Poole’side Pies is closing its doors on
Dec. 23.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0MVxwIsgjK/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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BUT…AC is putting a new concept into the same place. She owns the building so she’s just changing concepts.
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But…that part does not draw clicks
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Still haven’t been there. I guess I’ll never know how good their iceberg lettuce caesar salad pickle pizza was (or whatever they do over there).
I have yet to try, as well. Call me old fashioned, but I really don’t need my pizza to be all that special - nor that expensive - to enjoy it lmao. But hell, maybe I’ll try a fancy shmancy Poole’side Pie before they close. If ever there was a time to, I suppose!
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An urban styled Zaxbys or Cookout would do wonders downtown. In terms of grocery stores, there should be a Neighborhood Walmart or Aldi. Developers should really capitalize on incorporating these businesses into their housing developments.
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These types of businesses would be a layup downtown. You’d think it’d be a no-brainer for developments to include something like it. I know some people hate when I say this, but…Downtown Raleigh…NEEDS. MORE. CHAINS. Not everyone wants to spend $30 on a gentrified pizza at a AC spot, PSP’s closing only backs up that point. DTR needs a Bojangles, Waffle House, Wendy’s, Taco Bell Cantina (or a Zaxby’s/Cookout like you said) wayyyy more than yet another overpriced local spot that isn’t going to do anything for the foot traffic in the area. We already have enough of those atm.
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You’re right
Comment I heard while I was walking out of Morgan Street food hall, when a family of 4 was approaching the food hall, two of the kids jumping up and down said : “Mommy do they have a Chic-Fil-A”?
I’m sure they were in for quite the shock looking at $30 lobster rolls.
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Oh the irony, I’ve been saying this EXACT SAME THING for years!!! Having picky kidos and tight budgets make eating downtown nearly impossible for us. Having some lower priced options (and with chains you/the kidos already know the menu items) would make spending a day in DTR much easier with the family.
Adding to this, why isn’t there a Panera somewhere in DTR?? We are missing those “third locales” and Panera (although a chain) would fill this niche for those who live in DTR.
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TBJ put a red breaking news banner on their front page for “acclaimed chef will close one of her Downtown Raleigh restaurants.” Truly only about the clicks.
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IMO, PSP’s issue was that their main draw (
) was worse than Oakwood Pizza Box and more expensive. PSP’s pizzas are 12-13", Oakwood Pizza Box’s are 18".
Taking a look at their most basic pizza:
Poole’side Pies - Margherita, $16. 122.72 square inches of Pizza. $0.13 per inch
Oakwood Pizza Box - Cheese, $20. 254.47 square inches of Pizza. $0.078 per inch
When you get to this cost of pizza, you want the best. Poole’side Pies is, in my opinion, not as good of a pizza and almost 2x the cost per inch of square pizza. I’m pretty enthused about a new concept. The Fox, if you haven’t been there lately, looks amazing. I’m sure whatever they do here will also be great.
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Panera would be PERFECT downtown. They actually just built a new location in Knightdale, ironically.
I remember watching them install the Marra Forni oven. I wonder if she’s planning to sell it.
Oakwood’s first (family run) pizza concept (–Bella Mia, if I recall correctly - It was over in Cary off Harrison) was more neopolitan in style and closer in concept to what Ashley went for with Poole’sides and it also only lasted a few years. Certainly Oakwood refined both the style of pie and, interestingly, the location and space to a more successful model over on Peace St (after working outside the 'za space for a coupla years with Scott Crawford).
Poole’sides was well executed in neopolitan style, more like Pizzeria Toro in Durm really, but I agree that it always felt somehow a touch out of the sweet spot for value for price…
I hope that the next concept utilizes the oven but veers towards more depth of offering of smaller / share plates and keeps some of the Italy in the summer cocktail vibes. That would seem to be a good compliment to the diner vibes next door…
Toro is so good. A similar spot on that side of downtown (South Street, maybe?) would be terrific.
Upthread: Not really understanding the Panera love (they’re so bland!) but to each their own 
Not really a fan of Panera myself either, but again…the foot traffic. A lot of people love Panera (it has a cult-like following), and it’s relatively affordable compared to most spots downtown.
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Legit question out of curiosity : How do you check the reality that fast food joints want drive thrus (cause that’s what their customers do) in an downtown setting…?
I mean, there’s not even a stand alone Starbucks, right…just the one in the Faye Marriott ?
There’s also a (stand-alone) Starbucks on Peace St next to McDonalds. And most fast-food spots in downtown areas understand that having a drive-thru is a luxury in most cases. The Chic-Fil-A that used to be downtown didn’t have one, and the Taco Bell Cantina that used to be on Hillsborough St didn’t have one either (I’d bet money they’d still be open if they would’ve opened up on Glenwood instead). Fast food spots would survive, even thrive, on Fayetteville St, Glenwood, or even the Hillsborough St area in-between the two districts, w/o drive-thrus IMO.
I don’t consider that suburban style Peace St location to be in the style of a ‘downtown’ location, but fair…Both other examples you cited, in fact, closed and in general, the allocation model for openings doesn’t match your theory of success at the moment. Hell - ChickFilA is dedicating MORE space to drive thrus at all new locations - some without much indoor seating to speak of at all…
Personally, I prefer the local-leaning downtowns we have between us and Durm but, hopefully we’ll see some greater diversity of retail come on board for some value offering BUT it’s interesting to note from observation that these large fast food corporations aren’t rushing to fill open space in recent developments in Sun Belt downtown areas that I’ve visited, even though they have robust real estate teams to make these moves at the ready…
I think the biggest reason Chik-fil-a on Fayetteville St failed is because of that particular location. Not only was it in a bad spot, but DTR wasn’t experiencing the rapid residential growth back then that it’s experiencing now. I do think a Chik-fil-A further up Fayetteville St near the Capital would be doing a lot better today. And the Taco Bell Cantina that closed wasn’t even downtown, it was on NC State’s side of Hillsborough. Again, I think a better location (somewhere on Glenwood South) would’ve made a big difference for Taco Bell. In general though, I think with all of the new residents moving downtown, DTR is finally ready for at least 2-3 more fast food spots throughout (even w/o drive-thrus).
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