What Businesses Would You Like to See (or See More of) in the Metro Area? (Swissvale: moving, eat)

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by sskink

fwiw: Five Guys trumps In-n-Out. East Coast vs. West Coast Burger Throw Down. In-N-Out Burger vs. Five Guys Burgers and Fries | Fast Food Reviewed

We have Five Guys in Atlanta. I was unimpressed and the burgers are expensive. Our local TV/Radio personality and burger aficionado Clark Howard sings the praises of In-N-Out Burger when he travels out West. Never mentions Five Guys.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by steindle

Can either of you give concrete examples of what you're talking about? I honestly have no idea. There seem to be hundreds of non-chain specialty stores in Pittsburgh in my understanding.

Also, I wouldn't say that a predilection for processed crap is unique to Pittsburgh. I say this especially after living in the South for three years.

Oh, I know it's not unique to Pittsburgh. None of it. I just took Perryview's remarks and ran with them into a bit of a rant.

[escilade18]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

We have Five Guys in Atlanta. I was unimpressed and the burgers are expensive. Our local TV/Radio personality and burger aficionado Clark Howard sings the praises of In-N-Out Burger when he travels out West. Never mentions Five Guys.

Five guys is better than many other fast good options (Mickey Dees, BK, Wendys, Jack in the Box, Hardees etc..) but I tend to like Checkers and In-And-Out better. Thing is, they would not be "the same" if they came east IMO. They even seem a bit out of place in Texas.
On what I would like to see more of though would be an expanded variety of grocery store options. As it sits right now we have: The Dirty Bird, Wal Mart, a bunch of lower end options (Shop N Save, Aldi, Bottom Dollar, Save A Lot) and are just starting to get in somewhat decent options (Whole Foods and Trader Joes.) I would love to get in a Wegmans or Harris Teeter in the area, their stores are kept significantly cleaner and much better organized than Giant Eagle. Even getting Kroger back would be a step in the right direction. One retail store that I wish we had in the area would be a Sony store. On a last note, I wish that we had some five story shopping plazas in our downtown area the way cities such as Philly, Baltimore and Cleveland do, something that more retail investment in fifth avenue place or Allegheny Center could easily accomplish

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by escilade18

Five guys is better than many other fast good options (Mickey Dees, BK, Wendys, Jack in the Box, Hardees etc..) but I tend to like Checkers and In-And-Out better. Thing is, they would not be "the same" if they came east IMO. They even seem a bit out of place in Texas.
On what I would like to see more of though would be an expanded variety of grocery store options. As it sits right now we have: The Dirty Bird, Wal Mart, a bunch of lower end options (Shop N Save, Aldi, Bottom Dollar, Save A Lot) and are just starting to get in somewhat decent options (Whole Foods and Trader Joes.) I would love to get in a Wegmans or Harris Teeter in the area, their stores are kept significantly cleaner and much better organized than Giant Eagle. Even getting Kroger back would be a step in the right direction. One retail store that I wish we had in the area would be a Sony store. On a last note, I wish that we had some five story shopping plazas in our downtown area the way cities such as Philly, Baltimore and Cleveland do, something that more retail investment in fifth avenue place or Allegheny Center could easily accomplish

Yeah, I'd say Five Guys is better than your standard burger chains, but Wendy's comes closest to them and is much cheaper. Checkers' burgers taste somewhat bland to me. Their fries are a bit interesting though.

I liked Harris Teeter but they were driven out of the Atlanta market. Kroger? Eh...you're not missing much. I'd be fine if Kroger left Atlanta. Whole Foods is nice but way over-priced. Clark Howard, mentioned above, calls the place "Whole Price". Trader Joe's is good I guess, but I never shop there. The other good alternative in Atlanta is Publix. But what I really like are the small independent organic/health food stores.

[IAmNips82]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

3.) Long John Silvers: So I know this food is "junk", but it seems like the only two "local" ones to the city are in Shaler Township or in the Brentwood area of the South Hills. I wish we had one a bit closer.

There's one in West Mifflin near Kennywood, co-branded as A&W foods, which I think most LJS' are these days.

[captainmidnight]

I know this would never happen, but I work downtown and I'd leave to see a Sheetz there. I get tired of the same 'ol lunch options Downtown. What if they opened a MTO only store? I would go.

I'd like to see a Taco Bell downtown too..

[escilade18]

Originally Posted by bmantz65

I'd like to see a Taco Bell downtown too..

There is one on the Northside near the casino, but I don't think that would help given time constraints on lunch break.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by escilade18

There is one on the Northside near the casino, but I don't think that would help given time constraints on lunch break.

Wow. I learn something new everyday. I've been schlepping to the one in Swissvale thinking it was the nearest to me.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Wow. I learn something new everyday. I've been schlepping to the one in Swissvale thinking it was the nearest to me.

There is also a Taco Bell over at the Waterworks.

[escilade18]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Wow. I learn something new everyday. I've been schlepping to the one in Swissvale thinking it was the nearest to me.

Yes, I think that it is relatively new, it is on Allegheny Avenue near McDonalds and Wendys, I think from looking at google maps, a BP used to be there