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We hear lots of rumors, about new food places, and many come out to be true. Over the last week I've heard of two new offerings that are proposed to come to downtown Florence and I wonder if anyone else has heard these or anything about them?

Rumor 1: Rick (of Ricatonis) is putting in a restaurant next door to Ricatonis that is to present offerings similar to what Court Street Cafe offered, when it was in business. No additional information or time estimates were provided though.

Rumor 2: In the area across from Rosie's Restaurant I've heard another BBQ restaurant is considering opening. No indication if it is one of the usual suspects from the Florence/Shoals area or if it's a totally new restaurant.

Rumor 3: When Pubix begins construction the parking area is said to be providing space for some fast food offering. Some have indicated that Sweet Pepper's could be finally committing to that location while others have said Pantera Bread is considering coming to town. I'm just glad to hear new places are opening faster than others are closing.

Does anyone have any additional information on these three rumors or have any others to contribute to the forum?

Be as the Bereans ( Acts 17:11 )

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Well as I said before, I do hear Panera Bread will be coming, but nothing official yet. But I know they are interested.

You are correct about the Ricatonis addition. Everyone knows they have been building something, but your description was dead on. It is going to be same type of food that was offered at CSC years ago.

I haven't heard anything about the BBQ place.

I do know that a new cupcake shop is opening on Tennessee st, but not exactly sure where, I know it is in the 100 block but that is all I know.
The sushi theme rumor came from the same source as I was citing when I mentioned the BBQ restaurant across from Rosie's. It was from a Times Daily article a while back. It doesn't, though, make sense to me to do sushi themed restaurant when you have the new Asian places that do so good (UMI, Ichiban's, Rice Box etc). There are many, my wife included, that miss Court Street's chicken tenders so if Rick does go in with a CSC theme I hope the tenders are dead on.
I highly doubt you do.

FACT.

Personally I don't care what is going to be there to be honest. But I think if we wait and see, I will be closer to right than you are.

GBRK, my thoughts exactly. Why bring in a sushi bar when you already have so many doing well at it? I doubt Florence is big enough to support another one.
If they end up with their chicken tenders being the same as Court Street Cafe (that would be awesome) I'm gonna have to treat Boogieman and his Sociologists to a plate as they would certainly be converted into "chicken finger people" too.
As for the tempura chicken at Ricatoni's, it tastes nothing like the CSC tenders. I didn't like them at all.
BFred07, we will have to agree to disagree. As a kid the chicken fingers at Court Street were the only thing I ate there. The Tempura Chicken may not be the exact formula, but it's pretty darn close and certainly the closest thing in Florence. FWIW, Princeton's also had a similar formula - and if I'm not mistaken, wasn't Rick or his partner at CSC also involved with the operations at Princeton's (another restaurant I miss)?

As I said in the Publix thread, Panera would be an excellent addition to Florence. I can literally walk to one from my apartment, and it's always quality food.
Smoothcat, you're right about Princeton's and CSC having the same ones, I am thinking that some of the same owners also had a stake whatever the tower restaurant was at the time and JC Scott's (I think I got that name right, it was in the Brinley Brothers building several years ago). All of them had the same delicious tenders, the ones at Ricatoni's have some sort of seasoning that I do not like.
If I remember from commercials or some lame local radio show from back during that time, the second guy's name was Jake. Seems like they advertised themselves as "Rick and Jake". Princeton's expanded into Decatur and Nashville, I think, and Jake may have left Florence to manage one of those franchises. Of course, this is mostly just speculation on my part. Either way, CSC and Princeton's are probably the two local restaurants that stand out the most from my youth. And Callahan's, another one I wish would come back.
There was a place in Muscle Shoals a couple of years ago that had the CSC tenders. It was called "G's" Wings n Things, and it was located in the building that once housed Bruster's ice cream. Had OUTSTANDING fried pickles as well. I think the guy that owned it was a cook at CSC? Anyway, they were only there about a year....
The original Renaissance Tower restaurant seemed to have the same recipe chicken tenders as Court St/Princeton's. Court St./Princeton's were the same. It's amazing how legendary the tenders are..that people still talk about how good those were. I don't know how saturated the restaurant market is in the Shoals (probably too much), but I think Rick could pull off another restaurant if he gave people what they wanted - chicken tenders, the nachos plate that Court St. offered, and a nice selection of beer and wine.
Not going to spoil all the fun but im friends with owners of new place across from Rosies and its going be a House of Blues type restaurant.  Checked it out today and i think its ...wow dont want to give any surprizes away but its gonna shock people in the shoals. Only smoking in restaurant will be the smoker in kitchen and the wings litterly fall off bone before u eat them. 


let the rumors carry on...
Music Writer

I was hearing that it was going to be the relocation of an existing BBQ restaurant that is already in the area.  I thought it was going to be a totally new on ... I had hopes that it would be a Jim N Nick's for Florence but then I'm happy to hear about growth in the area no matter if it's a local, that's already in business or someone new.

 

How long before this surprise smoker place is open?  I know with an internal smoker that rules out another Ricks because they do all their cooking up in Lawrenceburg.  

 

So, just to have some fun, here is my guess as to who it will be.  Florence location of Miss Annie's Beer Garden.  My track record isn't so good so chances are that I'm wrong.

Well a masseuse usually knows.  And actually I have heard that from numerous sources, just none as close to the situation as the one I mentioned.  Of course, Rick is entitled to change his mind.   And while I may be wrong, usually I'm not.   As now confirmed, Panera Bread will be opening at the Publix Center.

I talked to the guys opening the place across from Rosies a few months back.   At that time, I was told that it would have food, but it was going to be a bar type deal.    Both guys were very young, and they talked to me about the beer selection and what not they would have.   They never mentioned anything about a BBQ joint.   Have they changed plans or did someone else end up buying it?

I actually spoke with some people at the building dept while picking some some permitss for my rental hose and they said plans are full restaurant and would be simular to a house of blues.  Guy that works at rosies said he peeped in the other day and there is at least 30 ft concert stage with lights and hanging speakers. Leads me to believe city may be right on house of blues type restaurant / live music venue. Wonder if they will let me book some bands...anybody know who i need to talk to?

So Flo-Bama. I wish you would own up to being involved in the restaurant. First a friend is opening it. Next you heard what they are doing at the building department. Now you want to sign music up to play there. It is actually totally appropriate for a business owner to plug his or her business on here. I for one am looking forward to trying it. Get to brushing up on that brisket for us. There is a shortage around here.

Originally Posted by Flo-Bama Music:
I actually spoke with some people at the building dept while picking some some permitss for my rental hose and they said plans are full restaurant and would be simular to a house of blues.  Guy that works at rosies said he peeped in the other day and there is at least 30 ft concert stage with lights and hanging speakers. Leads me to believe city may be right on house of blues type restaurant / live music venue. Wonder if they will let me book some bands...anybody know who i need to talk to?


Sounds like a great addition to downtown. Let's hope all the church folks don't try and keep it from happening.

Kenny,  I am one of the Florence Church folks and I look forward to this new place opening.  I'd also love to see Hooters open a location here but doubt that will happen. Please realize that within any group, Christians and Church folks included, there are subsets that fall within the fringes and while no the Church folks who are against establishments that allow alcohol are not a small subset they are also not typical of all Christians. 

 

I personally don't drink, myself, but I choose not to not because of religion or my Christian beliefs for I believe if I wanted to I could do so freely without sinning.  I believe that Christ Himself partook of fermented beverage or drink, during His day.  The reason I choose not to drink is I have personally seen destructive results of drinking among my family and friends and I chose not to put myself in that potential position. 

 

So not all Church Folks are against the new restaurant opening or will fight it.

Originally Posted by Kenny Powers:
Originally Posted by Flo-Bama Music:
I actually spoke with some people at the building dept while picking some some permitss for my rental hose and they said plans are full restaurant and would be simular to a house of blues.  Guy that works at rosies said he peeped in the other day and there is at least 30 ft concert stage with lights and hanging speakers. Leads me to believe city may be right on house of blues type restaurant / live music venue. Wonder if they will let me book some bands...anybody know who i need to talk to?


Sounds like a great addition to downtown. Let's hope all the church folks don't try and keep it from happening.

 

 

 

Do you know if there were any poles on the stage?

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