No love lost by Krispy Kreme closing.
I hate to see any business close, but the news of Krispy Kreme closing had the same impact on my life as did the closings of Linens & Things and the Starbucks on Knoxville and Sterling. C’est la vie.
I’m not a donut kind of guy, but I do give in to the unhealthy whims of my children once in a while. I’ll admit that I was one of the first in line to buy some fresh hot glazed donuts, but the WOW effect quickly wore off and we slowly ended up visiting our local Dunkin’ Donuts again.
A bigger concern of mine is a rumour that Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse is hurting enough to close down too. I seriously hope that it can find a way to survive our economic tsunami, as do I hope Tilley’s @ the River Station can hang in there. If you have not visited Tilley’s yet, I strongly encourage you and guarantee that it will surpass all of your expectations.
January 4th, 2009 at 2:14 am
I was at that Johnny’s place once, and once was definitely enough. The food was only fair. And, that’s being generous to the description. The service was mediocre, and it wasn’t very busy at the time. I walked out thinking, “What a frickin’ waste of 90 bucks.” With the tablecloths, the napkins, the plates, and how the service was decked out, I was expecting at least a reasonably decent meal. And, I really didn’t get it. So, if they shut down, to borrow a phrase, “C’est la vie.” And, “Arrivederci (sp).”
As for Krispy Kreme shutting down… I was trying to think of how a donut place could get a 60 out of 100 by the Health Department (just in the paper a few days ago). That takes a lot of grease and filth to pull off. For that reason alone, and the inability to make a killing serving out glazed donuts, good riddance.
January 4th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Tilley’s won’t last. Too much overhead, not enough business. They have way too many sq. ft for one. Unless their overlandlord cuts them some slack but that most probably won’t happen. They should just return that former train station back into a train station.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Johnny’s was THE most snobbiest resturant I have ever been to. I found it almost nessasary to remind my server that she was in Peoria IL. The food was mediocre and the service was horrible. I am a former resturant worker so am always willing to give bad service the benifit of the doubt but have had the same type of service more than once. Was very disappointed. No love lost for me either on the donuts and would never want to see a local buisness fail but Johnny’s is not on my list of places I would be sad to see go.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I’ve been to Johnny’s a dozen times, at least, since they opened. I can honestly say I’ve never had bad service or food. I witnessed a friend of mine get served a steak charred to a crisp, but that’s his fault for ordering it well done. Snobby? If you want snobby, go to Jim’s Bistro in the heights. It appears I’m alone on an island, but I will miss Johnny’s.
As for Tilley’s, it’s a bit more expensive, and I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went there, but it exceeded every expectation I had. If I had a choice, I’d rather Johnny’s close, no question.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I will back you up on the love for Johnny’s. The times that I have been there, service was good, food was good, and I came away with no complaints. I, too, was upset to hear that it may be closing. My understanding is that Grand Prairie offered businesses really low rent originally, but after a period of time, rent was increased. This was all done contractually when they built the mall. Now the businesses in the mall can’t afford to stay there. This explains Linens n Things closing. Bar Louie, I have heard, is also on the chopping block. But, I don’t know anyone who is too concerned with that.
As far as Johnny’s being snobby, I have not experienced that at all. But, I can see why someone from Peoria may feel that way. This is the one city that I know of that people feel like it is 100% okay to go anywhere in their pajamas. I have yet to find something off limits for the pajama rule. It’s really quite astounding. Having lived the majority of my life here, I will admit that at one time I was guilty of such unacceptable behavior. Johnny’s is not snobby. Johnny’s is a nice restaurant in a city that has too few nice places to have dinner. Granted, it is a chain, but a chain that is worth it… in my opinion.
And…’most snobbiest’ is incorrect English.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Are you sure you don’t have your restaurants mixed up? Jim’s Bistro has never been snobby at any time that I’ve been there (about 20 times). And, the food is always good.
Johnny’s sucks. Good riddance, if ya gotta go.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I’ve got nothing against Jim’s Bistro per se, but the one time I ate dinner there I was a bit put off by the Country Club clientele ordering Filet’s for their 5 and 6 year olds.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:50 am
I’ve been to Johnny’s twice and while I thought the service was fine and didn’t notice any snobbishness, I did think my food was overly salty. It may have been a coincidence, but was enough to keep me from returning.
Thanks for the recommendation of Tilly’s. I’ve been dying to go there, but with money tight I have uncertain about spending extra on an unknown. We usually go to Chef John’s when we have a night out and have never been disappointed.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Well, to be honest with ya, I didn’t notice the “Mr. Quick” crowd at Johnny’s (sic), either. But, at least the 5 and 6 year olds at Jim’s were able to put down their meals.
January 17th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
I went into Jim’s Bistro once, it was snobby in that one instance just because the customers were nothing but men, table and table of men. It looked like the smoking room on the Titanic.