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It was just over a year ago that the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the design for an Arby’s restaurant in the interior-landmarked space at 372 Fulton Street in the Fulton Mall and just over a half-year ago that the fast food joint opened its doors. Evidently, though, things didn’t work out as planned for the chain, which is already calling it quits. A couple of tipsters wrote in during the day yesterday, and they were still moving out when we stopped by in the early evening. All that hype for an seven month run! GMAP


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. There is a lot of money and brains behind TGIFridays and Arby’s so if they can’t make it there, something else has to be the culprit.

    There is a classic syndrome on this street: The landlords convince an operator to pay an exhorbitant rent, take a large security deposit and then the operator can’t make it. Security deposit is pocketed and process begins anew. While this location is the most glaring and repetitive example of this, there are many similar stories up and down the block.

    Re: Amy Ruth’s: If any organization could have paid the $30k month rent it would have been them as there was a second kitchen on the second floor that would have served as the catering kitchen. Their catering would have KILLED it all over the city but the Amy Ruth’s name/restaurant had just been purchased by a new ownership group that came from outside of the food industry and the realities of big time restaurant operation apparently met them harshly.

    The location is neither fish nor fowl. It is close enough to the Heights and the new luxury towers that it would be tempting to put a higher end place there but it is also close enough to Fulton Mall proper where fast food and sneakers rule and where the well-heeled deign not to tread.

    What can be sold there that pays a $30k per month rent BEFORE a single employee is paid, inventory is acquired, insurance and utilities are paid and an operator can even begin to think about an actual profit?

    Bottom line is that nothing will ever make it there at the rents that the landlord wants. The numbers just don’t work.