How are Leonardtown Restaurants Surviving?
- Thread starter ballgirl
- Start date
So just heard a new place called Leonardtown Grille is going into the old Do Dah Deli spot. And of course Saffrons is going into the Corbel spot. I do not see how that is going to work? Unless the new owners really believe there is really a big slice of the pie to get? Am I really missing something or all these restaurants really content with making just a little here and there? I mean there are new studies saying families are eating in more. So are these restaurants really making enough to make it worthwhile? Again I am really wondering about this subject because I feel like Leonardtown restaurants will eventually be going the wayside if there is oversaturation. I feel like its a bubble waiting to burst
I am always willing to try a new restaurant. If it is good, I will make it part of my regular rotation.
GWguy
*
You have to remember that there aren't many non-chain restaurants in the county. Even if they are close to each other in one town, if they have decent food and service people will drive the distance to visit. Once people are in town, they may do other things, and growth follows.
I wonder if she was here when the bypass when in and the town basically died. Wasn't it about the time when the Wharf burned down (before my time), then Town Inn burned down and then Duke's Bar closed. L'town has been revitalized and I think the dining establishments have helped it. I do miss Nook and Monk's restaurant.
GWguy
*
Most of that was before my time too. L'town was pretty depressing when I first moved here. It's coming around slowly.
Yea I understand that. But lets be honest there really isnt anything to do in leonardtown entertainment wise. There are grocery stores, banks, and restaurants. I mean if you go to Lexington Park at least you can shop. Not so much here. Just confused thats all. And yea I havent been around long enough to know the history of Leonardtown. Only been here about 6 years.
glitch
Devil's Advocate
I've been there a couple of times and wasn't too impressed. I mean, it's decent chinese food but there are tons of places you can get that down here. Never understood why people rave about Oga's.
I couldn't get past the roaches crawling all over the fish tank.
Went to Saffrons twice in the PF location at advice of a friend. Not sure what they are thinking but they might have a hard time in the Corbell's location. The food is expensive, not very well done and they are trying to be chic, but not doing a good job of it. I had gone to Corbells twice, while it was expensive, the food was very good and I am sorry they did not make it. Best of luck to Saffrons, Leonardtown does need to bring in more consumers dollars and as someone else said, if people come into town for a restaurant, the other businesses benefit as well from people shopping.
Toxick
Splat
B
Bean
Guest
Saphron Restaurant
I love Saphron and can't wait for them to be closer!!
B
Bean
Guest
I am so happy to hear that!
GopherM
Darwin was right
I noticed that nobody mentioned The Willows among Leonardtown restaurants. How the heck do they stay in business. I haven't been in years and the times I went were bad experiences. ( I am assuming that they are still open. As many times as I drive past it I can never tell).
migtig
aka Mrs. Giant
The Willows has been closed for years. The location was on the market for sale, not sure if it still is or not.
Uncle Charlie
Beer is Good!!!!
There is an old saying "1 restuarant in a town will starve but 5 will thrive!"
This is because people have a CHOICE of where to go when they come to Town. Nobody is surprised anout ANY of the restaurants that have closed in town recently. When you don't offer what people they want, or have the wrong clientele, such as the BWB had, you will not be supported.
Saphron coming to Town WILL work if they have the right attitude and food at reasonable, if not upscale prices. People WILL pay for quality and the Cafe des Artist is proof of that. MANY people went to Corbels and got to the Cafe for dinner and go to the PUB afterwards for drinks and fun. The Pub in town is PACKED every night pretty much from Happy Hour on because they offer good food and drinks at good prices although their drinks ARE higher priced than a regular "bar." Why? Because they want, and get, an upscale clientele.
Somebody taking over Doo Dah can and probably will make it. Doo Dah did not have good food, good service, waited too long to get a liquor license and didn't do enough to get people in there. MANY people, like myself, like to "ride out" for a few drinks and decide to eat afterwards. Might eat where I am and might go somewhere else. Either way, the places that do the best have both a GOOD bar crowd and a dinner crowd. Cases in point. Cheeseburger, Outback, Salsas, Pub, Cafe all have good bar OR good drinks, like Margaritas AND good food and they are making it. Some people want full meals, others want appetizers or wings, etc. and these places offer that sort of stuff.
This is still St. Mary's County and most people want a couple drinks with or before dinner. Solomons has lots of places that all offer good bar stuff and good food and they all make it.
Give the people what they want and they will come and they WILL pay.
The Willows??? Almost laughed when I saw that. Closed for a couple of years and is for sale. Why did they close? Average food, absolutely OBNOXIOUS owner/chef in John who was usually half drunk working on getting all the way drunk. He HAD a good following in the beginning, then began pissing off regulars, food quality went down AND everyone commented on him and his drinking/obnoxiousness. There you go. It would probably make it again as everyone who owned it and ran it properly made money.
I'm not saying...but I'm just saying!
This is because people have a CHOICE of where to go when they come to Town. Nobody is surprised anout ANY of the restaurants that have closed in town recently. When you don't offer what people they want, or have the wrong clientele, such as the BWB had, you will not be supported.
Saphron coming to Town WILL work if they have the right attitude and food at reasonable, if not upscale prices. People WILL pay for quality and the Cafe des Artist is proof of that. MANY people went to Corbels and got to the Cafe for dinner and go to the PUB afterwards for drinks and fun. The Pub in town is PACKED every night pretty much from Happy Hour on because they offer good food and drinks at good prices although their drinks ARE higher priced than a regular "bar." Why? Because they want, and get, an upscale clientele.
Somebody taking over Doo Dah can and probably will make it. Doo Dah did not have good food, good service, waited too long to get a liquor license and didn't do enough to get people in there. MANY people, like myself, like to "ride out" for a few drinks and decide to eat afterwards. Might eat where I am and might go somewhere else. Either way, the places that do the best have both a GOOD bar crowd and a dinner crowd. Cases in point. Cheeseburger, Outback, Salsas, Pub, Cafe all have good bar OR good drinks, like Margaritas AND good food and they are making it. Some people want full meals, others want appetizers or wings, etc. and these places offer that sort of stuff.
This is still St. Mary's County and most people want a couple drinks with or before dinner. Solomons has lots of places that all offer good bar stuff and good food and they all make it.
Give the people what they want and they will come and they WILL pay.
The Willows??? Almost laughed when I saw that. Closed for a couple of years and is for sale. Why did they close? Average food, absolutely OBNOXIOUS owner/chef in John who was usually half drunk working on getting all the way drunk. He HAD a good following in the beginning, then began pissing off regulars, food quality went down AND everyone commented on him and his drinking/obnoxiousness. There you go. It would probably make it again as everyone who owned it and ran it properly made money.
I'm not saying...but I'm just saying!
mitzi
Well-Known Member
I just thought I'd mention it since it's right in the square. I think the food is excellent. Much better than Happy Dragon I think. I've never seen roaches in Oga's. People have mentioned seeing them in Happy Dragon. I don't know. All of the food establishments in a row in the square or in a shopping center, they're bound to have them.