Chick-fil-A Opening in the Bay Area? (Oakland, Concord: sales, how much, sales tax)

[jade408]

Originally Posted by sav858

How many tourists does Dublin get compared to Myrtle Beach? Have a feeling that might make a difference in the # of restuarants overall.

Well my dad is from a super small town in SC. Under 3000 people. There are 3 fast food places. And the nearest in a 20 mile radius are smaller.......... as in small enough not to have traffic lights. One neighboring town has the post office co-located in the convenience store........

So you tell me? Is that a pattern? No tourists go to his town.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by Nineties Flava

the results definitely demonstrate the trend that Oakland has a considerably smaller concentration of fast food than Omaha or Raleigh despite being more dense and a part of a much larger metro area.

Being that is the case, Oakland is going to have a larger footprint for it's older, more urban areas compared to these other cities. Those areas tend to have less chains. Omaha and Raleigh make up a larger portion of it's metro and likely includes very suburban areas not nearly as prevalent as Oakland. Similar to San Diego, which makes up something like 40% of the metro population due to it's large city limits. So you have a wider range of neighborhoods in those cities. Very suburban areas inside Omaha and Raleigh would likely be in other cities here.

Either way, I didn't orginally claim Oakland is full of chains and like other cities. I just think fast food in parts of it is as prevalent as other areas. When you look at the demographics it's not hard to see why.

There are many other examples of this in SF and other cities throughout the Bay... the most popular chains tend to be the local ones, and local often means it's only found in a particular city.

Again, something not unqiue to the Bay Area. Don't you think other areas have local chains that are also popular? I know San Diego did.

The most popular chain I can think of based on how busy it is in the outer East Bay is probably In-N-Out, which is not a local chain.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by sav858

Being that is the case, Oakland is going to have a larger footprint for it's older, more urban areas compared to these other cities. Those areas tend to have less chains. Omaha and Raleigh make up a larger portion of it's metro and likely includes very suburban areas not nearly as prevalent as Oakland. Similar to San Diego, which makes up something like 40% of the metro population due to it's large city limits. So you have a wider range of neighborhoods in those cities. Very suburban areas inside Omaha and Raleigh would likely be in other cities here.

Either way, I didn't orginally claim Oakland is full of chains and like other cities. I just think fast food in parts of it is as prevalent as other areas. When you look at the demographics it's not hard to see why.

Again, something not unqiue to the Bay Area. Don't you think other areas have local chains that are also popular? I know San Diego did.

The most popular chain I can think of based on how busy it is in the outer East Bay is probably In-N-Out, which is not a local chain.

Suburbs and small towns in the midwest generally don't have local chains (i.e. only found in a particular city)... big towns and cities like Gary (i.e. Flamingo Pizza) and Chicago (too many to name) will. The closest thing to a "local chain" in the suburban Midwest is White Castle. Otherwise, it's pretty much all McDonald's, Starbucks, Taco Bell, etc. "Upscale" in the suburban midwest usually translates to "upscale chains" like PF Chang's, Olive Garden, etc, i.e. the kind of places that would get laughed out of upscale bay suburbs like Piedmont, Atherton, etc.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by jade408

Well my dad is from a super small town in SC. Under 3000 people. There are 3 fast food places. And the nearest in a 20 mile radius are smaller.......... as in small enough not to have traffic lights. One neighboring town has the post office co-located in the convenience store........

So you tell me? Is that a pattern? No tourists go to his town.

Are small towns in CA any different?

Also if a town of 3K is the largest in 20 miles then it's likely somewhat of a rural "hub". Just as Ukiah in Mendo County is for that area, and it has plenty of chains.

I don't feel the majority of people in Northern CA are foodies that all shop at local stores like some of you make it seem.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by Nineties Flava

"Upscale" in the suburban midwest usually translates to "upscale chains" like PF Chang's, Olive Garden, etc, i.e. the kind of places that would get laughed out of upscale bay suburbs like Piedmont, Atherton, etc.

The PF Changs does quite well in WC and has been there for a while. As does the Cheesecake Factory, it does better than the local chain store that was there before obviously.

Please, go to BJ's in the Sunvalley mall tomorrow at 7p and let us know how long you have to wait before your table pager buzzes.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by sav858

Are small towns in CA any different?

Also if a town of 3K is the largest in 20 miles then it's likely somewhat of a rural "hub". Just as Ukiah in Mendo County is for that area, and it has plenty of chains.

I don't feel the majority of people in Northern CA are foodies that all shop at local stores like some of you make it seem.

No one claimed that.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by Nineties Flava

No one claimed that.

Did I say anyone said or claimed that?

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by sav858

The PF Changs does quite well in WC and has been there for a while. As does the Cheesecake Factory, it does better than the local chain store that was there before obviously.

Please, go to BJ's in the Sunvalley mall tomorrow at 7p and let us know how long you have to wait before your table pager buzzes.

WC is more upper middle class than upscale. The difference is that chains like BJ's, PF Chang's, etc. would actually be in the Midwestern equivalents of Piedmont and Atherton, and more than likely they'd be the main draw for outsiders. The upscale dining culture that exists in the Bay suburbia (Chez Panisse for example) does not really exist in the Midwest outside of Chicago and its suburbs and to a much lesser extent St. Louis and Cleveland. People are more complacent/satisfied with chains.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by sav858

Did I say anyone said or claimed that?

Yeah, you did.

"I don't feel the majority of people in Northern CA are foodies that all shop at local stores like some of you make it seem."

[jade408]

Originally Posted by sav858

Are small towns in CA any different?

Also if a town of 3K is the largest in 20 miles then it's likely somewhat of a rural "hub". Just as Ukiah in Mendo County is for that area, and it has plenty of chains.

I don't feel the majority of people in Northern CA are foodies that all shop at local stores like some of you make it seem.

Well the towns in the next 20 miles might have another 1000 people in them. I am probably exaggerating. The town next door to the west has more like 50 people. And it is separated by about 8 miles of trees. The town after that has about 600 people. And I think they have their own fast food place. It is another 8 miles away. To the north? There are trees and a handful of homes in the 20 miles to the north. And to the south? More trees for 10 miles.

Dublin was about 1 fast food spot per 7000 people. Myrtle Beach is about 1 per 3500 people. My dads town (and its neighbors) are more like 1 per 1500. So that is still a much higher number of fast food places per person.