What National Chain Would You Most Like to See Come to NEPA in 2008? (Philadelphia: 2009, home)

[ScranBarre]

I was just thinking about one of MiamiMan's posts a few moments ago in which he ridiculed NEPA for not yet having either a P.F. Chang's or a Cheesecake Factory, and I started to think of other national chains we don't yet have in our region. In 2008 our area will be getting its first Greene Turtle Pub near the airport, which will also be the first location north of the Mason-Dixon line for that matter (take that MiamiMan! LOL!) Most of these chains would probably come to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area first due to the dense population base to draw from before considering opening up locations in Stroudsburg, Williamsport, etc.

What other national chains would you like to see come to NEPA in 2008? Please feel free to check all that apply. Vote early; vote often. More importantly, Happy New Year!

[61scout80]

cost plus, panda express, jack in the box, in and out, jamba juice, tropical smoothie cafe, lush, and a few more that my girl and i have come to love...

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by 61scout80

cost plus, panda express, jack in the box, in and out, jamba juice, tropical smoothie cafe, lush, and a few more that my girl and i have come to love...

These are all exclusive West Coast chains that I didn't have room to add. Sorry! You can always check "Other" I guess. Happy New Year!

[ScranBarre]

I think bringing a Dave & Buster's to either Downtown Scranton or Downtown Wilkes-Barre would do wonders to help them along on their path to revitalization. For those unfamiliar with the chain, they are more or less a "Chuck-E-Cheese's" for adults. My family vacationed in Providence several years ago and enjoyed the Dave & Buster's there. To be fair though we couldn't tell if it alone was a "draw" to downtown because it sat in a popular major mall (an upscale, larger Steamtown Mall at that).

I continue to be flabbergasted as to why an area as large as NEPA has yet to land an IMAX theater. While visiting my friend and her boyfriend in Cincinnati this past summer we saw a Harry Potter film at the IMAX; it was incredible. I think THAT should have been built in Downtown Wilkes-Barre instead of Cinema 14, but hindsight is 20/20 I suppose. I know currently of people from the Back Mountain who still hoof it up to Cinemark in Moosic even though the Wilkes-Barre theater is right on their doorsteps; if it were an IMAX I'd guarantee that folks from the Scranton area would even be tempted to come down here to scope it out.

An Apple Store just opened at the Lehigh Valley Mall, and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before we snag one as well (perhaps in one of the vacant units at the Shoppes at Montage). After all, we supported a Gateway store for quite a while, and it seems like a lot of people in NEPA now have iPhones, iPods, Apple Computers, etc.

People in other states rant and rave about the Whole Foods Market. From what I understand it's like an even MORE upscale Wegman's (if that's even possible!) I've never been to one, but I'm picturing it as an oversized version of Everything Natural in Clarks Summit.

I might sound like a redneck, but I LOVE Hoss's Steak & Sea House! There's one in State College and one in the Selinsgrove area, but to my knowledge the chain has yet to expand into NEPA. Why? I have no idea. You walk into the restaurant and place your order at the front counter before being taken to your seat. It's more or less an upscale fast-food restaurant.

[CHS89]

I second Jack in the Box. Best fast food burgers on the planet! Their sirloin burgers make McDonalds taste like...well, McDonalds.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by CHS89

I second Jack in the Box. Best fast food burgers on the planet! Their sirloin burgers make McDonalds taste like...well, McDonalds.

I've heard nothing but great things about Jack-in-the-Box as well. Does anyone know how they compare to Red Robin? Considering they're a West Coast chain though I highly doubt their first East Coast venture would be Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

[MermanMike]

As far as chains go Whole Foods is orgasmic...everything there is natural...you're right that Wegman's is our closest thing but at Whole Foods you don't even have to wonder whether something was made with high fructose corn syrup or poisonous food coloring etc, they just simply do not carry that stuff. And as far as corporate policy goes, employee wages, etcs, they really are a high purpose company. NEPA is probably not on their short list but if they came anywhere in NEPA I would consider moving to be within a 10 or 15 minute drive of wherever they choose.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by MermanMike

As far as chains go Whole Foods is orgasmic...everything there is natural...you're right that Wegman's is our closest thing but at Whole Foods you don't even have to wonder whether something was made with high fructose corn syrup or poisonous food coloring etc, they just simply do not carry that stuff. And as far as corporate policy goes, employee wages, etcs, they really are a high purpose company. NEPA is probably not on their short list but if they came anywhere in NEPA I would consider moving to be within a 10 or 15 minute drive of wherever they choose.

They sound just wonderful. I'm beginning to worry more and more about the food I eat as I have made a resolution in 2008 to start running in local races and to have a six-pack by mid-summer. In 2009 I hope to compete in the Steamtown Marathon. Tonight I'm going to eat like a fiend at a few parties, but tomorrow (willpower permitting) I'm going to start watching what I eat a bit more closely. I also saw a frightening segment on Good Morning America about a month ago about how contaminated seafood that is imported to the United States from Southeast Asia truly is; a lot of it can make a person sick of he or she consumes too much. Yuck!

You might get lucky, Mike. Perhaps Damascus would be a perfect location for a new Whole Foods store? LOL! All kidding aside I'd recommend they come to Pittston, where they could pull in customers from both the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre areas with just one store as opposed to building two different stores.

Upon further inspection the only Whole Foods stores in PA are in suburban Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The only stores in NY are in Greater NYC. I agree that getting one of these stores in NEPA will require a lot of pleading and begging once I'm President of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

[NYRangers 2008]

I second Jack in the Box. I used to eat there when I was a kid on Long Island. I haven't seen one in years. I thought the chain went out of business.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by NYRangers 2008

I second Jack in the Box. I used to eat there when I was a kid on Long Island. I haven't seen one in years. I thought the chain went out of business.

That might have been a different restaurant not affiliated with the current chain. Here are the chain's current locations:



As you can see the West Coast and South are primarily the home base for these eateries. I don't see them randomly hopping into Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at any time soon.