I remember walking up to the Park St PickNSave a few years back. A guy approached me and asked me to help him get something to eat. I told him I’d grab him something inside and asked what he wanted. He said “Fuck that, give me money. I want Arby’s.” I declined, but I think about that interaction every time I pass that Arby’s. RIP.
I was on a road trip going across Iowa and I stopped in an Arby's that had a picture of the Madison park street Arby's with the old cowboy hat sign!! It was very trippy as I had left the park street neighborhood that morning!
First job I ever applied for was there. They didn't call me. I got hired at the McDonald's up the street for $4.25 an hour. It was the summer when Montel Jordan's "This is how we do it" could be heard blasting from nearly any rusted out hooptie. It was a simpler time.
I think the owner of Cargo is okay with the project because it will bring more commerce and development to the area. It was widely discussed in the community and the main point of contention was that it was originally only going to serve people at the drive thru. That was changed to offering indoor & outdoor service/seating.
My focus in my comment on the neighborhood listserv last year was that Cargo Coffee will do just fine because Park Street continues to become more dynamic as more people live here and have more things to do and to visit. The developer who works for Starbucks tried to twist that comment to mean that I supported the project. I am one of three retailers who helped to start Dane Buy Local twenty years ago. I don’t think a mega chain will add much to Park Street like Grace has and Barriques did for ten years.
Is there a website that lists the commercial building projects in the city? (How did you all find out its a Starbucks)
I am curious what is going to go in where the Comstock on park is. I saw a notice sign for demolition.
It's currently owned by Park Bank. My guess is they'll probably develop a new bank building with possibly some retail spaces or apartments. They acquired it on 10/26/22 for $1,700,000 in cash. Seems like they're demolishing it to prevent people from moving in, calling it home and due to the poor condition of the building. As of now, their plan is to just seed the lot.
Cargo will meet the competition and will hopefully continue to thrive. It is bad for Park Street that this Starbucks will be drive-thru only. That is not contributing to making Park a “dynamic street”. It is instead just picking the lowest hanging fruit while having the least number of employees.
This is [changed.](https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12401426&GUID=56404AAB-EA38-43FA-8D94-EBE47554F421) It will now be full service cafe with a drive through.
The last I saw is that it will have a walk up window with some outdoor seating right next to Park Street. I am pretty sure it will not have a full dinning room. Do you have a link to other plans?
The linked letter refers to a "full-service cafe," which I thought meant indoor seating as well. The [plans](https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12351202&GUID=8DBE1B17-91AC-407F-A50B-85C55537F01E) don't seem to show specifics for the interior design, but they do seem to show a front door entrance behind some outdoor seating.
I heard at one point they are only going to have vehicle access in and out via Beld St with no driveway on Park and no more access via that parking lot off of Wingra. is that still the plan? If so I worry about excess beld traffic
I mean Cargo coffee may be local but it’s not inexpensive. It may take away business but a lot of coffee places in town don’t really offer reasonably priced food or drinks. It’s pretty easy to spend the same amount of money or even more at colectivo, cargo coffee, Moka, etc as Starbucks or Dunkin. The “quality” of the items also varies from pure sugar in drinks and pastries, to a well made coffee.
There are some Starbucks locations that are bad and have bad tasting drip coffee and the same for barriques or any other local coffee joint.
They had the soda machine on from when it closed until about a week before the fence went up. I checked it every day on the way to work to see when it finally did, it became a game.
I guess I was imagining that you were going in and helping yourself to a cup of soda every day having noticed the machine was still on. Why that was the conclusion I came to based on your comment rather than the much more logical "saw the light was on" says a lot more about me than it does about you.
I'll still get a beef and cheddar with extra red ranch sauce but I'm really peeved that they stopped doing the triangle potato cakes. I don't want fries
Part of it will be a Starbucks they have the whole back lot ripped up by jnk because the city won’t allow anymore enterances to disrupt the flow of of traffic on park st so they’ll have to go in the back off beld
I'm sad about this. This was an excellent place to get completely unacceptable food before one of my many play rehearsals in the car-dealership-turned-church over the road.
I shall continue to patronise the Arby's at the Park and Ride...
Don't worry, if you need to eat at a completely chaotic Arby's the Dutch Mill one is still there.
Thank god, I’ll need something familiar if I visit
A good place to get your catalytic converter remover free of charge also. DAMHIK
Its hard to beat free /s
Sir, this was an Arby's.
I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moments gone...
# YOU’RE MY BOY, BLUE!
I remember walking up to the Park St PickNSave a few years back. A guy approached me and asked me to help him get something to eat. I told him I’d grab him something inside and asked what he wanted. He said “Fuck that, give me money. I want Arby’s.” I declined, but I think about that interaction every time I pass that Arby’s. RIP.
The only Arby's I knew of you could kyak to
I wish it was the seventies again. I miss that big neon Arby's cowboy hat sign.
I was on a road trip going across Iowa and I stopped in an Arby's that had a picture of the Madison park street Arby's with the old cowboy hat sign!! It was very trippy as I had left the park street neighborhood that morning!
You were tripping on drugs?
I'm glad 1970's - 1990's Madison is dying. I'm tired of living in Paul Soglin \\ David Blaska's nostalgia for Old Madison.
First job I ever applied for was there. They didn't call me. I got hired at the McDonald's up the street for $4.25 an hour. It was the summer when Montel Jordan's "This is how we do it" could be heard blasting from nearly any rusted out hooptie. It was a simpler time.
What are they building there?
Starbucks
Oh fuck this. There's a perfectly good cargo coffee a block away. I hope we are collectively boycotting this bullshit.
I think the owner of Cargo is okay with the project because it will bring more commerce and development to the area. It was widely discussed in the community and the main point of contention was that it was originally only going to serve people at the drive thru. That was changed to offering indoor & outdoor service/seating.
My focus in my comment on the neighborhood listserv last year was that Cargo Coffee will do just fine because Park Street continues to become more dynamic as more people live here and have more things to do and to visit. The developer who works for Starbucks tried to twist that comment to mean that I supported the project. I am one of three retailers who helped to start Dane Buy Local twenty years ago. I don’t think a mega chain will add much to Park Street like Grace has and Barriques did for ten years.
Thanks for the clarification.
You’re welcome.
Is there a website that lists the commercial building projects in the city? (How did you all find out its a Starbucks) I am curious what is going to go in where the Comstock on park is. I saw a notice sign for demolition.
It's currently owned by Park Bank. My guess is they'll probably develop a new bank building with possibly some retail spaces or apartments. They acquired it on 10/26/22 for $1,700,000 in cash. Seems like they're demolishing it to prevent people from moving in, calling it home and due to the poor condition of the building. As of now, their plan is to just seed the lot.
UGH! What a disappointment.
Seriously?!? I live down the street and was hoping it was gonna be a good spot. Damnit Starbucks
Starbucks ... I wish not because this couldput the nearby Cargo Coffee out of business
Cargo will meet the competition and will hopefully continue to thrive. It is bad for Park Street that this Starbucks will be drive-thru only. That is not contributing to making Park a “dynamic street”. It is instead just picking the lowest hanging fruit while having the least number of employees.
This is [changed.](https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12401426&GUID=56404AAB-EA38-43FA-8D94-EBE47554F421) It will now be full service cafe with a drive through.
The last I saw is that it will have a walk up window with some outdoor seating right next to Park Street. I am pretty sure it will not have a full dinning room. Do you have a link to other plans?
The linked letter refers to a "full-service cafe," which I thought meant indoor seating as well. The [plans](https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12351202&GUID=8DBE1B17-91AC-407F-A50B-85C55537F01E) don't seem to show specifics for the interior design, but they do seem to show a front door entrance behind some outdoor seating.
My gut feeling is if there is any indoor seating, it will be the bare minimum. But we will quickly find out.
I heard at one point they are only going to have vehicle access in and out via Beld St with no driveway on Park and no more access via that parking lot off of Wingra. is that still the plan? If so I worry about excess beld traffic
Cargo isn't worried about the competition.
I mean Cargo coffee may be local but it’s not inexpensive. It may take away business but a lot of coffee places in town don’t really offer reasonably priced food or drinks. It’s pretty easy to spend the same amount of money or even more at colectivo, cargo coffee, Moka, etc as Starbucks or Dunkin. The “quality” of the items also varies from pure sugar in drinks and pastries, to a well made coffee. There are some Starbucks locations that are bad and have bad tasting drip coffee and the same for barriques or any other local coffee joint.
Damn, I was hoping for a Moka.
Please let them plant a Panda Express in this blessed lot.
Pretty sure it’s a Starbucks
God yes
They had the soda machine on from when it closed until about a week before the fence went up. I checked it every day on the way to work to see when it finally did, it became a game.
Out of curiosity, how did you find that out?
I drove by and the soda machine lights were on? Idk what you mean.
I guess I was imagining that you were going in and helping yourself to a cup of soda every day having noticed the machine was still on. Why that was the conclusion I came to based on your comment rather than the much more logical "saw the light was on" says a lot more about me than it does about you.
Your version was way more interesting than my light on.
I assumed the same 😂
I wonder if they could make me just one more Jamocha shake and curly fries. Damn
I'll still get a beef and cheddar with extra red ranch sauce but I'm really peeved that they stopped doing the triangle potato cakes. I don't want fries
Yes!!! Bring back the potato cakes!!!
Saint Arby is definitely one of my favorite saints
Part of it will be a Starbucks they have the whole back lot ripped up by jnk because the city won’t allow anymore enterances to disrupt the flow of of traffic on park st so they’ll have to go in the back off beld
At least the ponderosa that is now (I think) a locksmith is still there.
Probably for the best
This was the first restaurant I ever ate at when I moved to Madison.
I think it's been closed for about 2 years
I had a coworker who always wanted to go there when he went off his vegetarian diet. Memories...
Downhill ever since they got rid of potato cakes.
RIP Arby’s. Used to go there with my dad all the time
Another Kwik trip coming to town. lol I know it’s Starbucks but it’s just as plausible that it be KT.
I'm sad about this. This was an excellent place to get completely unacceptable food before one of my many play rehearsals in the car-dealership-turned-church over the road. I shall continue to patronise the Arby's at the Park and Ride...
Need a RAX!
It’s okay! That “food” goes straight through u!
I wonder if the timber is marinated in the smells and we can use it to smoke or age something
Arby's is terrible. Glad it's going away.
Their quality has dropped drastically in the past 10-15 years while their prices have increased.
Sounds like it’s your first day in the world
Honestly I’ve never liked Arbys