A quick view of local social media groups shows that Charlestown residents are hungry for new dining opportunities in town. My recently published feedback form responses confirm this with just over 20% of current participants specifically requesting "more restaurants" when asked what Charlestown needs most right now.
(By the way, the form is still active and receiving responses so if you haven't completed it here's a link: https://www.mayortreva.com/ )
There's no denying we are a growing city. Single-family home construction, apartments, and new industrial and manufacturing developments prove that. When do we see retail and restaurant additions though? If I had a Magic 8 Ball and gave it a shake here's what we'd get...
Q: Will Charlestown get new restaurants soon?
A: Outlook Good!
Ok Great! But when?
That question is a bit harder to answer. What I CAN confirm is that we're doing everything we can to welcome new restaurants. We have a smooth, developer-friendly permitting process, we continue to offer facade grants through our Redevelopment Commission to help with facility improvements, and we're building the infrastructure restaurants need to be profitable - and that means creating homes for more people and jobs for those people to work.
Restaurants make decisions about where to open based on numbers. Community population size, average incomes, and other factors play a significant role in when and where a restaurant will open (the same applies to new grocery stores). I researched a few of the options that are frequently mentioned in Charlestown's social media comments. Here's what I found.
White Castle requires a population of at least 35,000 people in a 2.5-mile radius with an average household income of $55,000. Arby's needs 40,000 people in a 2-mile radius with a household income of $55,000 and they also look for communities that are employing 20,000 in surrounding jobs (they're looking hard at that lunchtime crowd). Chick-fil-a demands a population of 40,000-60,000 and they're highly selective in approving new franchises with only .25% of applicants being selected. The frequently requested Texas Roadhouse looks for 40,000-60,000 people and the lucky franchise owner will need to invest anywhere from $2.6-6.8 Million to open the location.
Current Charlestown Population = 8,900 people
Charlestown Median Family Income = $66,285
Charlestown will see restaurant and retail growth as we welcome new residents and employees to our city. The apartments being built offer another living option for those who are not ready to purchase a house yet, the continued single-family construction offers homes for those who are ready to buy, and the 1,600 new and relocated jobs that have been announced for our community by 2026 help us meet the demand for those lunchtime and after-work customers. Growth is not new to Charlestown. We boomed in the 1940s when the ammunition plant opened. It's exciting to be booming again after so many years of economic decline. This time we're doing it the right way though by building our utility infrastructure and working with the state and county to provide traffic enhancements on our main highways.
Restaurants are vital for a community. They give us places to gather with our family and friends and contribute to the local economy by providing jobs, tax revenue, and a demand for agricultural products that keep farming alive. And they need YOU to help them in return. Charlestown is already fortunate to have a variety of locally-owned restaurants. Copper Kettle, The Charlestown Pizza Company, Lebrang Food Mart, Charlestown Coffee & Cream, San Pedro, Yamato, China Garden, La Pasadita, and our chains that are owned and managed by local people all depend on us to keep their ovens burning and their doors open. When you choose to eat at a local restaurant you're investing in our community. You're also providing the data needed by those considering new restaurants who want to see that existing locations are profitable before they invest in us.
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