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Vince Yustas

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Owensboro Market Ranked Nationally

by Vince Yustas » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:23 pm

Interesting tidbit: Owensboro has been ranked the 7th best market nationally even though having the fewest restaurants of Kentucky's five metro areas. I cut-and-pasted the article because you need a password to log on.


11/12/2007
Owensboro 7th best restaurant market

By Keith Lawrence

Messenger-Inquirer

The self-proclaimed "Barbecue Capital of the World" -- also known as "Chowdown Town" -- is getting some national attention for its appetite.

Restaurant Business magazine's November issue ranks Owensboro as the seventh best market nationally for restaurants -- right behind Las Vegas.

Myrtle Beach, S.C., topped the list, followed by Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; Ocean City, N.J.; and Honolulu.

The Owensboro metropolitan area -- Daviess, Hancock and McLean counties -- has 188 restaurants, the magazine said.

That's the fewest of any of Kentucky's five metros.

But local restaurants will take in an estimated $273.9 million this year -- an average of $1.46 million each, the magazine said.

That's nearly double the $751,704 in sales the average restaurant in Louisville sees, the magazine reported.

Even Las Vegas, No. 6 in the survey, reported smaller average sales per restaurant -- $1.2 million -- than Owensboro. But that city has 4,266 restaurants to share its $4.8 billion in restaurant sales.

"We're about to close two restaurant deals in Highland Pointe," Brad Anderson, a partner in Gulfstream Enterprises, said Wednesday. "Neither is in Owensboro now."

That company is developing Highland Pointe, Woodlands Plaza and Gateway Commons in the Kentucky 54 area.

Anderson said he's working with six to eight restaurant chains now, trying to negotiate deals along that corridor.

"Owensboro is getting a lot of attention already," he said. "And this should help."

Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers, a national chain with more than 340 stores, opened a Highland Pointe location six months ago.

Work is nearing completion on Roca Bar, a pizza restaurant next door. And a Louisville group is developing a Japanese restaurant in the strip center next to Kohl's in Woodlands Plaza.

"Business has been great," Tyler Shookman, co-owner of the Culver's franchise, said Wednesday. "Our sales are above average for Culver's locations. And we're looking at an even better future with the new hospital, hotel, arena and convention center coming out here."

Restaurant Business wrote: "Owensboro, on the Ohio River 100 miles west of Louisville, is also gearing up for development. Underway is a $40 million riverfront development with a marina and river walk; a $400 million medical center and the $390 million Gateway Commons, with a hotel, convention center and arena."

"That's great advertising," said Nick Cambron, chairman of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. "There's a lot going on in Owensboro."

Cambron, a Realtor, said he's working with several restaurant chains that are looking at the Kentucky 54 corridor now.

"This area is a retail mecca," he said.

The magazine's Restaurant Growth Index studied 363 metropolitan areas, looking at total sales, total number of restaurants, per capita income and other factors.
Vince Yustas
Brandenburg (nee Paterson, NJ) KY
"Only a fool argues with a skunk, a mule or the cook."
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Peg O'Neill

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by Peg O'Neill » Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:15 pm

Well, hwy 54 is building up like crazy and there's not a whole lot of other stuff to do there, so people flip out when they build an Olive Garden. :)
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by Mark R. » Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:59 pm

The restaurants mentioned in the article are mostly national chains. Does anybody know that there than active "Local" restaurant scene in Owensboro and if so what restaurants of interest are there?
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by PaigeM » Mon Nov 12, 2007 5:24 pm

Mark R. wrote:what restaurants of interest are there?


Chains have certainly taken over in the last few years, but some good locals remain. The best of the best is American Bounty. Colby's is an old standby -- kinda like Owensboro's Bristol. I've heard good things about the Italian restaurant on 54 near the bypass (the name escapes me). And of course you've got BBQ, BBQ, and more BBQ. Moonlite for a buffet-style gorgefest, George's or Old Hickory for sandwiches and plates.

They ain't kidding about Owensboro folks eating out a lot. Without even trying, I lost 20 pounds when I moved from there to Louisville. :shock:
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by Peg O'Neill » Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:13 pm

Actually, Mark, in the way of greasy spoons, home cookin', and BBQ, there's a boatload of good restaurants in Owensboro, as well as some good local downtown eateries (and candy shop!) such as Paige mentioned. I used to babysit for a coupled that owned a downtown Italian restaurant and bakery, which are both long since closed. Talk about well-fed!

As far as foodie/fine-dining, though, you probably aren't going to find a whole heck of a lot. (Which is fine with me!)
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by Mark R. » Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:35 pm

Thanks for the feedback on the local restaurant scene in Owensboro! I knew about and have tried several of the barbecue places including Moonlite and they're all very good. i wonder the opinion and you confirm it that most of the restaurants they are on the casual variety and not really high end. Of course based on that it makes it more interesting that their average annual income is so high!
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by Peg O'Neill » Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:50 pm

I am not a fan of Moonlinte. The Big Dipper, a drive-thru right next to it, really hits the spot, though. (In fairness, Moonlite did cater my brother's wedding and it was excellent...normally I don't like their food.) I've always been really curious about the dining @ Campbell Club.
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Owensboro Restaurants

by Christopher Rieger » Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:19 pm

Oddly enough, Owensboro has been a test market for many McDonald's projects for years. I remember when they test marketed pizzas in the stores on Frederica and then later converted the one by the mall into a McDiner.

It's more a per capita thing versus just number of restaurants. So few of them are anything but boring chains. The mall area seems to be an ever-expanding sea of chains nowadays. It's been forever since I've been out off of 54, but I know it is booming too.

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