That weird retail space at the base of Plaza Towers

[john_denver]

So where exactly is this proposed site?

http://www.wzzm13.com/rss/article/233032/14/Bagger-Daves-coming-to-downtown?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Gorath]

I am guessing it will be next to Kinkos.

[joeDowntown]

Nice. I like Bagger Dave's focus on Michigan beer. It'll be interesting to see if they significantly modify the facade of the building - make the Fulton side more pedestrian friendly.

Joe

[GRDadof3]

Nice. I like Bagger Dave's focus on Michigan beer. It'll be interesting to see if they significantly modify the facade of the building - make the Fulton side more pedestrian friendly.

Joe

Will it go out to the Fulton side?

I actually think a Bagger Dave's will do well there. Nothing else seems to "stick" there.

[fotoman311]

Will it go out to the Fulton side?

I actually think a Bagger Dave's will do well there. Nothing else seems to "stick" there.

It says they signed a lease for 4500 sq ft. That's a good chunk of space, although the old coffee shop space was always WAAAY to huge for the few people that were in there when I had morning meetings there. I don't think there's nearly that much space in the suite that Fedex abandoned when they shrunk and I would think they would want/need the visibility on Fulton. Maybe they will push Fedex out or they will just move them to the very northernmost part of the building.

[RegalTDP]

Will it go out to the Fulton side?

I actually think a Bagger Dave's will do well there. Nothing else seems to "stick" there.

I can see why. No one would think to venture west of Market looking for store frontage. Looking down on Fulton, you just see parking, then river.

They should think about good signage. I don't think that archway is enough, they need something that faces down both directions of Fulton. Maybe atop the Skywalk, if that's possible.

Edited November 28, 2012 by RegalTDP

[SupercityGR]

As long as people know that its there, that it will do good. A nice big vertical sign down the side of plaza towers

[Veloise]

As long as people know that its there, that it will do good. A nice big vertical sign down the side of plaza towers

With the demise of Johnny's Lunch, what DT was really needing is a burger joint. (hah)

They'd be permitted to add signage visible from here. (S-curve streetview)

https://maps.google....,16.02,,1,-6.76

Edited November 28, 2012 by Veloise

[BusRidingDaddy]

I've never been to one, but from the menu it looks like they are doing "chain" right. Local beers are pushed, locally sourced food is pushed. It looks like it's a bit more quality than the stuff we had at BWW.

[dbrock1046]

Baggers Daves is good, and the beers are local, but as to the fact that they claim local sourced food..... that just means they buy it from Van Eardens or a like company, which is a local supplier but not from local sources. That's what bothers me about them, they are making that claim of local sourced but honestly it is a just a play on the words "Local". Other than that I love any new restaurant that ventures downtown :-)

[SupercityGR]

Has anyone been to the one on 28th? Iv never been, but hear that its good.

[arcturus]

I've mostly got a 'meh' response to those who've been to the 28th St location.

[GRJohn]

I went there and would second the "meh" response.  It wasn't horrible but wasn't great either.  Saving grace is that it has a pretty good local beer selection considering it is like an applebee's.  

[wingbert]

I've mostly got a 'meh' response to those who've been to the 28th St location.

 

Personally, I would disagree.  My kids like it - older kids like the sports on tv, younger kids like the toy train, the kids menu also has some good stuff that kids like.  I like the beers and the burgers and we have always enjoyed very good service there.  I will say that I wish the fries were a little crisper and a single serving sack of fries actually feeds more than one person easily. I would pick Bagger Dave's over Culvers or some other such place.

 

I imagine they will do well with the college and after work crowd who want some drinks and a nosh.

Edited November 30, 2012 by wingbert

[GRDadof3]

I thought their food was pretty good actually. I expected Applebee's fare but was surprised by how good the burgers are (their specialty). I ordered the vegetarian black bean burger (Nacho something) and it was excellent.

[organsnyder]

I've been to the 28th St. location once. Burger was good, fries were okay (expected either higher quantity or quality for the price). Drink selection was good (I had root beer - I try to avoid alcohol at lunch so that I can stay awake). Service was good. Tough to compare them with a fast food place like Culvers - a meal at Bagger Dave's costs twice as much. A good contender in the Applebee's genre, though.

 

There was a recent opinion piece in The Rapidian that focused on Bagger Dave's as an example of "local-washing": Is your favorite restaurant really local?

 

I agree with the article author that some of Bagger Dave's claims appear inflated, but they're at least working in the right direction. I would think that it would be virtually impossible for a chain to source all of their ingredients from truly local sources, while maintaining a consistent menu. A chain seems contrary to the whole locavore ideal in general - shouldn't a local restaurant reflect the variation inherent to each region?

[joeDowntown]

One thing about Bagger Dave's being a chain. I believe the 28th street location was the 2nd or 3rd location. It's a Michigan-owned company.

 

I've been there a couple of times and really enjoyed the food. They also have a great selection of Michigan Beer.

 

Joe

[SupercityGR]

Is it the same owners of buffilo wild wings?

[Gorath]

The Bagger Dave's owners, Diversified Restaurant Holdings, own Buffalo Wild Wings in the Detroit area, northern Michigan & the Tampa area.  But they do not own any Buffalo Wild Wings locations in and around the Grand Rapids area.

 

The owner of the downtown Grand Rapids Buffalo Wild Wings, J K & T Wings, is also from the Detroit area. They also own GR area Smash Burger franchises. I guess that is where some confusion comes in.

Edited December 1, 2012 by Gorath

[GRDadof3]

These are really rough from the DDA's agenda, but it looks like they will have a pretty prominent presence on the Fulton side. It also looks like some kind of covered outdoor seating area.

 

 

[fotoman311]

These are really rough from the DDA's agenda, but it looks like they will have a pretty prominent presence on the Fulton side. It also looks like some kind of covered outdoor seating area.

 

 

That will be a huge improvement for that building.  Even though it's not a local business, I'm excited to see that space activated!

[joeDowntown]

So Bagger Dave's WILL be on the Fulton side. Smart move. I like the outdoor seating as well. Will make that area seem much more pedestrian friendly. 

 

Joe

[GRDadof3]

So Bagger Dave's WILL be on the Fulton side. Smart move. I like the outdoor seating as well. Will make that area seem much more pedestrian friendly. 

 

Joe

 

Not nearly as cool as this, but I won't pick at that scab.

 

[SupercityGR]

As much as i liked that building, i hated the second mini tower on the back side and i hated the base. It had no ground floor retail.  

[Veloise]

These are really rough from the DDA's agenda, but it looks like they will have a pretty prominent presence on the Fulton side. It also looks like some kind of covered outdoor seating area.

 

 

 

Lot of space. As a former frequent flyer at that Kin--I mean, FedEx Office, it looks like they might have to condense some more.