Survey: What restaurants, stores and services do you want in the Tri-Cities?
Exactly 14 years ago, the Tri-City Herald asked readers what businesses they wanted to see here.
Nordstrom was the overwhelming favorite, followed by several restaurants: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Tony Roma’s and T.G.I. Fridays.
Overall, the hundreds of responses painted a portrait of a region looking for more upscale offerings and a “citified” feel.
The Tri-City retail and restaurant landscape has changed plenty since the results of that survey were published in March 2002. Some of the sought-after companies showed up. Many didn’t.
It’s time to find out what Tri-Citians are interested in now.
The Herald has fashioned a short SurveyMonkey poll to learn what businesses, be they stores, restaurants or services, local residents feel are missing from the community.
Take the survey at bit.ly/Tri-CitiesMostWanted1. Feel free to expand on your answers. Your name won’t be published, though you may be contacted for an interview.
Be creative. It doesn’t have to be a chain restaurant. Maybe you want to shop at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. Maybe you’d like to see your favorite Portland food cart send a duplicate this way.
As it did 14 years ago, the Herald will contact the most-desired businesses and ask if or how our Eastern Washington community fits into their growth plans.
Back in 2002, Nordstrom was in the process of closing its Yakima store. That gave the Herald an opening to ask Blake Nordstrom if it might be replaced here. Nordstrom offered a diplomatic “No.”
“We have no plans to come into your market,” he said at the time.
But many did come, including Krispy Kreme, Buffalo Wild Wings and Olive Garden. Tony Roma’s came —and then left. Cracker Barrel, Chili’s and Macaroni Grill are still missing.
The survey will remain open through April 11 or email your ideas to news@tricityherald.com.
Wendy Culverwell: 509-582-1514, @WendyCulverwell
This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Survey: What restaurants, stores and services do you want in the Tri-Cities?."