This might be nothing to do with what I want on south belt but my curiosity remains on why save alot left town ,Just when food prices skyrocket the one store with reasonable prices as far dry goods and canned leaves town? ok back to subject we have a wal mart on each end of belt god forbid we build up south like the north to have "bookend shopping" yes it would save some on gas but to steel a line from your article "is retail space over built?" i'd have to say yes you can only buy so many different styles of tshirts or flip flops

i think that the market seems saturated with franchises. no more fast food, please? clothes? talbots, ann taylor/loft, banana republic...........

Good luck for any of those places to go to the south belt heritage. It would be nice if they came but lets face it, they would go north.

A wormhole that transports you instantly to Kansas city.

LOL, Mr_America. I don't agree that KC is better than Joetown, but that was funny. : )

Maybe we could get a Chuckie Cheese or some kind of kids place for birthday parties or family entertainment. Maybe a movie theater? I live in the south Belt area and I get tired of having to drive all the way north to see movies.

well, i can always hope........ i didn't actually mean the south belt, just in general. how about a "needless markup" or tiffany's????? now that is pie in the sky!!! please , just no more franchise restaurants. how about thai, vegetarian, sushi........

I am pro St. Joe. I just seem to find myself in KC alot as of late.(family, business, etc) Wormholes are a great way to save on gas, although I don't know what kind of carbon footprint they might leave.

I could go for a decent sushi or Thai joint.

Some decent restaurants, build the area around Menards up with those and maybe a small outlet/strip mall.

Motivate the truck stop across the street from Menards "ramp it up".

That is the area that seems prime for development.

I knew there were a lot of great ideas out there. (Although I never saw the wormhole coming!) I agree that the area around Menards seems the most ripe for development with its easy access to the interstate. With gas prices reshaping the way people drive and shop, I think that area has a lot of potential to draw shoppers who would have just zipped on down to Barry Road in the past.
Also a good point about not neglecting the middle Belt. Any hopes for the mall spurring that area?

My kids would like an IHOP (also would vote for In and Out Burger and Whitecastle). Agree Chuckie Cheese (or something similar) would be liked by families with kids.

Thai would be nice in town here. Also agree some local mom and pop restaurants would be great. Sometimes (despite the mentionings I have) you just get tired of the same ole same ole franchised places, but good down home cooking.

Will give it more thought on the retail. Although I heard a rumor Sephora is coming to the mall, which is super!

or...... i have toyed with the idea of a downtown tapas style place. i think for sure ann taylor/loft should open in the new mall, AND banana republic.

Perhaps some sort of Pasta place like Macaroni Grill or The Old Spaghetti Factory? I love Pasta. How about BD's? They're always hopping down in KC, and I know several people that would love to eat there more often if they could.

It seems that a Mayor Shearin's Wacky Wormhole Pizza Joint and Banana Republic store would satisfy most needs on this comments area. I'll start a novena.

I would definitely love to see a movie theater on South belt. It would be more convenient for us southies.

Definitely some restaurants would also be a plus on South belt. How about a TGIFridays, IHOP, or a nice buffet like Golden Corral?

Most companies are going to look at the demographics of the area: particularily economic, but including factors such as traffic pattern and highway access before making a decision about investing a large amount of resources into a particular location. They look for surrounding business complimentary to their own, another draw for shoppers. When you factor in the down turn in the national economy with many stores closing, higher fuel costs and job layoffs, St Joseph doesn't have the requirements necessary for Ann Taylor Loft, BR, and other retailers. Smaller more diverse restaurants and shops would be a draw to the south end of the Belt attracting people from the university, travellers, and residents of homes being built to the south and east of St Joseph. I'd drive there for a good Thai restaurant and fun shopping.

I would really like to see a more upscale grocery store here, like Hen House or Whole Foods so we can buy organic in a more reasonable way.

Whole Foods!

Golden Corral, Sephora!! Yea! Still waiting on Jimmy Johns. I'd like to shop at Burlington Coat factory without having to drive to the Banister Mall ghost town.

todell - I've only shopped at Sav A Lot once and I had to throw away everything I bought there, plus all the dried goods I already had in my cabinet. Seems they were having a silverfish epidemic.

oh, definitely a whole foods!!!!! it is depressing that there are SO many suggestions for a franchise italian which we already have with the ubiquitous olive garden ( an okay place to have the salad and bread special). why can't stjo support a very nice italian restaurant which is NOT franchise? this is the whole reason for the homogenization of our taste buds. unfortunately, it is much easier for the city to take the "packet" of information from the mcfranchising restaurant than to accommodate entreprenurial activity. i wish that the chamber would move toward attracting individual inventiveness as much as they advocate throwing money at the mall.

Maybe they should also knock out the nasty south McDs and the less-than-pretty K-Mart, and put in something like a nice grocery store/whole foods store, or a Chuckie Cheese. We have MORE than enough McDonalds. If they want fast food, why not put in something like A&W, Spangles, or something of the like?

But the mall is going to have a Victoria's Secret, ...more fast food, ...new tower style entrances(I've dreamed of the day east hills would have those) Why am I not excited?

Mr_America there must be something wrong with you. I can't wait to walk past the new facade. That's the only thing that kept me from East Hills before!

Actually I find it hilarious that the people that post on here and bemoaned the loss of Jerre Annes and the "local" establishments all beg for chains to come in.

Please Santa bring us an IHOP and Chuck E. Cheese, that will replace Jerre Annes just fine.

Dear Santa:

I would like to see St. Luke's Hospital infiltrate the South Belt corridor. I would love to see shiny new St. Luke's doctors and clinics adorn any part of this wonderful city where space is available. I would like to see the monopoly that is HRMC end.

And Santa, please end world hunger and bring us an IHOP. Yes, IHOP.

WT

Truth is- Family owned established won't make the cut anymore, as much as we want them to. Sure, let someone put up a mom and pop restaurant, I have no problem with that at all. I am more than ready for something new. But, truth is, they won't last a day among chain-crap like Applebees and Chiles.

Jerre Annes didn't have a plastic ball pit like Chuck E. Cheese. That and a complete lack of entrance towers is what did them in.

I'm hoping the Victoria's Secret in the mall will have a McDonald's franchise in the store. That will certainly play to our demographic.

Maybe we could call it Lane Bryants Secret.

Wicked Truth...now there is an idea, you might be on to a grand idea there!

Shadow- I will miss Jerre Anne's, I took my kids there and they got a balanced home-cooked (okay maybe not as good as I could do on some things-but still better than alot of chains) meal that they still had individual choices all for about the same price it would cost to go through Mickey-D's. Plus we got to sit down inside and converse. However, there are just some of those times where a Big-n-Tasty, quarter pounder with cheese, or a box of McNuggets with mickey's fries were the only thing that would cut it (cept the south belt Mickey-D's...nothing...I mean nothing would convince me to go there). I guess some of us want it all, LOL.

As for Italian...OG doesn't cut it for me. I find La Dolce Vita 36 Street offers better Italian. Macaroni Grill and Buca Di Beppo is way better than the Olive Garden as far as chains. Aside from the salad and breadsticks, I kind of felt let down with out OG.

How about a real Chicago-like Coney stand? Does anyone think that would go here? You know something I think people might enjoy is a 50's type diner place? Any thoughts?

whole foods store...yes!

We could call it Big Al's and put it in the mall or maybe a Burger Haus.

I would LOVE a 50's type place-- really love it! I'm not sure if it would do real well, but hey...

I just hope no more mexican or chinese restaurants pop up. How about Thai or Hawaiian, or something exotic for once?

I had a buddy that managed Big Al's in the mall back in the 90s. I used to eat there all the time since I worked in the mall. He told me that "Al" was very nice, but Warren "Potsie" Weber was a co-owner and a HUGE jerk.

I had a run in with a very rude Anson Williams at Worlds of Fun years ago. I always liked Ralph Malph more anyways.

LOL Mr. America- I do remember those places and I used to work at the mall too family guy, frequented those places ALOT. Thats not quite what I had in mind for the restaurants but hey. I did like Tippin's though as an alternative to the burger joints in the mall, but they were shortlived also. They had good a good soup and salad, etc.

Agree Meowzer no more chinese or Mexican...how about a good authentic German restaurant?

FG-Potsie just looks like he could be jerk! ;-)

Who does Potsie think he is? That's it. I'm not watching Happy Days anymore. That show has jumped the shark. Pinky Tuscadero was getting wrinkly anyway.

suzy, we already have a great German restaurant next to OK Trophy. They've been around for decades. I can't think of its name.

Do you remember the Cinnamon Roll place in the mall? Me and my boss would go down there and get a huge cinnamon roll every morning before rolling up the gates. : )

The Cabbage roll and TJ Cinnamons

I think Arby's still sells TJ Cinnamons at their Belt location.

South Belt is NOT a great selling location for buisnesses, it's run down, traffic is less south of 36 interchange, which means less people seeing your store, so why put your buisness there when you can get a nice clean well lit lot around the shoppes at north village? Think about it, if YOU had a buisness, where would YOU build??

I would build right next to ST. LUKE'S!!!!

Thanks, Mr_A! : )

Actually, m_m, there is quite a bit of traffic that comes off of I-29 around Menards that some here have mentioned could make that area very attractive to businesses. Hopefully, Joetown will keep expanding southward and not let everything go up north.

what do you mean run down, there are new buildings all over the place, we don't mean by 36 highway.

and i am sure most men in st. joe and the surrounding are would absolutely agree with a mcdonalds franchise in the victoria's secret store. lol

How about a Hooters / Victoria's Secret combo?

typical male think of yourself only.

Okay family guy, we definitely must have worked at the mall during the same time period! Doesn't Arby's on the Belt have...or use to have TJ Cinnamon's items?

Gosh, I thought the Cabbage Roll Deli had closed down along time ago??? Maybe not? I wonder if the sauerbrauten and spaetzle is as good as it used to be? Some Roladin would be nice too.

And M-M... I see your point about South belt not being all new and shiny, but it could be...especially with the growth down S 169/I 29 area. I would like to see some growth in that area...but of course I am from the South of 36 area too.

Speaking of theatre's, I miss the old drive-in on the Belt, many fond memories fighting with my siblings in the car as a kid ;-) and my parents ending the night early before the movie was done, LOL. I know there is one East of town, but I have heard it is so mosquito-y.

How about a Cabela's/Bass Pro/Dick's Sports or some other sporting type stores. MC sports just doesnt have a wide range of things to offer. There was one in KC that had a rock climbing wall within! Hey I know, lets put a Victoria Secret/Sephora inside a big sports with a food joint... something other than Mickey D's. Now lets ponder that! LOL.

Funny, I'm not sure St. Joe can support the retail business's already here.

Another hospital is not a horrible idea, maybe another community college.

I think we need a non chain bookstore in this town. Maybe one that sales new as well as used. Maybe include a bakery/coffee shop/juice bar. Maybe some place that will have local bands once in a while for a twist. I don't know, that would be fun and differnt.

Speaking of bookstores, a Barnes & Noble would be great. Yeah, it's a chain, but it also has enormous selection and other benefits like a café and WiFi.

enormous volume of B&N corporate selected drivel. the selection at barnes and nobel is largely coffee table books, top ten novels and oprah's book club. the rest is "fill" . an independent, edgy private book store would be wonderful!!!

I'm all for a Thai restaurant or sushi - or Chinese that's not a buffet. Cabela's or Bass Pro would do good around here, I would think, and would bring a lot of visitors to the area.

Here is what I would like to see in that area. A nice water park surrounded by a privately owned baseball complex similar to 3 and 2 in Lenexa. It would be flanked by a top of the line basketball complex, bike and skate park, Brunswick Zone bowling lanes which have indoor roller coasters, bumper cars, ballpits, and arcade "perfect for kids parties. The crown jewel of this development would be Dick's sporting goods. Dining to de determined later. If I were driving into St. Joe and saw a vibrant atmosphere like this, I would stop and wonder what else the city may have to offer. There are allot of young families going South for this stuff.

Time to stop daydreaming. Any investors in this idea????

I can offer no $$ to invest, but I would gladly bring my family to frequent a place like this and support it that way! Great idea! Just please let a different burger and fry joint other than what we already have in ;-)

How about a movie theatre?

i know what i dont want to see more of and that fast food joints and car lots. chuck e cheese or Ihop would be nice so would a steak house. My Mom says she would love to see a drive in like snow whites come back. sonic is good but its not the same thing as a oldies drive in. this prolly isn't what was meant but good old fashion Movie drive in would be neat just like the one that use to be down in the south end and hopefully a litle cheaper then horseshoe.

honestly, I'd like to see something other than a restaraunt, and jerre anne's? i've never even herd of it.. thats probly why its been closed down... but honestly, how about like, laser tag, or a skate park even, something to give kids and teens something to do, because the pool is always crowded, and it just seems everything that is kid oriented is always, 1) in bad condition, 2) isn't kid oriented anymore, or 3) is getting shut down, and i just dont think there are many places for people to spend time with there kids, i mean theres the good places like the cool crest mini golf corse, but once or twice with mini golfing, and your pretty much done, and some people in the past have told me that kids are always in there yard or sneaking over in the middle of the night and stealing things... and i mean this may not solve the problem but it may help... who knows?
just an idea. :)

FOR SUZYQQQQ WE HAVE ENOUGH FAST FOOD ALL THIS TOWN IS FAST FOOD AND GAS STATIONS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PARKS OR SOMETHING FOR FAMILY TO DO - NO MORE RESTURANTS AND FAST FOODS WE HAVE ENOUGH IN IN JOE TOWN

I'd like to have a school that teaches people how to turn off the Caps Lock.

Perhaps the school could teach punctuation and grammar as well.

We must not aim too high.

Do any of you remember when there was that mini golf course/go cart racing place across the road from Heartland on Riverside? I think it'd be great if we could have a go cart track or mini Nascar track again in St. Joe.

My other ideas are: Chucky Cheese, In & Out Burger (never been there, but I've heard it's good), White Castle, Red Robin (I LOVE that place!), Golden Corral, Texas Roadhouse (or whatever that place in Liberty is called), The Children's Place (for children's clothing), a clothing outlet store, Nebraska Furniture Mart.

I live out of town and come to St. Joe to do my shopping. With gas prices the way they are now we can't afford to go often so it would be nice to see some new attractions in St. Joe.

Hopefully someone will some pull in St. Joe can try to get some of these places to come in.

Sorry but you won't see an In&out in St Joe for quite a while. The reason is they grow all their own beef and veggies and transport all with out freezing (this is why it is so good). Since they are hq'd in Ca don't think you have a chance. They are really good!!!

PONCHO, what's the deal? I am all for parks and something for family fun much more so than more restaurants. I, along with a few other posters, suggested a few family-oriented restaurants as well as ethnic cuisine, and even a couple of retail stores, something we don't have already here, BUT I also agreed in prior posts that a family park would be nice, a drive-in theater even playing movies like Cisco the Kid.

As per the article discussing retail space on the South Belt, I figured retail stores were the main topic of discussion. However, I would definitely prefer family and kid-oriented places/parks being developed especially like G73 and CARz described, and as well that drive-in theater. Please have Loco reread my posts to you, me thinx you misunderstood, Si? ;-)

Way to go Poncho. You really put him in his place. But, seriously the caps lock key is easy to use. Just hit it once to turn it off. It's located right above the shift key.

Pot...kettle. kettle...pot

there is that better

to wickedtruth i agree with u 100%

I would like to see a Toys R Us or Gap or Kids Gap. Let's get some kid oriented stuff in here. I get really tired of heading to KC to find a toy that none of the current retailers carry.

Susan,
I just read your column in the paper regarding the South Belt. I agree that Menard's is a great location and we would all like to see some great things come to town! How about a Corporate Cingular/AT&T store? Ruby Tuesday, Texas Roadhouse, and a Citizen's Bank and Trust (or at least an ATM). Good article that teased or tastebuds!!
Duane Parrott

I agree we need to build up the south end of the belt. We need to take things into consideration. First, who are we going to get to work at these places? Our high school and college kids are tapped out. Adults with families can't afford to work at these places that want to profit 100% on each item, but pay $7.00ph. We need to bring something in with quality.

If we did go down the retail road, I think a Steve $ Berry's would be awesome. The closest one is at the Ward Parkway Mall in KC. It's a clothing store for kids and adults. Great place for jeans, college apparel, shorts, shoes, funny t-shirts, etc... The best thing is the most expensive thing I got there was a Cartharte style coat for 12.95.

I would like to See a Toy's R' Us in Saint Joseph. There is no place in Saint Joe to buy toys for birthday's or Christmas. I also know that Saint Luke's Hospital would go over pretty well because I know most of us is tired of Heartland. And I would also like a movie theater.

Jerre Anne's is a staple of this city. C'mon the original owner published a book of recipes that was widely successful. It will reopen as this city has a heart.

My take on the situation is simple. Open up more business. Bring in more people. Build more houses. Make St. Joe bigger.

We need a sporting goods store. I am thinking Dicks. They have everything. We don't need Bass Pro or Cabelas. We need Italian, good Mexican, and a few small chains. Like Chipotle small. Qdoba, Fat Burger, a Red Robin for instance. Maybe Noodles (it's a restaraunt in Colorado Springs). I figured they asked for my thoughts. These are mine.

The reason there's not as much traffic on the south belt is because there are no businesses down there. No, the new Sonic(another FF place) does not count. Need more actual businesses down here.