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Other => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jonathan on August 09, 2009, 02:00:17 PM

Title: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: Jonathan on August 09, 2009, 02:00:17 PM
Please post any and all bad restaurant to whatever conversions here.

To get us started, us here in Podunkville had an A&W that was converted to a Mexican restaurant (Viva Tequila :drunk:, it was goooood) and now it is a car dealership. Good thing it's still a drive-in. >_>

So, any bad conversions in your area?
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: WeatherWitness on August 09, 2009, 02:36:06 PM
This is a really neat topic, Jonathan. :yes: I can't believe a restaurant in your area was turned into a car dealership, though. :blink: Right now I can't think of any bad conversions here; we've had a lot of restaurants close, but the buildings have remained empty with "For Lease" signs all around them. If I think of any conversions, I'll post later. :)
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: hen7713 on August 09, 2009, 02:45:35 PM
There was a McDonalds in my area that was closed and turned into a Car Dealership, same thing with a local Pizzahut.
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: ABC7 on August 09, 2009, 03:07:39 PM
I wonder why they closed restaurants to turn them into car dealerships. That seems strange to me.
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: WeatherWitness on August 09, 2009, 03:31:10 PM
I wonder why they closed restaurants to turn them into car dealerships. That seems strange to me.

Me too. I didn't realize that was such a popular conversion for old restaurants. I'm assuming they tore the building down. Or not? :dunno:

Now, after thinking, one bad restaurant conversion here was with a place called EZs. It closed, and now the site is a gas station (the restaurant buliding was completely demolished).
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: Jonathan on August 09, 2009, 04:09:34 PM
Me too. I didn't realize that was such a popular conversion for old restaurants. I'm assuming they tore the building down. Or not? :dunno:

Nope, the old A&W has the drive-in structure to this day. :) I think Viva Tequila :drunk: used it for parking, now the dealership uses it to protect their shiny cars from hail, etc.
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: WeatherWitness on August 10, 2009, 06:26:47 PM
One annoying thing with restaurant conversions down here are the conversions of well-known chains to "random" restaurants that I've never heard of. For example, a Long John Silvers turned into some random Mexican-Seafood place and a Jack-in-the-Box turned into a Mexican food place that's definetely not a chain.
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: wxmediafan on August 10, 2009, 08:05:39 PM
Taco Bell was converted to a Taco Bell/Pizza Hut, then back to Taco Bell (not really conversion :P)

A Dunkin' Donuts was changed to Long John Silvers.  LJS just closed last week.

Part of Hollywood Video changed to Hungry Hobo

Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: Localonthe8s on August 10, 2009, 08:08:31 PM
Part of Hollywood Video changed to Hungry Hobo
:blink:

We had a Holly video that closed as well but it's still vacant. There was a Quiznos that converted to Payless Shoe Source :wacko:
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: WeatherWitness on August 10, 2009, 09:27:42 PM
Part of Hollywood Video changed to Hungry Hobo
:blink:

There was a Quiznos that converted to Payless Shoe Source :wacko:

That's just so strange IMO. :blink: But I guess I live in a place where no company wants to move into a vacant building. We really have way too many vacant restaurant buildings down here I think.
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: Zach on August 11, 2009, 11:36:42 AM
There was a restaurant (I forget the name) that turned into a car wash. :blink: :blink: :wacko: :wacko:
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: Jonathan on August 11, 2009, 09:16:47 PM
This isn't a restaurant but a car wash was just converted to lease space...for...idk.

Maybe some tile cleaning company? :rofl2:
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: Jonathan on August 13, 2009, 10:25:11 PM
Sorry for double posting...but I have another. A locally-owned Chinese buffet was closed (was under new ownership for a few months, then closed suddenly) and converted to a locally-owned floral shop. :pinch:
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: texasstooge on August 14, 2009, 09:31:35 AM
To start off:

 - One of my local Denny's restaurants also converted to a car dealership.
 - A Long John Silvers/A&W restaurant in central Irving was closed off for a year. It was then reopened as La Isla serving Tex-Mex...only to suffer a demise after 3 months. (Good thing a couple friends of mine found another LJS/A&W location nearby.)
 - Another Denny's in Irving was closed and demolished to make way for extra parking for Baylor Medical Center. (The only other remaining Denny's I know of is located in western Irving)
 - A Shlotzky's Deli (located on the same street as the former LJS/A&W) was transformed into Texas Car Title & Payday Loans.
 - A TCBY restaurant transformed into A-Affordable Insurance.
 - A Chinese restaurant (located near my favorite Crystal's Pizza parlor) has been changed to Lone Star Title Loans (like we don't have enough of those around town).
 - And lastly, my favorite drive-in homemade burger place was changed into one Temp. Agency after another.
Title: Re: Bad restaurant conversions
Post by: WeatherWitness on August 14, 2009, 10:57:13 AM
As Michael was mentioning, some restaurants here turn into Check-Cashers or Loans places as well. It's kind of annoying IMO. :thumbdown: