Tri Cities Restaurants

[jjbradleynyc]

My sister and nephew were visiting me last weekend, and mentioned Kingsport is getting a Chipotle restaurant, finally.

https://www.chipotle.com/

https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/whos...ew-restaurant/

I was actually kind of surprised. And not only surprised that a Chipotle chain is coming to Kingsport, but the location of it is sort of has me scratching my head.

The location is right near a stretch of Stone Drive beside Hardees, and sort of in front of the now closed Tuesday Morning store, which sits in a shopping center built maybe in the 60s but has seen better days. (sidenote, my first job as a busboy in 1989 was in Mayflower Seafood restaurant in that shopping center! lol)

Usually, Chipotle restaurants locate in "newer built" areas of a city, or beside high trafficked interchanges. Granted, Stone Drive is heavily trafficked and retailed, but has seen better days, in general.

I would have thought it would've landed somewhere like near John B Dennis and I-26, or near the Target on East Stone Drive, even.

Anyway, I think it will be a good thing overall, and the restaurant will probably do extremely well. As it attracts a heavy gen x and millenial, and now gen Z crowd.

It is a "destination" fast food restaurant, and people will travel to go there. The closest Chipotle is either Bristol at the Pinnacle or Johnson City in front of the mall. Not to mention, folks from rural areas in remote southwest Virginia, southern WV, Hawkins and Hancock counties in TN and eastern Kentucky will travel to this location.

Is Kingsport finally showing signs of attracting "in restaurants" or "in retail" again? Is this a sign of the city starting a slow turn around? Or is Stone Drive still destined to cement itself as a destination for car washes, check cashing stores, and cheap retail?

[Serious Conversation]

I don’t think so.

It has been years since anything in Kingsport opened I’ll make a special trip for. Main St. Pizza was probably the most recent. We like Chop House and Riverfront Seafood, but those have been there for decades.

[dad2paisley]

I read Greeneville might be getting a Texas Roadhouse.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

I don’t think so.

It has been years since anything in Kingsport opened I’ll make a special trip for. Main St. Pizza was probably the most recent. We like Chop House and Riverfront Seafood, but those have been there for decades.

Yeah, Main Street Pizza is consistently good, as-is Chop House.

Too bad they closed Skoby's. That was the go-to nicer dining for the area.

As for Chipotle, I suppose the profitable business case is there for that location, and like Chik-fil-a, it's one of the "go to" restaurants for the under 25 set, or so.

Also, Kingsport's population is increasing, and faster than I think folks had thought it would. I think a lot of people are relocating to the region for retirement.

I read something (I'll try to find the link) that said Kingsport could easily hit 60k by 2030, or a bit more.


edit--here's the link. Actually if Kingsport grows the same 2020-2030 as it did 2010-2020, it will be at almost 64,000 for 2030. Wow!

https://www.timesnews.net/news/watch...668e10998.html

[AppalachianAngler]

Originally Posted by dad2paisley

I read Greeneville might be getting a Texas Roadhouse.

I read that and hope it works out. That has been a rumor in the past that did not come to fruition. I would think a chain like that would need a larger population. Not to mention there is one up the road in Johnson City 30ish minutes away. But they have also discussed opening a Panda Express, which would probably do well there.

I am surprised Kingsport is getting a Chipotle. Doesn't really seem to fit the demographics of their typical customer base.

[dad2paisley]

Originally Posted by AppalachianAngler

I read that and hope it works out. That has been a rumor in the past that did not come to fruition. I would think a chain like that would need a larger population. Not to mention there is one up the road in Johnson City 30ish minutes away. But they have also discussed opening a Panda Express, which would probably do well there.

I am surprised Kingsport is getting a Chipotle. Doesn't really seem to fit the demographics of their typical customer base.

I hope they get the Texas Roadhouse. We only have one here in Columbia, Md. They have really good food and good prices. I know folks would come to eat here. Ours is always busy. We drive 25mins to go here.

[Serious Conversation]

I definitely think that if Greeneville can support an Aubrey's, which is a little bit finer dining and Greeneville is not necessarily the target market for that, it'll support a Texas Roadhouse just fine.