Chain restaurants are fun: Leeann Chin and other Duluth restaurant gossip

Bwhahaha. That is pretty funny about Chin's.

I hate chains. Why send our money out of the area? I don't like bigger chains because then they have more money to wield around politically, which I also don't like. We have good alternatives to Noodles and Leean Chin.

I should have clarified that I was being sarcastic about fun.

But I would still like to know.

LeAnn Chin is coming to the former gas station at Woodland & Saint Marie.

I don't know if they were a chain, but we were in Superior last night and noticed that Marlee's Caribbean wasn't really doing a brisk business.  This comes as a surprise, as I thought they were killing it. After all, what wasn't to love? Does anyone know when they boarded up the windows?

What, Owww, Woww Woww Oooo & Co. isn't quick enough? Sure, they don't have noodles prominently on their menu, but that doesn't mean you can't ask.

Marlee's apparently, unfortunately, can't get their shit together.

It doesn't seem like anything can stay very long in Marlee's building.  It's a shame, I like the inside of the place a lot, maybe it's just too big.

In non-chain restaurant news, the Sunshine Cafe in West Duluth reopens July 5. It's been closed for months due to a family medical issue.

I wanted to like Marlee's but the curry I had there was just nasty. Oh well.

I love me some Noodles.

It's great to see something going in by the campuses. Even though we all love our local spots, students want affordable and fast and close by. Perhaps this could kickstart turning the Kenwood/Lower Woodland into a more college-focused area.

What is going on with the building that Beijing is in across from Plaza?  I keep expecting to drive by there and see everything bulldozed.

Beijing still has a valid lease and CVS has not managed to make a buyout offer that has appealed to them.

I thought they should have left the car wash gear at the ex-University Service and held foam parties.

Personally, I am very excited to hear that a new restaurant that is friendly to college age folks is going to that location. Plus, although it is a chain, it is a Minnesota chain. I do not see a downside.

Beijing is our go-to for work lunches...we're pretty excited to have them around for a while.

I think they've got two years or something on their lease...so CVS can suck it. (Rolf Flaig's office is still open next door, AFAIK)

Totally not related to our love of the nosh, the old Walgreens building is heavily rumored to be transforming into an Ace Hardware, though I'm not certain when that's gonna take place.

The Armory has bought the old Perkins next door, as well ... things in that hood, despite the Beijing/CVS stalemate, are progressing nicely.

Now just have to convince the bosses to get moving on our Superior Street storefront.

My bad. Rolf Flaig's office is now closed.

It's official... Leeann's is coming.

Location speculation?

My unimpeccable and highly suspect source tells me that Leeann Chin's is moving into the Conoco on the corner of Woodland and St. Marie.