Is there an interest for an Italian market/grocery store, in the frisco, dallas, or plano area? (McKinney: appointed, 2015)

[ATLHRLGUY]

Speaking of grocery stores, is there anything close to a Trader Joe's in Dallas? Any word a TJ's might be coming to the metroplex? Whenever I travel back home I have to end up going to Whole Foods or Central Market, WF and CM are great but I just prefer my Trader Joe's.

[Lakewooder]

Jimmy's Food Store- Dallas, Texas is the gold standard - Owner Paul DiCarlo and his wife, Annette, went to high school with me.

[primo123]

Here is what I would be doing. watch the slideshow of pics on the first page for an example.

http://www.primaveraitalianspecialties.com/

It would be smaller and more gourmet and lots of prepared foods..,let me know what you think, this is a relatives store who I used to be in business with before i moved and the this is the type of establishment I would like to open.

[primo123]

Originally Posted by primo123

It would be smaller and more gourmet and lots of prepared foods.

I meant smaller than Jimmy's food store.

[jimithing78]

I think there is definitely an interest for specialty food stores of any kind in the Dallas area. In reference to it only being viable in the heart of Dallas - that's rubbish. Of course you can't open a store like that in a blue collar part of town but Plano and Frisco both have areas of town that could support a store like that. If anything the store would do better there because of all the transplants from the East Coast looking for a little slice of home. If there was a place like that within a 15 minute radius of my home I'd probably be a regular.

[primo123]

Originally Posted by jimithing78

I think there is definitely an interest for specialty food stores of any kind in the Dallas area. In reference to it only being viable in the heart of Dallas - that's rubbish. Of course you can't open a store like that in a blue collar part of town but Plano and Frisco both have areas of town that could support a store like that. If anything the store would do better there because of all the transplants from the East Coast looking for a little slice of home. If there was a place like that within a 15 minute radius of my home I'd probably be a regular.

Good to know.

[MurphyPl1]

A new woodfire grill opened up in downtown Plano a couple months ago. Packed every time I've been there.

I do think there's a market for what you are offering and I agree it doesn't have to be in Dallas to work. We'd love something like that way out in Murphy. ;-)

[Acntx]

primo123, I wanted to let you know that I just sent you a direct message with a possible suggestion. All the best!

[primo123]

thanks..

[Debsi]

There's a place in Richardson run by a guy from New Jersey. Carmen's Bagel Cafe and Deli. It's mainly a bagel shop, I think, (they're good) but he also sells what are supposed to be authentic back east sandwiches, I guess. I had one once - it was pretty good, but waaaaaaaaay overpriced at close to $10 for a sandwich served a la carte with a little pile of discolored cabbage next to it for garnish. Perhaps if it really is "just like home" it would be worth the price to somebody to assuage those cravings.

I really like the very friendly owner but so far the two different cashiers working when I've been there seemed pretty out of it. I think the owner does most of the work, guess he's better at making good food than hiring good people!

I'm a little surprised the place has made it this long, based on the prices and restaurant failure rates, so perhaps I should go give it another try.

To the OP, I think your grocery could do fine in any of the northern suburbs, including Richardson, but we ARE saturated with ethnic markets in the area already - just not Italian.