Krispy Kreme Closing its Fayetteville Street City Plaza Store

RaleighRob
01/28 11:01 AM

Well that’s silly…everytime I went by there, they had at least a decent number of customers.  But yeah, I guess people aren’t buying three dozen boxes from that location like they would on Person Street.  Oh well.  I liked their Kool Kreme in the summer, but at least Crema will still be around for that.

A good replacement would be a burrito/taco stand.  Everyone these days keeps talking about taco trucks and such…well a taco kiosk would be even better then, right? 
Even a local company like Chubby’s or Baja Burrito could do something really good there!

cole
01/28 11:13 AM

i think that it has a lot to do with the type of people that are downtown everyday. most people that work downtown are more than likely health conscious and they know that eating doughnuts is a bad idea. I guarantee you Jimmy Johns is doing great downtown.

alina
01/28 11:15 AM

Jimmy Johns seems to be doing well, usually has a line out the door at lunchtime. Likely because they are quick and fresh. They also have the fastest (bike) delivery service in downtown Raleigh. I’d like to see another place open up that has delivery for those of us who work downtown. Maybe a place that delivers a good hangover breakfast straight to your office? Just a thought…

katie
01/28 11:28 AM

The Greek place down there is tasty and reasonably priced too. That kind of grab-and-go kind of food place seems to make sense there.

RaleighRob
01/28 12:30 PM

cole- true.  If KK had done like Dunkin and gotten whole wheat bagels, egg-white muffins and that kinda thing, they’d probably would’ve had more foot traffic.

Justin
01/28 01:08 PM

Yes to tacos!

Los Cuates (the drive-thru mexican place on Capital) would be perfect for this location.  I love Chubby’s too!

hackles10
01/28 01:09 PM

Chubbys would be awesome in this location!

D3NK1 5AM
01/28 01:23 PM

Any idea how much the rent is on that spot. Seems like a pretty stupid place for a doughnut shop. More of a publicity stunt than a real contribution to Raleigh’s budding downtown. Good riddance Krispy Creme and your disgusting snacks

Justin6882
01/28 01:36 PM

If chubbys went in there, I’d never eat anywhere else.

B
01/28 02:09 PM

I vote Chubby’s too.

Andigator
01/28 02:16 PM

I must have had a bad experience with Chubby’s but I thought they were terrible.  You’re talking about that taco joint off TW Alexander, right?  I’d rather just go to Moe’s.  Maybe it was just a bad day.

I’d love to see Nikki’s or Flaming Amy’s Bowl.  Both are only in Wilmington as far as I know.

meanieme
01/28 02:20 PM

regardless if we like KKD or not, the point is downtown raleigh city plaza is losing another key tenant ....I hope the void is filled soon or it won’t bode well for the downtown image

I walked by Brass Grille the other day and noticed that it was closed too…not sure why

I really hope zPizza at city plaza survives….

we really need Charter Square built fast.

hotnow
01/28 02:28 PM

I’m surprised the downtown KK never was open late night. The Person St location is always hopping around 11pm.

Horny
01/28 02:29 PM

A sex Shop with an arcade and strip club

Eric Shook
01/28 02:48 PM

Cappuccinos + Lap Dances = Lappuccinos

Leland Witter
01/28 03:24 PM

I definitely vote for Mexican!

tc
01/28 03:46 PM

But I wonder if Chubby’s could keep their prices that low in a downtown location. 

Eh, anyways, I’d rather have Salsa Fresh!!

and I’m still dying to see a sushi place with the conveyor belt delivery system.  (preferably one cheaper than Sono, but better than Wild Ginger).

FXR
01/28 03:52 PM

The problem for KK, as it is for most retail locations downtown (mostly restaurants and bars), is the lack of vision and leadership among the city officials and their private partners who have been running downtown for the past 10-15 years.  Until downtown Raleigh begins to be run so as to be unquestionably friendly to residents and small businesses, such that a critical mass of downtown residents can be achieved, any replacement for KK will be challenged.  It’s a terrible catch 22.  More residents won’t move downtown because of such poor infrastructure to support residential life (the CVS is from the 80’s and closes at 6, and like Chic Filet isn’t even open on weekends), and more businesses won’t come downtown because they’re are not enough residents.  For places like KK, or Jimmy John’s, or Shish Kabob they have to live primarily off of the lunch crowd (they benefit somewhat from the occasional Convention Ctr and Amphitheatre crowd).  Visit any of these places seven days a week between the hours of 3pm and closing…it won’t be pretty.  Want change?  Elect a new Mayor and City Council (make the Mayor’s job a full-time job).  A Mayor and City Council who will take back control of downtown from the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (an apparently unaccountable non-profit), and then manage it like a proper captial city with a vision and ambition.

ct
01/28 04:24 PM

FXR may be correct, but the more urgent questions are who will be Mayor next year, will he or she even care about downtown, and how will the city council district boundaries be amended to reflect the large increase in population outside the Beltline since 2000.

ShopLocRaleigh
01/28 04:49 PM

Who owns the land on Fayetteville?  Is it a local corporation or large name?  Maybe if a local business rented the space then maybe the landlord could negotiate a special rent charge helping to keep Raleigh unique and give it character—and in hopes that a local person will have more invested than a large box chain.  And not to mention that we all know that a local business will help with the multipler effect anyways as opposed to a large chain/franchise where less of the money made stays local.  Seems like a win win….

OldeSchool
01/28 06:23 PM

As a former downtown condo dweller and current worker at 1 Hanover Square, I can tell you that the “critical mass” argument presented by FXR is irrelevant. There are plenty of businesses that are thriving and growing and people continue to move into the immediate area. It’s the businesses that are not viable that are leaving, and rightly so. KK had no business being there. I know Jimmy John’s is packed out (although I don’t care for it), Shish Kabob seems to do well, but has dry spells, zPizza seems to get traffic (again, I don’t care for it). A quick taco stand, similar to Chubby’s Lake Boone, would kick it at lunch and would draw more locals into the immediate area in the evening. If they did a breakfast, they would have plenty of business.

FXR
01/28 06:36 PM

Based on only cursory effort so far, many of the best downtown (Lenoir to Edenton/Dawson to Blount) locations are gov’t buildings, or parking decks.  For those who consider living downtown, the risk is continued poor infrastructure to support a residential urban lifestyle.  For the potential retailer, who carries a greater degree of risk, the risk is there remain too few potential customers within a given geographic boundry.  So, with that, who takes the risk first?  For example, it’s clear the management at CVS HQ has decided there are not enough customers for it’s Fayetteville & Hargett St. location to justify investing in upgrading the store from it’s 1980’s layout and signage.  It’s reasonable to ask, has the Mayor, or the City Council, or the City Manager met with the CEO, or the CFO, or some lower lever decision maker at CVS to find out how they can get Raleigh residents an improved shopping experience?  It is in this area city gov’t can play a role.  City gov’t can mitigate, not elminate, mitigate the risk to those who are willing and able create businesses, expand businesses,  within a precise geographic downtown boundry.

mindcrime
01/28 08:59 PM

how about a vegetarian puerto rican restaurant? yeah, yeah, that’s perfect!

Eric Shook
01/28 09:06 PM

Vegetarian Puerto Rican? I don’t think vegetarianism is really indicative of their culture, it’s more of an American anomaly. I don’t like imitations, but that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong. But I doubt it.

mindcrime
01/28 09:25 PM

how about a healthy bbq place that’s really cheap and has more vegetarian options? or a gluten free bakery, with vegan goodies! mmmm, so dreamy!

Cynthia Deis
01/28 09:32 PM

Chubby’s Tacos with huevos rancheros at breakfast, coffee with Larry’s Beans and some sopapillas….

mmm…

Eric Shook
01/28 09:53 PM

How many people really have a Gluten allergy? Because Gluten free isn’t a healthier option.

chubby lover
01/28 10:46 PM

Chubby’s would be great. Moe’s would suck….unless you’re into burritos with cold, unmelted cheese and terrible flavor.

MEASLES
01/29 12:42 PM

There is no “downtown” - remove the government buildings (paid for by taxpayers, not private investors), civic center (ditto) and that amphitheater thing (ditto) and what do you have?  Nothing.  You wanna attract people and businesses to relocate there?  Here’s an idea:  reduce the tax rate (property and sales) to zero.  You’ll have people flocking to the area, spending money there, and you’ll have your long-desired “downtown”.  A real community isn’t planned by some city council or mayor, it happens because private businesses and individuals make personal decisions in terms of how far their dollar can go.  Zoning, building more govt buildings, paving and then unpaving the streets, offering some hair-brained rent scheme to “local businesses” (whatever that means; I own a local business, and we buy things from all over the world - so our money goes everywhere.  ECON101), etc will not entice anyone to move anywhere.  Of course, if you DO get govt out of the way and downtown really starts to flourish, some of these new residents will be FAMILIES with CHILDREN….and some of the people on the southern end of the ITB crowd might move slightly north! (*gasp*)....and before you know it you won’t be able to find any buddy holly glasses anywhere!!!! careful what you wish for…..

RaleighRob
01/29 01:49 PM

^I like to buy local, but if I ever find a business run by such an arrogant snide troll, I wouldn’t spend my money there for sure.

Eric Shook
01/29 03:23 PM

He’s not a snide troll, he’s just RIGHT. It takes a person of passion to run a business and WE take it very seriously. I owned a hardware store in Pittsboro, NC for 6 years and the “towns folk” “plebeians” or “worker-bees” what ever you like to call them, would always complain to the paper about our dying downtown and what is the mayor going to do about it.

Truth is the mayor has very little power. He can sit in as a substitute vote in a city council meeting if a board member is absent. He can bring issues to be voted on by city council, but then again so can I.

Government has nothing to do with business, except taxing. PERIOD. If you are a small business (less than 100 employees) you get NO tax breaks, if you are a big business (more than 400 employees) they offer HUGE tax breaks and even SUBSIDIES. 

Case in point: Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse moved to Pittsboro, NC in 2007 and hired 403 people for the set up process, got a 5 year local tax reduction of 23% and a state & county funded subsidy for building in Chatham County.

Politicians don’t/won’t/can’t do anything for small business except get out of the way.

And as far as my business market? Rednecks like bright shiny things.

Eric Shook
01/29 03:26 PM

AND another thing…
The reason Durham has so many fun and interesting restaurants is because the rent is cheap and the taxes are lower. Durham county govt’ had nothing to do with opening restaurants.

If you want something cool downtown, GO GET A LOAN AND OPEN IT.

MEASLES
01/29 04:00 PM

Eric - well said.  I wonder how many people on here can relate to your position?  It seems most of this forum, indeed most of this country, is of the mistaken belief that if we just get the right amount or “recipe” of government involvement, everything will be wonderful.  What’s interesting is, that’s never happened.  Not anywhere, and not at any time in history.  Yet people still have faith that some party / council / leader / regulation / tax incentive / agency / whatever can fix any problem.  Hopefully our fellow americans will someday get their head out of their ass and understand what it really takes.

Raleighrob - you have a lot of nerve calling me a name like that….so let me ask you - how many businesses have you successfully run?

Feel free to tell the truth.  Or more likely, ignore my question.

Eric - keep up the good work.  You created jobs, YOU fed the hungry, YOU clothed families and put roofs over their heads.  But be warned - comments like yours fly in the face of this site’s owners, and you will soon be banned from posting.

Eric Shook
01/29 04:08 PM

I yield to no man lesser than me.

ct
01/29 07:07 PM

The Mayor, Council, and city staff have given downtown more than adequate attention and resources over the last 10 years. It’s time to see if downtown can stand on its own without becoming a perpetual special project.

Cynthia Deis
01/29 10:26 PM

As a long-term resident of Glenwood South (back when it was a sad stretch of nothing punctuated by the Sizzler steakhouse and Milk-n-More) and long-term independent business owner (Ornamentea, 11+ years, 28 employees) I can say that several of you are right. I get no tax breaks. I get no kudos from the Mayor if I add a job or two. However, downtown investment HAS helped us. The R-line does bring convention center and suburban traffic to our store. Big downtown events do give suburban consumers one more reason to come visit us. Is it everything I’d like? No, but no city is.

And now I’ll take my Buddy Holly glasses and go put my children to bed.

LoneVoice
01/30 09:58 AM

I wouldn’t judge the healthiness of downtown based on a single Krispy Kreme store’s opening or closing. Krispy Kreme has learned in the dangers of overexpanding, which it did several years ago, only to be outdone by the Atkins craze.

I went to school at UNCW, and during the summer nights, Wilmington had the Sunset Celebration every Friday in downtown. So, fresh out of college, I moved to Raleigh in 1995. On a Friday night, not really knowing where to go on a Friday night, I went to downtown to see what kind of activities downtown Raleigh had. I mean, if downtown Wilmington has active & vital on a Friday night, then surely the state’s capital would be to.

Fayetteville Street was deserted. It was 6 or 7 PM during the summer, and I didn’t see another soul around. Glenwood South wasn’t even around, and the Hibernian was at least 4 or 5 years away from existence. 42nd Street was there, but that area was really sketchy at the time.

Raleigh will never be DC or NYC; Raleigh will never be Seattle or Portland. We won’t have ZipCars at every parking lot so people can rent a vehicle for a few hours to let them go to the farmer’s market on Saturdays for their weekly shopping. But, that vision just isn’t ever going to be Raleigh. so, who cares?

There are times when I’m trying to find a place to park in downtown Raleigh on a Friday night when I remember my first encounter with downtown Raleigh many years ago. Raleigh *has* changed, and for the better.

And as for downtown Durham? A few years ago, after a Sunday night baseball game at the DBAP, my friend & I wanted a beer and some pub food. Downtown Durham was a ghost town. Durham may have the better restaurants, but Durham’s night life pales in comparison to Raleigh’s.

So, rather than judge downtown based on a single Krispy Kreme’s opening or closing, I’d rather take the long view.

DTRlover
01/30 01:55 PM

Now that I’ve lived downtown for 2 years I wouldn’t live anywhere else. I rarely ever find the need to go outside a 5 mile radius of my house. I’m sure the nasayers on here have never lived in downtown Raleigh, and probably don’t spend much of their free time around here either. Downtown Raleigh is a great place to live and I appreciate the efforts of Mayor Meeker and other leaders who have worked hard to bring businesses and developers back downtown.

C
01/30 04:52 PM

Do people have to constantly knock Raleigh in this website. There is a simple reason why the KK is closing, why go there when you can go 2 minutes up the street and get them fresh off the line, and can park in their parking lot and walk right in ? Thanks loneVoice, I too remember almost 10 years ago when Downtown’s nicest restaurant was Second Empire and that is is it.Again Raleigh is not NYC, but it is nice that downtown has some options now. As far a durham restaurants, some of them are good, but Raleigh has good places too.Just people kill me how every restaurant article that comes up on here, people are knocking it. If you hate Raleigh so much, and it sucks so much, MOVE, why even be on a Raleigh based website commenting ??

George C Liquor, American
01/31 12:42 PM

I’m with C.  Raleigh’s downtown has improved mightily over the past 10 years because it has been championed by city government and private investors, like Empire.  Remember when Fetzer was mayor?  Downtown was overpriced and shitty boring and the RBC Center was placed in the wrong spot.  The downtown landowners charged rents way out of proportion with the commercial value of the property.  The “free market” failed as badly as it did during the financial meltdown of 2008.  Downtown landowners pay additional property tax for the marketing of downtown and the safety ambassadors that ride around to make suburbanites feel safe and it seems like a successful investment.  Hey, it works!  Everyone comes from the suburbs to drink, dine, run road races, see parades, see live music and not be in a mall.  We just hosted the NHL All Star game!  Stay in North Raleigh if you dislike downtown. There’s a lovely shopping center that will make you think you are in Olde Europe!

gspot
01/31 03:55 PM

downtown raleigh’s progress relative to downtown raleigh is pretty awesome

Bad Cop
01/31 04:12 PM

Hot Doughnuts Now?
NOPE

ct
01/31 06:59 PM

There was never any discussion of putting the RBC Center in downtown because NCSU *didn’t want it there*. NCSU wanted it exactly where it is. The relocating Hartford Whalers entered the discussion after the site of the arena had already been chosen.

Even if NCSU had been willing to change their minds about site selection that late in the game, it would have set back the project years to change the site. The Hurricanes were already uncomfortable—and as it turns out, justifiably so—having a temporary presence in Greensboro.

That said, while the pro-downtown folks who read New Raleigh are fervent in their views that the arena should be downtown, those of us who are Hurricanes season ticket holders—primarily residents of Cary and North Raleigh OTB—find it quite convenient where it is, not to mention residents of Durham and Chapel Hill.

Eric Shook
01/31 07:04 PM

I agree that the RBC is good farther away from downtown, I wouldn’t want Downtown Raleigh to just be a giant sports bar for the douche crowd to come hang out. Plus, can you imagine the traffic? Sheesh. This past weekend was douche-tastic enough with all the NHL crap going on, and how embarrasing was the “snow pile” WRAL brought out. Like these Yankee’s and southern dorks haven’t seen snow before.

Let’s just all say a prayer to his spaghetti goodness and thank him that we don’t live in Durham.

LOL

Ryan
01/31 09:45 PM

How about something local and not a chain?  I think an Empanada eatery would be perfect.

jah
01/31 11:15 PM

Geez. This thread got heated about some fucking donuts.

Hugh Jasol
02/01 10:43 AM

I would rather be surrounded by hockey fans than people who use the term “douche-tastic.”

elfbootie
02/01 11:18 AM

MEASLES, I believe you mean “harebrained,” not “hairbrained,” unless your head is stuck… well, nevermind.

b-fuss
02/03 11:30 AM

KK’s downtown location closed!?? Kathleen Murphy’s going to be pissed! Oh well, at least she won’t explode out of that one pair of black pants she has.

cease29
02/07 02:37 PM

What about a Chipotle Grill?

Kat
02/13 08:28 PM

<I would rather be surrounded by hockey fans than people who use the term “douche-tastic.”>

ME TOO!!!!...cant stomach people who think they are too cool for school….

Eric Shook
02/13 08:35 PM

If it weren’t for Hockey Fans, the term “douche-tastic” wouldn’t exist. You all make it possible. Once you stop, I’ll stop.

Rob
02/26 08:34 PM

Local Yogurt should open up a store in Downtown Raleigh!

Eric Shook
02/26 08:55 PM

Rob is right, PINK BERRY