If your mind is too open, your brain will fall out. Warning: Names, identities, descriptions, and pictures have been changed and/or used to protect the innocent as well as the guilty. PollyPeoria should not be used or quoted as a source for your senior college thesis.

Tuesday, November 8

Wanna make a buck in Peoria?

This was on Peoria Dad's blog recently, but it didn't get much response. I have given it a lot of thought, and have decided Peoria really needs the following:

A Whole Food's Store. I'm not a granola head, but there are some organic items I prefer. Naturally Yours is too small, expensive, and often the fruits and veggies are not fresh and organic meat and deli items are only sold frozen there. Schnucks and Krogers have organic sections, but they too are overpriced and very limited. This is essentially an untapped market. Whole Foods would do well here.

Krispy Kreme. I have nothing against Lester's - their donuts are fine. Lester's coffee on the other hand... Ronnoco. Yuck! I like Krispy Kreme for it's entertainment value. I can read the entire Sunday New York Times, sip a good cup of Joe, while the kids joyfully watch donuts made start-to-finish. Say what you will about Krispy Kreme, letting the consumer view the making of the product was a brilliant concept. Plus, sometimes they give you a hot freshly made donut -right off the conveyor belt- free of charge while you stand in line.

El Pollo Loco. I visited Southern California and these were all over the place. El Pollo is a fast food chain that serves marinated, broasted chicken (much better than the grocery store variety) with sides of freshly made tortillas, spanish rice, corn, etc. Fast, delicious, not too fattening.

Noodles and Company. I first discovered this establishment in Denver. Noodles and Company is a pseudo fast food place (no drive thru) that serves a variety of nouveau pasta dishes. Wisconsin mac n cheese, Asian Stir Fry, beef stroganoff, pad Thai, pesto and penne pasta, are some of many dishes on the menu. I think Bloomington just got one. Might move there instead of Dunlap.

Someone be a dear and call Donald Trump.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

What we need is a White Castle!

Anonymous said...

there are many "chains" that would make it here and many that would not. For example. Macaroni Grill would probably do well. Copeland's, probably would not (it's a spicy Louisiana restaurant - spicy definately does not play in Peoria. Too bad.). I agree with the other anon in that more of the less usual burger joints might make it too (but if Burger King can't... well, Chicago Grill is trying...). Personally, I would like to see some of these places located closer in than the Shoppes. That part of Peoria expansion is starting to annoy me. We need more on the riverfront. Oh yeah, and a Starbucks in Campustown - like we were lead to believe would happen.

pollypeoria said...

I've only tried White Castle once - about a decade or so ago - and found it disgusting. Steamed meat? Yuck. Plus the thinly pressed patty had three holes punched in it, allegedly to let the steam thru, but it struck me as cheap. Maybe it's an acquired taste?

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