Tumbleweed adds upscale Sedona Grill (but not locally)

[Robin Garr]

Another interesting food piece from last week's <I>Business First</I>:

Hot idea: Tumbleweed Inc. goes upscale with new Sedona Grill concept
Business First of Louisville - May 18, 2007
by Terry Boyd
Business First Staff Writer

Tumbleweed Inc. is quietly rolling out a new concept inspired by the success of its riverfront restaurant in Louisville.

Sedona Grill will be a "higher-tiered concept" with elements -- from decor to building design -- a notch higher than its Tumbleweed Southwest Grill chain, said Terry Smith, Tumbleweed president and CEO.

Rather than locating in suburban malls or strip malls, Sedona Grills will be in what he termed "urban lifestyle centers" -- retail clusters designed to resemble traditional city centers. In the long term, target markets for Sedona Grill in the South, West and North are meant to move the parent company away from its focus on the Midwest, Smith said.
Five and counting

The first Sedona Grill opened earlier this year in Lima, Ohio. A second is under construction in Sheffield, Ohio, outside Cleveland, and a third is planned in Garfield Heights, also near Cleveland.

A total of five Sedona Grills are scheduled to be open by the end of 2007, Smith said, with a company-owned store in Murray, Ky., and the first franchisee store in Raleigh, N.C.

The Murray store will be owned by franchisee Summit Food Services Inc., based in Owensboro. Mark Weakley, director of operations, could not be reached for comment before Business First's press deadline.

Though no Sedona Grills are planned for Louisville, the 2-year-old Tumbleweed at 1201 River Road in Waterfront Park is the inspiration for the new concept, and employees there refer to it as the "Sedona design."

Full story in Business First

I took one for the team and dined at a Tumbleweed for the first time in many years. I was displeased to see that they have moved away from their Tex-Mex roots and now seem to be more of southwest "steakhouse". The food was really bad. It seems like the place is having an identity crisis. It's like they can't decide if they want to be Chili's, Outback, or Don Pablos. No reason to return, ever.

They should try making good food, first.

Many have complained about the recent-ish change to the "Steakhouse" direction. I have (or rather had) a certain affinity for Tumbleweed from childhood. But that disappeared with the arrival of the new menu.

The only thing left to like from the old Mellwood 'weed are the original booths that found a new home at Steve-O's in Buckner. Just looking at them brings back some fond memories.

[Robin Garr]

Many have complained about the recent-ish change to the "Steakhouse" direction. I have (or rather had) a certain affinity for Tumbleweed from childhood. But that disappeared with the arrival of the new menu.

Time flies ... the concept change was well under way by summer 2004, when I wrote this review. I was moderately kind, but only just.

At that time, they still had some (not all) of the classic 'weed Tex-Mex dishes on the back page of the menu. I don't know if that continues to be the case, but it seems to me that it would be silly for them to take off the burritos and tacos entirely.

When I was there last week it was slim pickings for Tex-mex fare, and what they did have was remarkably poor. Taco Bell would've been vastly superior.

Time flies ... the concept change was well under way by summer 2004, when I wrote this review. I was moderately kind, but only just.

At that time, they still had some (not all) of the classic 'weed Tex-Mex dishes on the back page of the menu. I don't know if that continues to be the case, but it seems to me that it would be silly for them to take off the burritos and tacos entirely.

I can't remember how much of the Tex-Mex remained intact on my last/first encounter with it, but the time frame sounds about right. I know it was somewhere around when I started dating my wife, so probably a little earlier than the review. I do recall, at least at the location where we ate, the server told me I could no longer order a bean and cheese burrito a la carte... had to be with a meal/platter. Before, a single burrito and an order of queso was more than enough for me, and generally all I would order.

In all honesty that was probably one of the reasons for the change. Too many people like me who only needed a burrito and didn't generate enough revenue. Of course now I don't go there at all so they get no revenue from me period now.