Destination Dining & Cool Carry-Out

FYI, I won't be posting a new idea every day. I'm thinking about one a week. Extend the anticipation a little. Keep everyone on their toes. Make my ideas last. (It seems like there's a million of 'em but maybe there will only wind up being thirty-something. I don't know, I never counted.) But this week, to kick things off, I've decided to put out three ideas in a row.

This one is recent--it came to me just last week, actually. It's a VERY BIG idea...meaning costly, time-consuming, requiring lots of know-how, etc. Know any retail developers, famous chefs or wealthy food business execs? Anyone from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. out there? Consider:

An International Food Mall with a Central Carry-Out Station

If you've ever been to the countries at Epcot in Disney World, you'll get the general inspiration for the International Food Mall part. I imagine a U-shaped or L-shaped strip center turned into a collection of restaurants featuring different ethnic foods. Also, little shops attached to or housed within each of the restaurants could feature gifts and food related items from that culture.

At the center of all this should be a central carry-out station, where carry-out customers could call in orders from any or all of the restaurants and pick up in one location. Dad wants a burrito, mom wants a spicy tuna roll, daughter wants fettuccine alfredo and son wants egg rolls? No problem. The carry-out station will expedite all the orders and have them ready for pick-up all at once.

We could make this a day of shopping and dining, like a cultural smorgasbord, especially in pleasant weather. Cafe tables and umbrellas, a wide walkway with street planters and a few courtyard dining areas would be added attractions. And on weekends, what about some featured entertainment with folk music and dance from a few of the regions represented? Maybe a little karaoke after hours at the lounge in the Korean barbecue place?

P.S. Fashion Corner in West Dundee, IL: now that anchors like Michael's and Pier 1 have moved on, this idea is perfect for you! Signed, Your First Regular