The Journal Star's Jean Ortiz had a nice piece yesterday about the difficulties of running a restaurant Downtown. I found it interesting, for example, that Roost's Ryan Bird wouldn't locate Downtown if he could do it all over again. Also notable was how the new owner of Planet Sub badmouthed the former management. I can't say I disagree with his sentiments.
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I’m going to open a sandwich shop downtown, except instead of putting lettuce and tomato on top of the meat, I’ll put them UNDERNEATH the meat. I’ll call it “Under The Meat: A Gourmet Affordable Fun Family Sandwich Hoagie Experience.” The vegetarian option will be lettuce and tomato underneath more lettuce and tomato.
Although I have never tried either place, I have to say that I am amazed that Roost lasted longer than Erbert and Gerbert’s. I can’t fathom why one would put a sandwich place within a block of a Subway, a Doozy’s, and a Jimmy John’s, but whatever.
After seeing the demise of Great Wraps (I really like their food), I would have thought twice. I am also surprised Taco Bueno lasted only a few months. I would think that you have to give a place at least a year to build some traction. I like their sit-down locations, and I hope they survive. I never saw the downtown spot, but the stand-alones each set someone back about $1.5 million. I hope they can make it.
I was sad to see Pita Pit go. I used to eat there all the time (2-3 times a week, easy) when I worked DT and lived at 11th and F. Good food, and the guys that ran the place were pretty nice, too. It might have done better with a different space-they kept it small and not exceptionally laid out for sit it, given the portability of their sandwiches I guess I saw that as a positive. They would deliver, too…on foot-that one guy was quite a runner. I could order, and they would have it to me at Intralot on 11th and M in about 10 minutes.
I am a big fan of Roost now. I typically go in there in the evenings now and the dude there (who I think is the owner) is always very pleasant and seems like a likable character. Its good food and its a shame that it is not patronized more.
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