The New Retail Thread

[vanshnookenraggen]

The old food court at the Pru was the same suburban shit you'd find in Burlington or Quincy. Eataly will almost single handedly increase the value of the whole Pru mall complex overnight and make it a destination.

 

[Suffolk 83]

Seems to me that all the people that live in the city and find themselves near the Pru often like the food court and those who don't live here want the Eataly. That speaks volumes if you ask me.

 

[datadyne007]

Seems to me that all the people that live in the city and find themselves near the Pru often like the food court and those who don't live here want the Eataly. That speaks volumes if you ask me.

In dshoost's defense, he works literally across Boylston from the Pru food court. I'd say he's the outlier to that statement.

 

[bolehboleh]

If you want crappy chinese food that tastes like cajun food or crappy cajun food that tastes like chinese food, or Sbarro, you can always go to South Station.

 

[Suffolk 83]

If you want crappy chinese food that tastes like cajun food or crappy cajun food that tastes like chinese food, or Sbarro, you can always go to South Station.

... I cant even... smh...time to move on.

 

[dshoost88]

Seems to me that all the people that live in the city and find themselves near the Pru often like the food court and those who don't live here want the Eataly. That speaks volumes if you ask me.

As data pointed out, I not only work less than 100 yards from the Prudential Food Court, but also live in the city. Are my coworkers, colleagues, neighbors, and I a little annoyed to see Paradise Bakery and Panda Express close? Yes. But it's an annoyance, nothing more. Between the dozens of other fast casual options around the block and the net growth of market-stall food options Eataly will bring, I think Back Bay residents and workers will make do.

This is the retail equivalent of converting a light industrial warehouse near the T into an urban mixed use development. It's progress.

 

[datadyne007]

This is the retail equivalent of converting a light industrial warehouse near the T into an urban mixed use development. It's progress.

Lol no it's not. It's the equivalent of cheap affordable housing serving a diverse population near a T stop being converted to luxury apartments for a specific demographic.

 

[George_Apley]

Seems to me that all the people that live in the city and find themselves near the Pru often like the food court and those who don't live here want the Eataly. That speaks volumes if you ask me.

With a sample size of... three? That speaks volumes??

 

[dshoost88]

To datadyne's last post: No, it's not. Unlike Millennium Tower, Four Seasons, or the Mandarin, a large format retail use such as Eataly does not discriminate based on income (and, actually, those buildings don't either--15% affordable). Companies like this, Apple, Louis Vouitton, and Capital Grille don't just open shop somewhere to displace a former tenant. They do it because the market demands for it. And if local zoning and land use policies are corrected to maximize development opportunity in Boston, then the threat of displacing low income residents and low quality fast food options is reduced significantly.

 

[datadyne007]

What is the pricing at Eataly? What do typical menu items cost?

 

[cden4]

Sounds to me like Boston needs to just put a few more food truck spaces on Boylston St.

 

[Lrfox]

Sounds to me like Boston needs to just put a few more food truck spaces on Boylston St.

Really. Part of the issue with trucks regulation re: competition (trucks aren't supposed to be posted within 100ft of competing eateries and places like Samurai Sushi and Chilli Duck would fall into that category), but allowing 2 or 3 trucks to setup shop in front of 888 Bolyston every day would go a long way towards placating the food court refugees.

 

[Justin7]

To datadyne's last post: No, it's not. Unlike Millennium Tower, Four Seasons, or the Mandarin, a large format retail use such as Eataly does not discriminate based on income (and, actually, those buildings don't either--15% affordable). Companies like this, Apple, Louis Vouitton, and Capital Grille don't just open shop somewhere to displace a former tenant. They do it because the market demands for it. And if local zoning and land use policies are corrected to maximize development opportunity in Boston, then the threat of displacing low income residents and low quality fast food options is reduced significantly.

This is dangerously close to morphing into a long, mostly off-topic hand-of-the-market-role-of-government-blah-blah-blah debate.

Affordable food options are being replaced with a less affordable food option. I hope no one is willing to argue otherwise. Now, whether or not one thinks that is a good or bad thing is a different question and perhaps best discussed in its own thread.

 

[fattony]

This has devolved into absurdity. It is one thing to lament the loss of low-priced lunch options. It is another thing to lament the loss of food that is priced low because it is of glaringly low quality. Panda Express? Really, that is the fight you want to pick?

Lunch at Eataly is going to run you $10, with more options if you are willing to pay $15. That isn't cheap for your everyday lunch, but it is $10. You can make a sandwich or salad at home in 5 minutes for $1-2. Folks that are that price sensitive, that need a <$10 lunch, can make one at home or walk a block or 2 down the street.

We are talking about the Back Bay. There are dozens of food options within 2 blocks of the Pru. And you can be sure that if demand for trash food is as high you claim it is, more restaurants serving trash will pop up on Boylston and Mass Ave very soon. I'd rather see more people on the street anyway than more people huddled in the goddamn mall.

 

[sm89]

When I went it didn't really seem like a place I would have a meal at. It was like bread, cheese, and meat boards and some apps. I would find it difficult to eat lunch there. It has a cool grocery store type aspect, but in terms of being a restaurant for anything more than hors d'oeuvres, ehhh.

 

[Tombstoner]

When I went it didn't really seem like a place I would have a meal at. It was like bread, cheese, and meat boards and some apps. I would find it difficult to eat lunch there. It has a cool grocery store type aspect, but in terms of being a restaurant for anything more than hors d'oeuvres, ehhh.

I've eaten at the NYC and Chicago outposts (in Chicago just last week 3 times--twice for lunch once for dinner)--there are definitely "meal"-worthy stations. You cannot eat there for 5.99 as you can in most food courts. 10.00 is probably on the lower end for a sit-down meal experience. But the food market aspects are great--you can definitely piece together a decent lunch for under $10. I don't think Eataly spells the end of fast food near the Pru--as others have noted lots of places remain. I think it will be nice to have more sophisticated fare available.

 

[atlantaden]

When I went it didn't really seem like a place I would have a meal at. It was like bread, cheese, and meat boards and some apps. I would find it difficult to eat lunch there. It has a cool grocery store type aspect, but in terms of being a restaurant for anything more than hors d'oeuvres, ehhh.

Not sure which Eataly you visited but the Eataly we went to on three separate occasions in NYC had a bunch of restaurants all of which were packed so I can't comment on the food quality cause, sadly, we couldn't get a table! But they were all sorts of different options of food to choose from.

http://www.eataly.com/nyc-restaurants/

 

[Cobean]

This has devolved into absurdity. It is one thing to lament the loss of low-priced lunch options. It is another thing to lament the loss of food that is priced low because it is of glaringly low quality. Panda Express? Really, that is the fight you want to pick?

Lunch at Eataly is going to run you $10, with more options if you are willing to pay $15. That isn't cheap for your everyday lunch, but it is $10. You can make a sandwich or salad at home in 5 minutes for $1-2. Folks that are that price sensitive, that need a <$10 lunch, can make one at home or walk a block or 2 down the street.

We are talking about the Back Bay. There are dozens of food options within 2 blocks of the Pru. And you can be sure that if demand for trash food is as high you claim it is, more restaurants serving trash will pop up on Boylston and Mass Ave very soon. I'd rather see more people on the street anyway than more people huddled in the goddamn mall.

Plus a combo with two items at any of those random shit chinese/cajun places in the food court will run you only a few dollars less anyways. Count me amongst the group that lives and works in the city and is excited to replace a shit food court with Eataly.

 

[dshoost88]

What is the pricing at Eataly? What do typical menu items cost?

Turning to Eataly New York's Menus for a fair comparison.
- Lavazza Cafe's Breakfast Menu ($4.80) and Gran Bar Menu ($6 to $19 alcohol menu)

- I Panini's Menu ($9.80-$12.80 for panini sandwiches, $9-12 for glasses of wine with food)

- Rosticceria's Menu ($10-15, rotates daily)

- Foccaceria's freshly baked breads

- Gelateria ($3.90+ for gelato... similar to the Pru's Ben & Jerry's prices)

Sit Down Restaurants

- Pranzo (healthy lunches)

- Il Pesce Menu (seafood, $12-$32 entrees, similar to Legal Seafood)

- Le Verdure's Menu (vegetarian and vegan, $9-$21... comparable to Tossed, and with more than just salads)

- Birreria Rooftop Restaurant and Brewery Menu ($8-$29, comparable to literally any bar menu in Back Bay)

- La Piazza ($3-$33)

- La Pizza & La Pasta (priced by pie $15-$22, similar to Pizzeria Regina; $13-20 for pasta)

- Manzo's Lunch Menu & Dinner Menu(formal dining experience/steakhouse... comparable to Capital Grille or Abe & Louie's)

Honestly, I'm a million times more excited for this now after researching it further than I was before. This is going to be really wonderful for the city.

 

[JohnAKeith]

Remember when we had a Bon Marche? For about a month?