What Restaurant Should Locate at Junction City?
Seeing how Vonachen’s Old Place is being torn down and a local restaurant is not likely to raise up from the rubble, what chain would you like to see built there?
Here’s a few that I wouldn’t mind.
Maggiano’s Little Italy
McCormick & Schmick’s
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
Redstone American Grill
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Ruth’s Chris
I’m taking a leap of faith that Junction City will try to lure something slightly more upscale than a fast food restaurant or a Chili’s knockoff.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
There is a great Italian restaurant chain that originated in Bloomington, IL called Biaggi’s. The food and service is excellent. I would love to see one here in Peoria. The VOP’s old location would be perfect.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Giordano’s Pizza out of Chicago
December 1st, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Weber Grill
Lotawata Creek
Max and Erma’s
Lambert’s Cafe
Red Robin
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:14 am
I second Biaggi’s
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 am
I’m a fan of another place out of Bloomington, Distihl. They have a creative menu and tasty brews.
Bring Destihl to Peoria.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Instead of another restaurant, I’d like to see a Trader Joe’s build in VOP’s location. It’s a perfect location, somewhat affluent neighborhood with few convenient grocery stores that cater to that customer base.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
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December 2nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
How about Wahoo’s? I love fish tacos! Of course, it’s not upscale, but it’s delicious.
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Yes!!! Biaggi’s!! I can taste it now!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:45 pm
North Peoria needs a cash store.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Wish we had something like Old Ebbittts Grill in Washington DC. Imagine a cross between Kellehers and a more upscale – but not fine dining – menu.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Oh, and about Trader Joe’s. Go to their contact page and ask them. I think this has been done. If I’m not mistaken, the Peoria area doesn’t have the population density that they usually look for. But I could be wrong. Ask them and find out. And it is something the company would want to do as they do not offer franchises.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Chik-Fil-A.
Hey, at least it’s run by a religious owner
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:14 am
What about Whole Foods?
Mahkno. No, they need a Title Max.
j/k North Peoria
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:00 am
Bring back Pepé Taco!
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:50 am
Ryans….. Closest one is Champaign I believe. We always stop there when down that way.
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:25 am
The Common Man ROCKS! Every time I’m near New Hampshire I try to go.
Destihl is not really a chain in my opinion, and it would be a great choice.
Having a Macaroni Grill nearby would be nice if the new restaurant had to be a full-on chain.
I have to say Trader Joe’s would be an excellent addition to the Heights. I’m about due for a grocery run there.
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:28 am
Chef Kevin – word is that originally a Trader Joe’s was going into Sheridan Village instead of a Hy-Vee, but the complex owners thought a Hy-Vee would be more profitable. Too bad, I would much rather have a Trader Joe’s.
dirtycap2 – There’s a Ryans on the north side of Springfield on N Dirksen Parkway which is a little closer to home than Champaign. I think Ryans also owns the Hometown Buffet in Peoria.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
How about a walgreens….lol
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Scio– I had been to the one in Springfield. Totally forgot about that one.
We went to HB about 4 months ago. Had it changed hands? We had been there quite a few times over the years. And it was always good. But I will say this past time will be the last for awhile. On our stop the food was all different temps. The place wasmt really clean. Staff dropped plates on the floor twice breaking them and we saw one employee/worker chew out another by the front desk.
December 4th, 2009 at 5:48 am
I emailed Trader Joe’s when the Sheridan Village rumors were starting and they said there’s no plans to come to Peoria.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Hy-Vee is on a whole different level in terms of store footprint. If TJ’s were to have gone into Sheridan Village they probably would have only used about 5,000 square feet. Also, I don’t think population is as big of a factor as demographics when it comes to Trader Joe’s. There’s one in Madison which is not that much larger than Peoria.
I’ll agree with Biaggi’s. Pretty consistent & tasty.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:31 am
A ‘Fresh Market’ would probably fit well in that location. I would prefer that it replace Sav-A-Lot in Campustown but up there would work for them too.
There is one in Normal IL. Very nice.
http://www.thefreshmarket.com/index.html
December 5th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I agree with Giordano’s Pizza out of Chicago. You can’t get pizza like that here in Peoria.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Ruth’s Chris would be great but I think that’s wishful thinking. My only hope is that a local business (if one were to build there) would be successful, so we don’t have another “cursed location”. There’s too many of those in Peoria and I can see something like that happening in Junction City.
December 19th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
The charm of Junction City is its penchant for independent businesses. I’d rather see a local non-chain restaurant… like what VOP’s was originally. Good food, local owner, local, local, local.
June 5th, 2010 at 10:55 am
I guess the answer is 3-0-9, but I don’t know much about it. It looks upscale and interesting. I am among the legions that want a Trader Joes here. I can’t think of another business I want more. Maybe an eastern european restaurant with buffet, Peruvian, Moroccan, etc.. I would also like a Giordano’s. Biaggi’s is good but we are really strong with Italian, in my opinion. The suggestion of PF Chang’s made me chuckle, with no disrespect, but Junction City is a microscopic shopping destination compared to the places I normally see the top chains. So, because I don’t think we have a prayer of getting a TJ’s, and I don’t think a single ethnicity restaurant is right for the spot (would go near campus), I would basically go for a well rounded upscale bar/restaurant with late hours with a more affordable lunch – think like Hofbrau in terms of price.