Krispy Kreme Hullahballoo

[Downtown]

So last night we had the first public hearing for the first capital district Krispy Kreme. I have to say, I'm pretty shocked at the frenzy this is causing! I expected a little bit, but its been featured on every local network and the local papers. I haven't seen any other project so far generate this much (good) buzz.

So what's your big buzz project?

 

[Chet]

Krispy Kreme was HUGE when it first came to Milwaukee, and generated a similar buzz. Cars were lined up out of the lot and down the block for their drive through (I suggest you require them to pay for police traffic control during their opening days!)

Fortunately my investment club had been watching them for some time, and bought in at a good price. One of the few stock pics that we made wisely!

The big thing locally is "Get us a Taco Bell". Seems that it's some people's idea of economic development...

 

[giff57]

So what's your big buzz project?

It was Super Wal Mart. It was in all the papers, tv and all that. Phone was ringing off the hook. I liked to stir things up, like one day I told an anti-wal mart guy that he was an elitist, and the poor segment of the population needed the store. They ended up picking the next town over, so my fun is over.

 

[Dan]

No one project ... just sheer numbers. Some regional press about the threat of massive growth on a small town.

Consider this. 2000 population of the small town where I work was 937. Now, extrapolated for the current number of dwelling units, it's 1,633. It'll be 1,950 before the end of the year, and about 2,800 at the end of 2003. Not much ... but the southwestern boomtown where I worked about ten years ago was growing at 1,000 residents a year, and there were about 10 planners on staff.

My next Planning and Zoning Board meeting has 19 items on the agenda. Nineteen. Board of Adjustment - two items. I'm the sole planner, remember? I'm getting yelled at by everyone, because the quality of customer service I can offer is greatly diminished. I was written up a couple of weeks ago for not returning phone calls. Sorry, but I'm playing triage now. Not EVERY task I'm given can be assigned top priority.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

A proposed private landfill directly adjacent to a high school, middle school, and elementary school. They brought the kids in on buses to protest. We should have probably gotten a police escort to get the applicant out of the building after that one (denied, thank goodness!).

 

[Habanero]

Our old buzz project was a Super Walmart.. they were denied and they took us to court.. then they lost.

It was pretty impressive to see a City take them on and win in court, gotta love those jumblies!

 

[prudence]

They're donuts, right?!?

Fattening, nutritiously bankrupt food...no wonder America is becoming more and more fat by the minute.

 

[Repo Man]

Big buzz project:

We have a huge mall redevelopment project that is in the early stages. Not a week goes by when I don't get calls from residents who want to know when it will be done. Unlike a Wal Mart or something controversial, I have heard almost no opposition from residents, expect for a few property owners who will be relocated. Actually it will be a pretty cool project that will create a nice mix of retail, housing, office, and public space.

Some rederings can be found here:

http://www.shopbayshore.com/leasing.html

 

[kms]

MAGLEV here. It hasn't even been approved, but most people do not want it. It's between W PA and Baltimore area.

 

[Chet]

MAGLEV here. It hasn't even been approved, but most people do not want it. It's between W PA and Baltimore area.

Hee Hee! One of my favorite Simpsons episodes is the one with the Monorail!

 

[kms]

I mean between W PA and Baltimore for the areas served. It isn't supposed to connect Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

 

[Repo Man]

Staying on original topic...I think people here in the Milwaukee area are excited whenever we get a trendy "chain" to come here as evidenced by the obnoxious lines at Krispy Kreme when they opened. I think it is part of our inferiority complex. The most recent example was the opening of a PF Changs restaurant. The wait to get in that place is obnoxious...and there are a hell of a lot more places to get better Chineese food than there.

 

[Repo Man]

Hee Hee! One of my favorite Simpsons episodes is the one with the Monorail!

You mean a a genuine, bona fide, electrified, six-car Monorail?

Classic episode indeed!

 

[Planderella]

The first urban Super Wal-Mart was my big project.

http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=77&highlight=Super+Walmarts


Back to Krispy Kreme, prior to 2 years ago, the closest one was in Baton Rouge. They opened one in Metairie and people went absolutely INSANE!!!! I'm talking about hour long waits for doughnuts and traffic jams controlled by the police department. This is the only KK to serve the entire New Orleans MSA and it draws a frightening number of people, even after the grand opening hoopla died down.

 

[giovannitp]

It seems we have some Milwaukee people in here so maybe I can get some current info on my hometown.

I see that somebody's talking about Bayshore for redevlopment but what about Northridge Mall? My grandparents used to take me there all the time but the biggest thing over there is a Target (from what I remember of my last Christmas visit) and the mall is full of blank walls and closed stores. The area looks like another example of older suburbs in decline. And what's going on over at Capital Court?

I guess I could call some of my relatives about these things but I don't think they understand the scope of my interests and future profession. At least they can take me to a Krispy Kreme now.

 

[Downtown]

They're donuts, right?!?

Fattening, nutritiously bankrupt food...no wonder America is becoming more and more fat by the minute.

HIJACK
Growing up, Rob's parents ran two Dunkin Donuts in the Capital District, where he and his sister would go to do their homework everyday after school and spent lots of weekend time. We figured out that for every one donut I ate as a child, he ate60!!!! He says that there would be the occasional day where they didn't eat anything that didn't come out of the deep fryer - and both he and his sister were rails.

 

[Tranplanner]

People used to drive an hour and a half and then cross the border to Buffalo in order to bring Krispey Kreme donuts back to Toronto. Our first one opened up here last year, and it was a madhouse - people camping out, etc. I am surprised that they have not expanded yet, considering the response.

As for me, I'll take my Tim Horton's Maple Glazed, thank you very much.

 

[Repo Man]

It seems we have some Milwaukee people in here so maybe I can get some current info on my hometown.

I see that somebody's talking about Bayshore for redevlopment but what about Northridge Mall? My grandparents used to take me there all the time but the biggest thing over there is a Target (from what I remember of my last Christmas visit) and the mall is full of blank walls and closed stores. The area looks like another example of older suburbs in decline. And what's going on over at Capital Court?

Northridge closed for good about 3 weeks ago. Some Chicago based developer bought it a year ago for like 3 million dollars. The only thing left is Boston Store, which is actually pretty surprising. I would have thought that they would have been one of the first to go. I miss the old Northridge. When I was younger that was the only mall we went to. They had everything. The stores surrounding Northridge seem to be doing well. I always go up there when I need a Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.

Capitol Court was leveled about 3 years ago. There is a new development going on there that is pretty exciting. Kind of a psuedo-new urbanism development (yet anchored by Wal Mart?!?!) called Midtown Center. It is actually quite an impressive project for a long-ignored area of the City.

 

[Joe Iliff]

Stop and smell the donuts

Never doubt the power of Krispy Kreme's!

In the words of the immortal:

Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?

Homer, "Monorail"

 

[Tranplanner]

Oh, to answer Kel's second question:

I have several "buzz" projects on the go right now...and it's driving me insane. But at least I'm busy.

1. Toronto's new Official Plan - I started a thread on this in the Cities and Places Forum a while back, but haven't followed up. The s*** is hitting the fan now as the plan goes out for public consultation. Going to be an interesting fight - at least the public is engaged in the debate, and there is an interest in what planners are doing!

2. Waterfront redevelopment scheme - we're looking at major modifications to the transportation network in the waterfront area to free up and encourage redevelopment of the Portlands, and along the Central Waterfront. The key project is the removal of Toronto's elevated expressway which cuts across the lower part of downtown Toronto, separating the City from the waterfront.

3. Several large developments, including a "Trump" condo/hotel tower. The fun never stops around here!

 

[GeekyBoy]

Trans:

And Minto YE has just gotten OMB approval, which makes things even more interesting, depending on your perspective.

re: waterfront

Fung is about to release the business plan, no?

GB

 

[Tranplanner]

Trans:

And Minto YE has just gotten OMB approval, which makes things even more interesting, depending on your perspective.

re: waterfront

Fung is about to release the business plan, no?

GB

My work on Minto was done months ago. It was actually a bit of a bummer to put all that work in and then have the City cut a deal, even though I personally have no problem with the proposal. Maybe just a tad too tall for that area though.

As for the waterfront - I just do the grunt work. I have no idea when anything will be released.

 

[Tranplanner]

Apparently the Toronto area's second Krispey Kreme opened last week, in Richmond Hill.

Just thought you'd all like to know.

 

[pete-rock]

I don't get it!

A local TV station here in Chicago devoted much of their morning news program to today's grand opening of a Krispy Kreme. It's the first in the Loop.

They're tasty and all, but I think people just love 'em because they can see how they're made. Hey, I grew up in Detroit, and I was in love with the auto plant tour!