Fast Food Restaurant at Broadway& Winona?

Does anyone have any idea what restaurant is going up at that corner right by the Marathon gas station?

I believe in its heyday, it's been a Wendy's, Burger King and Brown's chicken.

I'm so curious!!!

I live near there. Hopefully they put that building out of its misery and replace it with condos with a storefront or local restaurant on the groundfloor.

I live near there as well and I have to say that I haven't seen any signs of anyone doing anything to that spot but letting it rot.

It's a waste of valuable real estate, that's for sure and i think it's really important that no one try to put in another fast food place -- it's just not something the neighborhood seems to want.

Helen Shiller's the alderman for that property, so I strongly suspect that what the community wants is a moot point.

I walk past it everyday, and there have definitely been guys working inside and outside of the place.

Maybe I'll ask one of them...

FINALLY something's going on with that property! I live just two doors down from it, and I'm sick of looking at that eyesore (I said the same thing even when it was a Brown's). Now if only we could do something about the Delray Farms shell on Foster...

The Broadway/Winona property might not be in Shiller's ward; it might be Mary Ann Smith's. The boundaries are kinda weird in that area. I remember businesses on Argyle and Broadway putting up both Shiller and Smith signs during last year's campaign, which just added to the confusion (some of them had Cappleman signs up as well, which makes me think that the shop owners were just trying not to lose business during what was a VERY heated election). Although I vote in the 46th, I'm pretty sure the boundary runs through my back alley. So my front door is in the 46th, but my back door might be in the 48th.

As yet another resident of the area--if I walk out the front door I can just about see it--I have gotten to the point where even an operating fast food joint is preferable to an empty shell. But even more important to me is, as already noted, the shell of the much-missed Del Ray. Or, for that matter, the old Piser funeral home which is directly behind me. I find it inconceivable that such presumably valuable properties remain empty for so long. The Piser property is most of a city block long fronting Broadway, for cryin' out loud. Given the neighborhood, it seems a no-brainer that a higher-end food market would want to come in. With the departure of the overpriced Urban Epicure, the area has been ripe for such a venture. Look at the new olive oil store on Clark, the wine store nearby, Pasticceria Natalina.... But then, in my experience (14+ years in the 'hood), leadership is not the hallmark of Mary Ann Smith's incumbency.

P.S. For what it's worth, the fast-food emporium is Schiller territory; the Del Ray and Piser properties are Smith territory.

Just a quick note in support of Gypsy's remark about Alderman Smith. In however long she has been our alderman (I just left the hood in May after 20+ years) I have had 2 occasions to call her office with a request not even for service or action, but merely information. Both times I left a detailed message with my contact info. Never received any reply from anyone there.

Gypsy Boy, I think we're neighbors. The funeral home is directly behind me as well.

I remember the rumors that a Trader Joe's was going in the funeral home lot, and fantasized about pushing my groceries across the alley.

I do find it incredibly odd that there are so many empty buildings just a few blocks away from the booming Clark St. stretch.

I just called Ald. Shiller's office [don't laugh--those of you with in Smith's ward don't know how good you have it!!]. Anyway, I got an answer--Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins. I'm not thrilled, but it's better than an empty shell of a fast-food restaurant.

Yep, I just asked a guy painting the outside who said DD/BR too.

I am also disappointed, but agree that at least it'll be SOMEthing versus the overgrown fast food lot.

FWIW, I heard a while back that the much-missed delray is to become a health club (I think perhaps Cheetah). But, with inaction for so long now, I think that deal is either off or was not true to begin with. I know Smith's office regularly fields inquiries about the Piser property, but I think Smith is holding off for "the right thing" as she does with many major properties the Dominick's on Foster and Sheridan being another. Lord knows when that day will come.

As for that Dominick's there is incerasing buzz (including from Smith's office) that it will finally be rehabbed; any rehab will likely take in the adjacent motel property, which is owned by the same person who leases the Dominick's land to Dominick's.

Gypsy Boy wrote:Given the neighborhood, it seems a no-brainer that a higher-end food market would want to come in. With the departure of the overpriced Urban Epicure, the area has been ripe for such a venture. Look at the new olive oil store on Clark, the wine store nearby, Pasticceria Natalina.... But then, in my experience (14+ years in the 'hood), leadership is not the hallmark of Mary Ann Smith's incumbency.

I'm still fuming that the only supermarket within one mile of my house, the Clark Street Market on Wilson and Clark, closed down and was replaced by a Staples. Because what my neighborhood really needs is office supplies, not FOOD. I occasionally hear rumors that Trader Joe's is going to move into some empty lot or building near me, but it never happens. I'm pretty sure Trader Joe's only goes into buildings near Whole Foods stores.
I'm sad that the BK/Burger Delights/Chicken Delights/Brown's is yet again changing ownership, and disappointed that it will be a Dunkin Robbins (they just finished remodeling the DD near my house into one, too). I feel like nothing really useful ever goes in where I need it.