Finally MDW Food Upgrade!
May 22, 2017, 8:24 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: MDW/ORD
Programs: WN A list, UA Gold, AA Gold, Marriott LT Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 526
These are just the first rebrandings...way more food options on the way. Read article I posted in OP. Here's another one as well: http://www.dailyherald.com/news/2017...way-food-spots
I view any new food options as an upgrade to what was there. MDW had the worst food options of any WN hub by far...
I view any new food options as an upgrade to what was there. MDW had the worst food options of any WN hub by far...
Who goes to an airport for sit down restaurants, especially one that doesn't have that many international flights where you must be at the airport 2 hours before departure. And a better wine selection? At an airport?
May 22, 2017, 8:29 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2007
Location: MDW
Programs: WN CP & A-List Pref, HH Gold, Marriott LT PP
Posts: 708
Potbelly wanted to stay but apparently the city had other intentions. Potbelly's CEO even commented about this on their Q1 earnings call calling this store one of their most important and the closure hurts. This was their busiest location in the system, accounting for something like $2MM in profit on $8MM in sales annually. I really don't think Home Run Inn will do anywhere near those numbers.
Heard the lines at the new places have been horrible, nothing is quick and prices are higher than before. I will be there tomorrow for the first time since the change over and will be interested to see it first hand.
Heard the lines at the new places have been horrible, nothing is quick and prices are higher than before. I will be there tomorrow for the first time since the change over and will be interested to see it first hand.
May 22, 2017, 9:05 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Ugh. Quick in and out over the weekend, and the lines were indeed awful. Hopefully that improves over time, but I'm not super confident given the "concepts" at some of the new places.
No McDonalds, and really, no familiar fast service place. So no quick happy meal for the kids or egg McMuffin when you're in a hurry. That's a huge mistake.
Still no Starbucks (although multiple Dunkin' Donuts and the two espresso places are better than nothing).
Goodbye Lalo's and their breakfasts -- where many crew often ate. And worst of all, goodbye Potbelly, a go-to for quick service even when lines were long.
At least they didn't touch Pegasus or Nuts on Clark.
No McDonalds, and really, no familiar fast service place. So no quick happy meal for the kids or egg McMuffin when you're in a hurry. That's a huge mistake.
Still no Starbucks (although multiple Dunkin' Donuts and the two espresso places are better than nothing).
Goodbye Lalo's and their breakfasts -- where many crew often ate. And worst of all, goodbye Potbelly, a go-to for quick service even when lines were long.
At least they didn't touch Pegasus or Nuts on Clark.
May 23, 2017, 3:46 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,198
From that article "The redo will bring three sit-down restaurants, a better selection of wines and more unique Chicago-based dining, officials said."
Who goes to an airport for sit down restaurants, especially one that doesn't have that many international flights where you must be at the airport 2 hours before departure. And a better wine selection? At an airport?
Who goes to an airport for sit down restaurants, especially one that doesn't have that many international flights where you must be at the airport 2 hours before departure. And a better wine selection? At an airport?
RIP Potbelly. That place was successful. Doubt the replacement will come close. I have a feeling someone did not get paid off.
They ought to put a Tortas Frontera in. The one in T3 at ORD seems very busy and is surely making a ton of money at those prices.
May 23, 2017, 5:55 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
Originally Posted by ursine1
No McDonalds, and really, no familiar fast service place. So no quick happy meal for the kids or egg McMuffin when you're in a hurry. That's a huge mistake.
May 23, 2017, 6:08 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: CLE -> BNA
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, UA Silver, RR A-List
Posts: 312
Ugh. Heading to MDW now; just saw that Manny's is no more! Now where can I get an omelette and my daughter pancakes before departure?
May 23, 2017, 7:41 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: CLE -> BNA
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, UA Silver, RR A-List
Posts: 312
She enjoyed her chocolate sprinkle donut from Dunkin at least. Not exactly the most healthy start for a 3 year old (I guess neither are pancakes and eggs), but I miss Manny's!
May 23, 2017, 9:13 pm
#25
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
They really have their act together and the lines move. There's one in the Chicago Loop near my office that I hit from time to time. Lines a mile long but it doesn't matter, still fast.
May 25, 2017, 9:49 pm
#26
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: WN A-List Preferred & CP
Posts: 80
These are just the first rebrandings...way more food options on the way. Read article I posted in OP. Here's another one as well: http://www.dailyherald.com/news/2017...way-food-spots
I view any new food options as an upgrade to what was there. MDW had the worst food options of any WN hub by far...
I view any new food options as an upgrade to what was there. MDW had the worst food options of any WN hub by far...
Again I ask -- which of the new options do you consider an upgrade?
Probably going to start asking my cab drivers to stop at Machetes on Cicero en route to the airport and bringing my own food
May 25, 2017, 10:02 pm
#27
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: WN A-List Preferred & CP
Posts: 80
Instead MDW replaced everything with a bunch of generic restaurants with crappy menus and Sysco food. It's reminiscent of a ballpark in the 1990s.
May 26, 2017, 12:02 am
#28
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Not happy about Potbelly going away. The prices reported make me appreciate airports like PHX, SEA, PDX and others that make vendors charge street pricing. Heck, I'll even pay higher prices for decent food (Lemonade at LAX T5 is a perfect example).
Guess it'll be imperative to get food and bring it with me.
Those places (except Frontera) must be over in International, because some of the worst food I've had in an airport came from the L gates at ORD. Frontera is pretty good though.
Guess it'll be imperative to get food and bring it with me.
Those places (except Frontera) must be over in International, because some of the worst food I've had in an airport came from the L gates at ORD. Frontera is pretty good though.
Jun 1, 2017, 4:28 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AAMastercard, ChaseSouthwest
Posts: 92
Yes, it is sad that Potbelly will be gone. It was a low-cost option for my low-cost airline. Supposedly that location was the most profitable also.
It is now a Home Run Inn pizza.
I did hear that salaries went up for workers and they are getting health care - so that is a great benefit. However, I wish they could have kept the Potbelly with the new 21 restaurants.
It is now a Home Run Inn pizza.
I did hear that salaries went up for workers and they are getting health care - so that is a great benefit. However, I wish they could have kept the Potbelly with the new 21 restaurants.