Johnson City Development (Kingsport, Bristol, Elizabethton: utilities, salary, pool)

[sprintuser2014]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

Pier One is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This article says they are hoping to have a "reduced footprint," but it's likley that the store in Johnson City in the Target shopping center will also close.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/17/pier...-continue.html

Bristol and Johnson City aren't on the closing list, so both are staying open for now at least.

[tonypitt]

Lots of closings hitting the area. Just saw where Ruby Tuesday near ETSU is closing. This might be a bit harsh, but so far I haven't seen any local business that was a "strong performer" announce they were closing, but that might come if this continues.

Wonder what this might mean for some of the new openings that were pending in this area, most notably Publix. Also wondering about Chicken Salad Chick. I hope both are still planning to open.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by tonypitt

Lots of closings hitting the area. Just saw where Ruby Tuesday near ETSU is closing. This might be a bit harsh, but so far I haven't seen any local business that was a "strong performer" announce they were closing, but that might come if this continues.

Wonder what this might mean for some of the new openings that were pending in this area, most notably Publix. Also wondering about Chicken Salad Chick. I hope both are still planning to open.

I have noticed this too.

The only thing I can think of that has closed that I'll miss is Fuddruckers. With that said, they folded immediately as this thing hit, and always seemed to do good business, so my guess is there was something else going on there than just the virus. I've heard rumors of Logan's Roadhouse closing all restaurants and going bankrupt as well, but again, they're behind Texas Roadhouse and certainly Chop House in the chain steakhouse segment.

IHOP has at least temporarily closed in the Tri-Cities. Perkins closed in JC before all this hit. There is nothing exciting about the food at either of these places.

Macado's in Bristol closed. They're OK, but downtown Bristol has so many other choices in the American restaurant that does sandwiches space (Stateline, Quaker Steak, 620 State, Angry Italian all have some variety of sandwiches/wings) that Macado's just couldn't bust through. They're average, at best.

Another thing I've noticed is that the places that are opening back up have almost been exclusively local restaurants. I haven't been to JC in about two weeks, but at least in Bristol and Knoxville, the places that were open for dine-in have been locals. I passed a lot of the sit-down chains in Knoxville Saturday that were closed, but the locally owned Copper Cellar restaurant group was mostly open, and I ate at Smoky Mountain Brewery.

I hate that these people are losing jobs, but these restaurants weren't great.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by tonypitt

Lots of closings hitting the area. Just saw where Ruby Tuesday near ETSU is closing. This might be a bit harsh, but so far I haven't seen any local business that was a "strong performer" announce they were closing, but that might come if this continues.

Wonder what this might mean for some of the new openings that were pending in this area, most notably Publix. Also wondering about Chicken Salad Chick. I hope both are still planning to open.

Hoping Chicken Salad Chick & Publix still open. I think they will.

Also, wasn't Guy Fieri's Chicken coming to JC too? https://chickenguy.com/

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

I have noticed this too.

The only thing I can think of that has closed that I'll miss is Fuddruckers. With that said, they folded immediately as this thing hit, and always seemed to do good business, so my guess is there was something else going on there than just the virus. I've heard rumors of Logan's Roadhouse closing all restaurants and going bankrupt as well, but again, they're behind Texas Roadhouse and certainly Chop House in the chain steakhouse segment.

IHOP has at least temporarily closed in the Tri-Cities. Perkins closed in JC before all this hit. There is nothing exciting about the food at either of these places.

Macado's in Bristol closed. They're OK, but downtown Bristol has so many other choices in the American restaurant that does sandwiches space (Stateline, Quaker Steak, 620 State, Angry Italian all have some variety of sandwiches/wings) that Macado's just couldn't bust through. They're average, at best.

Another thing I've noticed is that the places that are opening back up have almost been exclusively local restaurants. I haven't been to JC in about two weeks, but at least in Bristol and Knoxville, the places that were open for dine-in have been locals. I passed a lot of the sit-down chains in Knoxville Saturday that were closed, but the locally owned Copper Cellar restaurant group was mostly open, and I ate at Smoky Mountain Brewery.

I hate that these people are losing jobs, but these restaurants weren't great.

I didn't know Fuddruckers closed. Also, with Jason's Deli and Tupelo Honey closing last year in JC (or in 2018?), JC is losing some of my favorite spots to visit while there.

This thing is hitting the economy hard, and restaurants are gonna be the first casualties, sadly.

I read the Texas Roadhouse (!!) in Gatlinburg closed, too. But I think that will be replaced fast.

[Ted Bear]

Is there any chain or fast food joint known to mankind that isn't present in the Johnson City area? It is a wonder that any of them make money, let alone thrive. Losing a handful of them is a start, but I can think of many that ought to go just to put the citizens out of their misery.

[AppalachianAngler]

Originally Posted by Ted Bear

Is there any chain or fast food joint known to mankind that isn't present in the Johnson City area? It is a wonder that any of them make money, let alone thrive. Losing a handful of them is a start, but I can think of many that ought to go just to put the citizens out of their misery.

Chains are what is popular in JC, but point taken.

I don't think there is a Chipotle in Johnson City, but probably one in the area.

[Rangerred]

Originally Posted by AppalachianAngler

Chains are what is popular in JC, but point taken.

I don't think there is a Chipotle in Johnson City, but probably one in the area.

Correct, there is not a Chipotle in Johnson City nor is there one anywhere in the region. The closest are in Blowing Rock and Asheville. Just off the top of my head, there is no Culver's, Raising Cane's, Firehouse Subs, Smashburger, and Jack in the Box. I don't necessarily think all of these are needed here but it goes to show there are many chains without a local presence.

[Serious Conversation]

I think the days of being able to open up any kind of restaurant chain with little regard to food quality or service are just about over.

Fortunately, the local places like Freiberg's and the Stir Fry group seem to be holding up better.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Rangerred

Correct, there is not a Chipotle in Johnson City nor is there one anywhere in the region. The closest are in Blowing Rock and Asheville. Just off the top of my head, there is no Culver's, Raising Cane's, Firehouse Subs, Smashburger, and Jack in the Box. I don't necessarily think all of these are needed here but it goes to show there are many chains without a local presence.

Yeah, those are not here. There are TONS of popular chains in bigger city metro areas that are not in the tri-cities region.

The ones you mentioned have no locations in the tri-cities region.

Plus there are no Baskin-Robbins, Taco John, Zoe's, Whataburger, El Pollo Loco, Church's Chicken, Boston Market, Carl's Jr (Hardees are the southeast division I think though), Qdoba, Del Taco, and many, many more.

The tri-cities is just not a large enough market, in order to support the variety of locations for most of these.