The Grove's business patterns - part 2
The Grove needs more of an eclectic mix of restaurants and stores for lunch crowds.I don't always want to be waited on, especially if I am alone for lunch. I like be in and out. We need places like Baja Fresh and Chicken Kitchen, Atlanta Bread and Pasha's where you can run in, get your lunch, go eat at a table inside or outside and leave and not have to deal with a wait staff especially if you are in a rush that day.
Do we have enough places like that here in the Grove? The few places that are set up that way are always crowded. The two Subways are always popular and Quiznos is not far behind. The pizza places are usually crowded, too. Apparently these places are busy because people want to be in and out and not waited on by waiters or waitresses.
The Grove BIC needs to take a road trip to Miracle Mile and Brickell and see what's new and inviting there. See where people are going and eating and spending their money and then the BIC needs to entice some of the same or similar places to the Grove.
I went all over the place one time looking for a Hallmark store. They had an item I wanted that no other store had. Wouldn't that be a great addition to the downtown Grove for daytime lunch crowds and shoppers? Places like that are needed. Places like that will draw locals out during the day. Locals could walk to these places most of the time. But right now, residents have to leave the Grove to find what they are looking for and that is why there are dozens of empty store fronts.
posted by Tom Falco at 8:49 AM
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12 Comments:
yes i agree about the in and out places. I do not always want to be served. Im too cheap, the tip adds up. Id love an einsteins bagel and a la salsa. Im so happy the smoothie place opened, its great.
Have you not heard of the words "to go"? Let's not turn our downtown into yet another chain store/resturant heaven. I can't believe that people can't think outside the box enough to order something to go. Let's keep our eclectic mix of places, get their phone numbers, order ahead of time, walk in and pay. We don't need a Coconut Grove Food Court.
You definitely should try Focaccia's next to the UPS store. Every place I know has take out, Moe's, Greenstreets, the pizza joints, Johnny Rockets, and now Marcanio's Deli. The Deli has hot foods to go, frozen foods to take home for dinner or you can order off the menu and sit in the patio. Fresh Market has great sandwiches and salads to go. What we need is a decent park where you can take your food and eat off tables that are not stained and dirty like the ones on the patio near the Chamber.
Those are gross.
for me its not to go per se. I like to get it and then have a seat. I cannot get it to go at most places in the grove and then go sit in the dining area. It doesnt have to be a chain. My college town (isla vista CA) had the best little restaurants Cantina (best breakfast burrito in world) lots of sandwhich places. you would pay and then they had outside seating you could go and sit at and chill. its not the same as a sit in restaurant.
Let's not leave out "The Last Carrot".
Now this place is a Coconut Grove staple that has survived the decades.
Where is Marciano's Deli? Id like to check it out. Oh, and Foccacia Rustica is really good too. Great Chicken salad and chicken curry.
Marciano's Deli is under the new condo by the old Taurus. I'd guess the food is good, but haven't really had a chance to eat there.
TWICE I've tried to get coffee & muffins, but no one would acknowledge me. There were more than 5 staff around the empty place, but no one would say hello let alone seat me. Five minutes of being ignored was enough. They get one more try.
Can you give me some street names here? Im not sure what the "New condo by the old Taurus" is... Sorry :/
the grove was full of small businesses in the not too distant past. so what has changed? where did the customers go? i doubt they all go to sterile coral gables or sunset place. its a mystery. the grove has a nice infrastructure which many other places in florida would die for. it actually has a downtown village, not always existent in florida. it should be full of life seven days a week, yet it is not.
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Blind Mind, Cefalo's (ne Taurus) and Marciano's are on the Main Highway, just south of the Playhouse.
Everyone:
PLEASE DON'T RECOMMEND CHAIN RESTAURANTS.
The Grove does need more local spots that allow for counter orders, as mentioned in prior comments. But why have a Quizno's when we could have a Grove Grill? I am a big fan of patronizing the locals.
In my opinion, here's what's missing in the Central part of Grove (if I just haven't found these, please let me know):
A good local bookstore.
A non-Starbucks coffee joint.
A nursury.
A Burger Stand.
A shoe repair place (as mentioned in an astute earlier post from an Anon Grovite)
More sidewalks - like on 32nd Ave, that lead to the Village
And while I said above, No Chains, there are some good ones. Trader Joes is awesome. Peet's Coffee out of SF is equally fabulous.
I am sure some folks will complain about the Cefalo's / Marciano's for price or whatever, but I went there a week ago with friends and just had a grand old time outside, under the big oak tree, drinking wine and watching the foot and car traffic on the Main Highway. It's a fantastic addition to the Grove.
Also, I have to say the Grove Cleaners is just fine. They are nice, they recognize me even after 2 months, and they give me coffee if I look tired. That's exactly how it should be in a so called Village!
Hurray for Peet's! Starbucks is milk toast in comparison. We can only wish - unless of course there is a franchise opportunity waiting to happen...
We certainly need a bookstore! I'm personally going to mention it to Mitchell of darling Books and Books.
Dry cleaners are not environmentally safe and should be banned at all costs whether in the grove or not. The carcinogenic chemicals they use on your crispy shirts, dresses and pants are seeping into your skin - nothing but bad news, but hey, you look damn good in the meantime(:
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