Saturday, March 12, 2011

Bar Off Buena

Who needs a patio permit anyway?  Looks like the old KFC at Broadway and Buena has turned into a late winter alfresco drinking destination.

With two empty, already-built fast food locations in Uptown (KFC and the former El Pollo Loco at Sheridan and Wilson), we wish a restaurateur or two would set up shop.  Both spaces already have parking and already have kitchens (the most expensive part of a restaurant build-out).  Here's hoping an upturn in the economy and a new administration will help lure some franchises or local entrepreneurs to Uptown.

7 comments:

  1. That KFC storefront has been empty for a few years. I am not sure why they have not been able to get another store in that space. It is a nice corner.

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  2. Why did the KFC there close anyway? From what I recall it had a steady clientele.

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  3. I wondered that myself, and looked it up awhile ago, since last March it's had 3 strikes against it....

    1) In the Buena Park Historic District - not a deal killer probably, but why try to remodel a building in a historic district when so many other spots are vacant.

    2) There are a lot of vacant spots all over and there's a reason why Uptown has half the businesses of the surrounding wards - though I believe the main source of this reason is leaving in May.

    3) It's been in foreclosure since March 2010.

    It's a good spot, and I bet something will eventually happen there but not right now.

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  4. A developer bought the property to tear it down and build a very nice looking midrise condo building.

    Then the real estate market went bang and now it sits vacant and forlorn.

    At one point that KFC did a real good business. Unfortunately, KFC's are difficult to find around these parts.

    Fried chicken is proof that God exists and loves us. Apparently, the Almighty isn't a big fan of chickens though.

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  5. I recall the KFC was closed down because some of the employees where caught selling drugs over the counter besides chicken.

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  6. While they're at it, someone should clean up the Magnolia/Malden alley, esp. leading up to Wilson...it's always full of beer cans and other assorted trash. Last fall, there was a broken toilet left out there for at least a month.

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  7. I walked past this today, it appears to have gotten some fresh paint, and much of the garbage was cleaned up. Hopefully this post did some good.

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