Comments on: Restaurant Graveyards http://chusonchow.com/2008/12/restaurant-graveyards/ A Pair of Enthusiastic Foodies in Syracuse, NY Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:49:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dave http://chusonchow.com/2008/12/restaurant-graveyards/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Dave Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:01:55 +0000 http://chusonchow.com/?p=268#comment-144 Great point, Jim. Since that one's in my neighborhood, more or less, I see it a lot. Lonnie and I used to enjoy Carmella's when she was working right near there. Rosario's didn't last long. But yes, you'd think that it would be a good commercial spot. Back when I was playing guitar at Jalapeno's twice a week, they even talked about buying it. But no one is buying it. My guess: it's overpriced. There are a number of rich landlords, some absentees, who don't need to sell, and they will let a place completely decay until their high price is met. And the city doesn't enforce codes on these guys for various reasons - instead they enforce codes on the smallest businesses that have more trouble affording the remediation. Isn't that fun? Or maybe there are other issues with that site, like it needs a big hazmat cleanup. Who knows. Great point, Jim. Since that one’s in my neighborhood, more or less, I see it a lot. Lonnie and I used to enjoy Carmella’s when she was working right near there. Rosario’s didn’t last long. But yes, you’d think that it would be a good commercial spot. Back when I was playing guitar at Jalapeno’s twice a week, they even talked about buying it.

But no one is buying it. My guess: it’s overpriced. There are a number of rich landlords, some absentees, who don’t need to sell, and they will let a place completely decay until their high price is met. And the city doesn’t enforce codes on these guys for various reasons – instead they enforce codes on the smallest businesses that have more trouble affording the remediation. Isn’t that fun?

Or maybe there are other issues with that site, like it needs a big hazmat cleanup. Who knows.

]]> By: JimBJohnson http://chusonchow.com/2008/12/restaurant-graveyards/comment-page-1/#comment-143 JimBJohnson Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:45:42 +0000 http://chusonchow.com/?p=268#comment-143 A perfect example would be that place on Bridge Street in Dewitt, right before the entrance to Widewaters. I believe it used to be a Caramella's. It's last itteration was... Rosario's, maybe? You couldn't ask for a much better location, right next to a business park. If someone would just turn that into a classy sandwich, soup and salad place that was maybe open from 8am - 6pm, I think that place would make a killing. Imagine something like a Port City Cafe (Oswego) in that location. Holy moley... A perfect example would be that place on Bridge Street in Dewitt, right before the entrance to Widewaters. I believe it used to be a Caramella’s. It’s last itteration was… Rosario’s, maybe? You couldn’t ask for a much better location, right next to a business park.

If someone would just turn that into a classy sandwich, soup and salad place that was maybe open from 8am – 6pm, I think that place would make a killing. Imagine something like a Port City Cafe (Oswego) in that location. Holy moley…

]]> By: Dave http://chusonchow.com/2008/12/restaurant-graveyards/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Dave Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:19:09 +0000 http://chusonchow.com/?p=268#comment-47 Dave S, You have a valid point. The economy requires that new businesses are not afraid to give it a shot. Part of my point is that maybe fewer of these businesses would fail if they actually did something unique (or at least had their stamp on it), or actually bothered to do demographic analysis. But I'm guessing they won't. :) The typical business plan seems to go like this: 1. Open Italian restaurant just like the others. 2. Hope that having the biggest portions will make me succeed. (part 2 is optional) I've made my Italian restaurant opinions known elsewhere on this site, there are some excellent ones in town, but others' opinions will differ. For me, if it's yet another typical red-sauce joint, I won't even bother. But some people adore that. And of course, for most people the first thing they see becomes their mother. So if their first experience is having red-sauce stuff in quantities that would sink a battleship, that becomes the measure of quality. Dave S,
You have a valid point. The economy requires that new businesses are not afraid to give it a shot. Part of my point is that maybe fewer of these businesses would fail if they actually did something unique (or at least had their stamp on it), or actually bothered to do demographic analysis. But I’m guessing they won’t. :)

The typical business plan seems to go like this: 1. Open Italian restaurant just like the others. 2. Hope that having the biggest portions will make me succeed. (part 2 is optional)

I’ve made my Italian restaurant opinions known elsewhere on this site, there are some excellent ones in town, but others’ opinions will differ.

For me, if it’s yet another typical red-sauce joint, I won’t even bother. But some people adore that. And of course, for most people the first thing they see becomes their mother. So if their first experience is having red-sauce stuff in quantities that would sink a battleship, that becomes the measure of quality.

]]> By: Dave S http://chusonchow.com/2008/12/restaurant-graveyards/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Dave S Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:05:55 +0000 http://chusonchow.com/?p=268#comment-46 On the other hand, I support the idea of new pizza joints, diners, Itralian, restaurants in Syracuse. Let a hundred flowers blossom, most will die of course, but maybe one good one will survive. How many of the existing ones are really any good? On the other hand, I support the idea of new pizza joints, diners, Itralian, restaurants in Syracuse. Let a hundred flowers blossom, most will die of course, but maybe one good one will survive. How many of the existing ones are really any good?

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