I like this idea. Instead of trying to replicate what’s happening on Glenwood or West, make Fayetteville its own thing: Raleigh’s international street food hub. While you’re at it, remove some of the parallel spots to let food trucks park there full time (on a city-run schedule, of course), then run power to them so you don’t have noisy generators belching out toxins.
Right, this is the problem. Not a single restaurant on Fayetteville has that kind of pull currently. All it takes is one, in theory, to cause a ripple effect. But again, a lot of new business owners prefer going to spots that have a draw, especially if they’re not coming in without the existing fanfare of a new AC or Crawford concept. Foot traffic is king when you’re short on clout: you’re going to want to be close to other trendy bars or cool restaurants so that folks walk by and go, “oh, that looks interesting, we should go there soon.”
I can’t even imagine how many decent restaurants have come and gone in the Triangle because they were located in a place that nobody wanted to visit. Not everyone can be the best in the city, but they can still stay afloat if they’re in a place that people want to be.