Jeez I'm so disgusted by this.

Do we really need another McDonalds? That little charade out there on Riverside and Mitchell is a prime example of St. Joseph.

Banks, gas stations and McDonalds restaurants on every block.

I'm just hoping that with this progression I see in St. Joseph as of late wil finally eliminate this nonsense.

We need more home-owned eateries.

One of my passions is to find every single hole-in-the-wall food joint and see what it's about. Well, I've been doing this for about a year now and I'm all but out of ideas for somewhere new to try.

80K+ people (100K+ surrounding area) and maybe 30-40 home-owned food joints. How many franchises do we have?

Sonic, Taco Bell, McDonalds, Burger King, Hardees, Wendy's, Taco Johns...

If you want to make it here just open a bank, a fast food chain, or a gas station.

Or better yet, open all three... together. We call that the jackpot. [rolling my eyes]

I don't think St. Joe needs another McDonalds. McDonalds isn't even a good place to eat anymore. Their food is so greasy and it's always cold. Who knows how long the food was sitting there, until someone ordered it. Plus, being built into a gas station is so tacky! Who would want to buy a fountain drink from McDonalds, when it's $1 or more for a medium, when you can buy a 32 ounce for about $1 at the gas station? I just don't get why St. Joe thinks we need another McDonalds.

I am SO VERY glad that I'm not the only one who feels this way! Let's create more minimum wage jobs and serve nasty, fattening food, instead of jobs that people can have and actually live off of! Makes complete and total sense!

McDonald's isn't what it used to be. We need another one like we need another title/pay day loan or auto parts store.

You can say that again. I worked there in high school and we had to have each car out of the drive-thru in under 3 minutes. Now, you can't get through it in less than 15, whether there's a line or not. And, maybe this is my age showing, I think the fries taste like card board now. Just another reason not to eat them!

I have to say that we don't "need" another McDonalds...however, there is a reason that it is going in. It is called demand.

As far as "homegrown" establishments, one just reopened a couple months ago and it busy every day, Pinzino's First Ward House.

There is room for all sorts of businesses, the ones that fail are the ones without a sound business/marketing plan.

Not that I am a proponent of another MickeyD's, but if it is better than the South Belt/Pear McDonald's then I'm okay with that. That McDonald's is known as the worst in town, always cold, nasty food, poor customer service. If I feel the need to get McDonald's I will go on down to the one on S-169 or North Belt rather than stop at the South Belt one. I'm sure that location will be handy for the Riverside businesses, etc. As for having it attached to a gas station, I think that is a matter of convenience for people stopping to get gas, I know everytime I see the South End McD's set up the same way, its always busy. Again, I'm not saying I am for another Mickey D's at all, I just hope its better than the other in that area. Agree with Biggieroth, it is probably a demand thing.

I, too, would like to see more locally owned Mom and Pop, but I prefer not to go to a smokey bar to visit one. I hated that Jerre Anne's closed, Bottom's up (also a smokey bar kind, but we did get take out for their tenderloins). If I had the funds, I would love to open up a family restaurant! It's not local here, but over in Atchison, there is a place called Cedar Ridge, open only on weekends that is great (family) place to eat, all home cooked from scratch with fresh foods, all you can eat, from the ribs, fried chicken, and catfish on Fridays, to the Saturday's roasted whole hog, smoked brisket, lemon pepper chicken, homemade chicken noodle soup, etc. to the best Sunday Brunch ever...and I haven't even mentioned the cobblers! Yeah St. Joseph needs a place or two like that!

Biggieroth, I will give Pinzino's first ward a try as I have no doubt it is good (and I have heard of it being good from several people/friends, etc., its just that Im not sure that is a place I would take my youngsters and I would like to see more non-commercial, local family restaurants.

The McDonalds at Belt & Pear is a nightmare. I actually had to interupt a young couple making out so they could take my order, Then I see a cashier handling money with her plastic gloves on, then she goes back to preparing food in those same gloves. Needless to say I haven't been back.

gladimgone- I think I just puked a little...

Let's see how many restaurants we can come up with that would have been a better addition. I'll start:

Hooters

as far as fast food...In and Out Burger!

A steak-n-shake in town would be awesome. Sorry for the McPuke, SuzyQ!

Red Robin and White Castle!!

I'm pretty quick on my feet gladimgone, I avoided any and all McMake out byproducts.

I am ashmed to say I have gone all the way to St. Louis to get my White Castle fix. The frozen sliders just don't cut it. I too would enjoy a steak-n-Shake.

DEFINITELY White Castle! I have heard Red Robin is good too, I just haven't ever been by one. Steak-n-shake would work for me too! If you ever go to Cali, have to get In and Out Burger. I hope they make their way to the Midwest eventually! Heck I even miss that old Snow White at the corner of Belt and Frederick I used to go to as a kid!

Its okay about the McPuke...I have to say that even ranked above the McMaggot McFlurry (um - I don't believe those were the extra sprinkles the customer had in mind)

White Castle brings back many memories. When living in Chicago and getting off work at 3AM, dining choices were few in the part of town I was in. There was always the opportunity for interesting character studies when you were the only sober person (including the help) in the place.

And thank you, SuzyQ, now I will NEVER have a McFlurry or anything with sprinkles ever again! = )

And for the less sophisticated in the area, how about Uncle Vern's Rootin'-Tootin' Varmint-on-a-Stick Shack?

For the white castle lovers, my mom used to "make" these for us as kids, I just googled several "white castle burger" recipes that must be similar. It called for using a babyfood jar of beef and a few other things to mix in with the ground beef and you make the squares and cook atop of chopped onion in a large skillet. Use hotdog buns cut into thirds. Personally, I found that using the ground chuck (or ground sirloin) from The Meat Market out on Karnes to work nicely for these since their meat is ground really really fine unlike the stringy stuff you see at the grocery stores. Anyway just wanted to share since we are all wishing for white castle around here, its a close substitute (aside from the frozen).

I think everyone is missing the point except biggie. I use to work in Mitchell Woods and got 1/2 for lunch. The closest place to grab a bite was on the belt. Going up Mitchell at 12 noon is a pain with American Family and the college. Having a McD's there is good, tho I don't really like the food, it's more convienent than going to the belt.

Bring a White Castle's. Love them sliders. lol.

McDonalds sells - I do not know who is buying, but it sells.

Want a nice family owned little place, right by McDonalds -
PIONEER BREAD COMPANY
1506 South Riverside
233-1100

bs07, we see the point, but i think the point is enough with the mcdonals, how about something a little more original?

How about bringing your lunch to work so you don't have to choke down the dog food they call a value meal? Trust me, it takes less time to throw a ham sandwich, drink, and chips in a cooler than it does to sit in a drive through at McDs (or most other places, actually). I've never looked up the nutritional value of a ham sandwich and chips, but I'll bet it's better too!

MichaelH - you're brilliant...

The lack of choices and options was a reason (albeit a small one) for why I left St Joe.

I live in KC now (not that KC is all that metropolitan either...) and love living in the middle of the Plaza, W 39th, and Westport... I'm a woman that needs choices.

Unfortunately, many mom & pop restaurants open and close just as quickly. It would seem that many residents don't want change or diversity.

"Posted by ajm on July 18, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I went to Pioneer Bread Company for lunch was and was given very dirty looks for not praying before I ate me lunch!"

Maybe that was God sending you a message?

How was the food?

The food wasn't very good or I would have let the looks go and went back. I don't need people to judge me based on the fact that I don't pray before I eat.

"Posted by ajm on July 19, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The food wasn't very good or I would have let the looks go and went back. I don't need people to judge me based on the fact that I don't pray before I eat."

That's too bad.

I'd like to suggest you quit worrying about what other people think about you and worry more about yourself.

Maybe they were not judging you, sounds like you sure did some though - and not just on the food!

lol right...YOU WEREN'T THERE!