Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy Johns coming to Moscow soon
Moscow is a town of many appeals, one of them being its local, small-town flavor.
“Moscow’s local places provide a great atmosphere,” said George Skandalos, owner of Sangria Grille and Maialina Pizzeria. “Nectar, Casa Lopez … each of our respective local businesses contributes something different and great to the community.”
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Construction crews work on the future site of Jimmy John’s on the corner of 6th Street and Jackson Street Monday morning. The location was previously a parking lot.
Yet, as the school year progresses, rumors have begun to circulate about the development of more commercialized food chains in the area.
“The rumor of Panda Express has been floating around the community for some time,” said Bill Belknap, Moscow community development director.
Belknap cannot confirm the rumors of Panda Express, but he has received and approved building permits for two establishments — Buffalo Wild Wings and Jimmy John’s.
“At this point, we have not received building permits for any other establishments,” he said.
Belknap said the Palouse Mall has likely been engaging in preliminary discussions involving development projects that would incorporate more restaurants. Buffalo Wild Wings, however, is the only establishment the Palouse Mall Management Office is able to confirm at this time.
Buffalo Wild Wings will move into the old Firehouse building of the Palouse Mall, Belknap said. The exact date of completion is tentative, but the appropriate building plans and permits to demolish an existing building have been approved.
Jimmy John’s, which will be located on the corner of Sixth and Jackson streets, is already under construction.
The process of establishing a business is extensive, whether it is locally owned or a corporate chain, Belknap said.”Food establishments must choose a location in an approved zoning district, and this location usually depends on if the business is going to build a new building or alter an existing structure,” Belknap said. “Then plans of development are sent to our office and we review them for compliance with the city’s building and zoning regulations.”
While a common concern among many small-town communities is that commercialized food chains could drive out local establishments, Moscow business owners have said these food chains are not necessarily bad for the community.
Louise Todd, owner and manager of Mikey’s Gyros, said the introduction of new businesses to Moscow is ultimately beneficial for the community.
“Our philosophy is that new food establishments will not take away from us in the long run, because we have a secure enough strong hold,” Todd said. “While about 10 percent of our customers are university students, most of our regulars are graduate students and professors … people who know the area and know us well.”
New businesses also stimulate community spending, which will help the local economy, Todd said.
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“Even if it’s not a relevant business, any new business will attract people closer to downtown and draw attention to other businesses nearby,” Todd said. “I believe that newcomers will only end up strengthening the local business community as a whole.”
Skandalos, who has been a local business owner in Moscow for 10 years, also believes the establishment of these food chains is a good thing.
He said his lack of concern for these new restaurants stems from his confidence that local businesses are a key part of what makes Moscow unique.
“In Moscow, we try to create unique restaurants to enhance the small-town dining experience,” Skandalos said. “Corporate chains capitalize on people’s need for the familiar … it doesn’t matter what state you’re in, if you go to an Applebee’s anywhere in the country you can expect the same interior and the same menu.”
Similar to Todd, Skandalos said he likes to look at the long-term benefits of incoming businesses.
Skandalos said while corporate chains are nice when people are looking for something familiar, local businesses create more personable and lasting connections.
“We have regulars from both Moscow and Pullman,” Skandalos said. “We often see a lot of undergraduate parents who visit for Moms’ or Dads’ Weekend, and then continue returning to our restaurants for the remainder of their child’s academic career.”
Skandalos said the developments of these food chains serve as a sign of growth and expansion for the community, instead of a bad sign for local businesses.
“We’ve seen more food places come than go throughout the years,” Skandalos said. “The restaurant industry in Moscow is growing, and it’s clear that this is a positive thing.”
Corrin Bond can be reached at [email protected]