11-23-2008, 08:06 AM
I would say TOURISM is the reason it's there and not here.
Restaurants in Kailua-Kona are closing their doors ... not a good climate.
But this is Waikoloa Beach Resort, where they've built a gazillion condos in the last few years, that attract visitors paying $200 a night and up, in addition to 5 or 6 hotels in the area that only serve insanely overpriced food ... and Romano's is coming it as part of the AFFORDABLE dining options in an area of $45 entree's.
Sansei's is doing great in the same location. I went to the early bird special Monday and there was a line that required an hour waiting in line, and the line was at capacity. Romano's will do great over there.
Point being that over there, Romano's is a middle class option in an area with too much fine dining, for visitors who don't want to cook every night but don't want to break the bank. It can't even be compared to the Hilo market. (There are of course residents in the Waikoloa area, who also have few affordable options).
Here - I was talking to the Hawaii Pizza Deli owner and he told me the week Panda Express opened he had no business - by which I mean there is already a struggle for the existing market.
I wouldn't at all mind having a new restaurant in town! I'm just saying that I can understand why the restaurant would opt to move into Queen's Marketplace.
btw, the Island Gourmet Market (hugely price gouging place), is not a glorified ABC store.
ABC store's don't cater to people with huge amounts of disposable income like this does.
Its niche is to carry fine wine, cheeses, meats, gourmet items that could not be found in the area before, although at the same time it charges stupid amounts of money for items that can be found for a lot less by driving up the hill.
I used to live in Waikoloa Village and still have family there, so I go over quite a bit.
It's a different world over there from East Hawai'i.
Restaurants in Kailua-Kona are closing their doors ... not a good climate.
But this is Waikoloa Beach Resort, where they've built a gazillion condos in the last few years, that attract visitors paying $200 a night and up, in addition to 5 or 6 hotels in the area that only serve insanely overpriced food ... and Romano's is coming it as part of the AFFORDABLE dining options in an area of $45 entree's.
Sansei's is doing great in the same location. I went to the early bird special Monday and there was a line that required an hour waiting in line, and the line was at capacity. Romano's will do great over there.
Point being that over there, Romano's is a middle class option in an area with too much fine dining, for visitors who don't want to cook every night but don't want to break the bank. It can't even be compared to the Hilo market. (There are of course residents in the Waikoloa area, who also have few affordable options).
Here - I was talking to the Hawaii Pizza Deli owner and he told me the week Panda Express opened he had no business - by which I mean there is already a struggle for the existing market.
I wouldn't at all mind having a new restaurant in town! I'm just saying that I can understand why the restaurant would opt to move into Queen's Marketplace.
btw, the Island Gourmet Market (hugely price gouging place), is not a glorified ABC store.
ABC store's don't cater to people with huge amounts of disposable income like this does.
Its niche is to carry fine wine, cheeses, meats, gourmet items that could not be found in the area before, although at the same time it charges stupid amounts of money for items that can be found for a lot less by driving up the hill.
I used to live in Waikoloa Village and still have family there, so I go over quite a bit.
It's a different world over there from East Hawai'i.