Sunday Special #002

America's Take On Density: Why Every Food Scene Is Starting To Taste Alike

Happy Sunday folks! In today’s issue, you’ll hear…

📝 How Density Is Destroying Restaurant Diversity (And How Can We Fix It)

🗓️ What’s Coming Wednesday

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How Urban Density is Duplicating Food Scenes

Let’s play a game. I will name 5 restaurant chains and comment below how many you either already have or recently received news your city is getting one.

• Dave’s Hot Chicken

• Whataburger

• Jeni’s Ice Cream

• Shake Shack

• Condado Tacos

If you have none of the restaurants above, you likely don’t live in the United States or reside in the Midwest/Sunbelt. These chains have taken the Southeast by storm and there tends to be a few common denominators as to why.

1. Newly built mixed-use development projects can typically depend on them regardless of rental rates.

2. Developers can also count on restaurants that lure similar clientele to sign leases nearby.

You don’t have to take my word for it, however. See these examples of trail-oriented development in two of the South's largest cities, featuring the same restaurants within walking distance of one another.

Atlanta, Ga. (left), and Charlotte, N.C. (right).

To top things off, both developments also have Jeni’s location, pun intended.

How can cities maintain their individuality and uniqueness when this is the direction of the food scene?

Who is to blame? While you could very well blame developers, I think the general concept of urban density as we know it stateside is generally; build it and fill it. There isn’t a deep dive into local potential tenants or offering one/two of the commercial units below market value to attract tenants who would have typically been priced out.

It doesn’t even seem to matter whether it is adaptive reuse as the Charlotte example above is just that. In fact, I remember eating at the old locally owned diner, Pike’s Old Fashioned Soda Shop, that resided in that space for 20 years.

Urbanists can combat NIMBYism more effectively by moving beyond density for its own sake and focusing instead on curating commercial tenant mixes that add an exclusive flair to project offerings.

Lastly, cities could loosen their food and beverage cart permits to allow for local offerings. This could make these spaces less desireable for chains to swoop in if there’s already a local option who is commanding that area. Imagine a locally-owned cart that makes fresh chopped salads and mocktails along Atlanta’s Beltline where seating and shade is nearby. It would be unlikely for a Sweetgreens to sign on a lease in proximity if the competition is too risky.

To wrap up, the market isn’t determining who signs leases within the project. Poor policies, outdated zoning codes and nuanced food handling permitting is making it easy to rinse and repeat.

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What’s Coming Wednesday:

Free Subscribers:

We will be discussing a few essentials for staying cool during family outdoor activities.

Paid Subscribers:

Alongside tips for staying cool during family outdoor activities, we'll explore exclusive travel destinations perfect for summer adventures, highlighting lesser-known gems and insider recommendations.

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Til, next time cut loose.

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