First Portillo's in Iowa......
- Thread starter torbee
- Start date
It doesn't?
People get excited about new things. Even chain restaurants. That's okay, even if it's not your thing.
It's not like people in Iowa City were like "hey, we're better than QCers because we got a Zombie Burger!"
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Fresh content rules, my friend! New clicks = new ad revenue.
My (healthy eating) wife is out of town Tuesday-Wednesday, might make a late-ish evening run on a weeknight to try it - shouldn't be TOO busy, right?
So really it's thing that sucks about the quad cities, like their pizza "style."
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Where in America are there NOT a bunch of chains in cities between 50,0000 and 500,000 population?
I travel a lot and Iowa does not appear to have any more than any other mid-sized metro areas in any part of the country.
Now, I will say that folks in the entire Midwest do tend to get crazy when "new to them" chains open up - but it's certainly not a "status symbol" thing or a particularly Iowa thing. I think the Peoria folks had a bigger collective boner over Portillo's opening there than Davenporters did.
Also, I didn't say Portillos is only in the Chicago area. I said for YEARS it was only there, prior to expansion, which is true. There are still only 38 stores in the entire U.S. Compared to more than 700 Whataburgers, 301 In-N-Out Burgers and 162 Shake Shacks. So yes, objectively a bigger deal when your community gets one.
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Especially in an immediate area that is surrounded by Best Buy, Lowe's, Target, Walmart, Costco, Sam's etc. Seems like a great place for a local, non-chain, mom and pop restaurant!
The bold is definitely the basis of my original point. I find it interesting that you say it isnt a status symbol thing but in the next paragraph points out that it is 1/38. Im obviously not gonna agree with most people in this thread.
Ill save the rest of my comments for when Dave and Busters opens in Des Moines.
I think the issue is the disagreement on what you are calling a "status symbol".
I don't think you know what that phrase means ...
But getting excited about something doesn't automatically mean it's a status symbol.
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Again, it's not a status symbol to say "Oh, cool, here is a restaurant a lot of people love that you used to only be able to get when you went to Chicago and it is now opening here in our town, yay!"
I guess I am just not understanding how that is in any way, shape or form thinking it is "status symbol."
I am not "proud" that Davenport has the first Portillo's in Iowa - it's just common sense - it's closer to Chicago than any other metro area in Iowa big enough to support it. So, cool?
As for me pointing out the number, you made a point to say that there were Portillo's in Arizona, Indiana, etc. and that no one made a big deal when Shake Shack opened in San Diego. Well, there are more than 130 Shake Shacks so obviously it is not as big of news as only the 38th Portiollo's. Again, not a "status symbol" just pointing out that it's more rare to have a Portillo's franchise in town than most of the other "hot" restaurant chains that get talked about.
Stopped at the Madison Portillo’s on the way back from the airport today. Ordered the big Italian beef instead of the regular Italian beef. Some in the restaurant probably viewed the big Italian beef as a status symbol. I got over it though
You have posted about it all the time (thanks QCHawks for pointing it out). I interpret that as saying "Hey look my town is cooler than people think." Hence my phrasing as "Status Symbol"
How long have you lived in San Diego? I'm just curious how long it takes to become so woke after leaving the state of Iowa.
I must not have headed far enough west, because I still love me some chain restaurants. We are finally getting In-N-Out here in Denver, and I have heard about it from lots of people.
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How can one not get excited to have easier access to a Portillo's (and those onion rings!)? Their Italian Beef is the bomb. If that's not your thing, get the hamburger which is always rock solid too. I char my own hot dogs at home so I never order those when I'm dining out.
Whe you get one of these in Iowa, I'll visit the hinterlands and bring tall blonde czech girls with me.
EL PALACIO DE LOS JUGOS
@Fijimn
EL PALACIO DE LOS JUGOS
@Fijimn
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That tranlates as "The Meat Palace" correct?
We have a few of those in the Dirty D.........................
6 years. I still love me some chain restaurants as well. I just dont post multiple items on message boards and my social media about them
I thought it meant boobs, but was promptly corrected and only mildly saddened to see a Cuban food version of an S&S cafeteria setup. (There were boobs too)
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Now that I think of it, I think "jugo" is actually juice - as one of my favorite dishes at my favorite Mexican restaurants is "Carne en su jugo" which I think means "meat in its own juices."
Of course, Palace of Juice also sounds filthy, so that's good.
It’s more like, we’re better, therefore we get a Zombie. There is sort of an affirmation taken from every new brand that moves into town as I see it.
@CuttyDoesIt Iowa is a small and at its heart, rural state. You know that. I've lived in major metros including Dubai. Much like you I chuckle when Iowans get excited when such news wouldn't make the radar anywhere else. That's just the nature of the beast. I'm in Iowa now and consider it interesting sociologically.
Amusing gif but what message you were communicating flew over my head. A google image search comes up with primarily “once you go black you never go back” but also with the possibility I’d “back up you creep”.
Nice job Cutty. Way to piss everyone off.
You're right though. And this appears to be fast food at that.
I was only posting, not communicating. I can do one without the other.I just thought it was a funny but odd gif up at the same time in another tab on my computer.
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Got it. Typically when I quote someone with a gif it is for a reason but what evs.
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The irony of his take is I literally posted on Portillo's twice in, like, two years.
Once to say "Hey, cool, Portillo's is actually coming to Davenport."
The second time to say. "Hey, cool, Portillo's is now actually open- has anyone tried it."
I am SO flexing on this amazing status symbol!!
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