to admit to a Sunday night dinner at Chipotle every once in a while. But seriously, fuck Panera.

By: Jakes

Jakes — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:39:22 +0000

Thanks, Matthew, that was my point exactly.

I usually eat at local establishments myself, but I tend to think that there’s room for corporate and local business in downtown Richmond. Look at any successfully revitalized downtown in this country and you’ll see the same thing.

By: RVA Foodie

RVA Foodie — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:27:01 +0000

I basically agree with the “run them outta town” vibe, but I think we’ve got to be realistic. The “soulless cancer” is ingrained in the hearts and minds of many incoming students and their parents who see big chains as a soothing sign of safety and go ahead and pay their kid’s tuition. I really despise Panera (but kinda dig Chipotle every 6 mos or so), but if you go stand in line at Tropical Smoothie on Broad and give out coupons for Cous Cous, the Umbro shorts in the winter crew still ain’t showing up*. At the very least, these two places look like the result of a poll of the students favorite chains. Now, as different flavors of the month pop up, we’ll probably see those places rotate to some other disposable prefab concept storefront. (*Umbros – am I dating myself?)

By: Matthew Freeman

Matthew Freeman — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:25:52 +0000

Parker- I agree with you completely on the west end as “soulless cancer of strip malls.” And I’m unabashedly anti-corporate in my tastes.

What I heard from Jakes, however, is a slightly different point. Though I’m not excited about the chains, it is a sign of Richmond’s downtown rebirth- corporate soul-sucking chains only locate places where they are reasonably sure a market exists. So there is some celebration that downtown Richmond has rebounded to that point.

Nevertheless, I’ll continue to choose the Nile, 821, Harrison St., Crossroads, or any of the other incredible local spots when I’m dining near VCU. And I hope others do too.

By: Parker

Parker — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:46:30 +0000

“Decent enough” doesn’t= corporate, Jakes. If you ask me the West End is a soulless cancer of strip malls and is far from “decent”. Amen, Jeff E.