Wanted: 10 Chain Restaurants that Should Open in Manhattan

It’s no secret that the Big Apple is a restaurant mecca. But I never realized that so many of the nation’s largest and most successful fast-food and casual dining chains have yet to open even one outpost in Manhattan until I came across this list on ny.eater.com:

1. In-N-Out Burger (A poor man’s Shake Shack but with better burgers, according to some fans.)
   
2. Chick Fil-A (A mall classic. And amazingly good value for the money.)
   
3. Chili’s (Americanized-Mexican and Southwestern fare.)
4. P.F. Chang’s (Lettuce Rolls and The Great Wall of Chocolate -- enough said.)
5. Cracker Barrel (But the company’s signature rocking chairs outside the front door wouldn’t last a day, even if they were chained down.)
6. Denny’s (Its new Value Menu goes down easy.
   
7. Dairy Queen (Of the entire group, this is my personal favorite. Expensive artisinal ice cream and gelato pales next to a Blizzard.)
8. Krispy Kreme (Actually, I don’t think Krispy Kreme qualifies for this list in that it has already been here. But it shuttered its stores due to poor sales.)
9. Waffle House (Not too exciting, but always consistent.)
10. Sonic Drive-In (Of course, those roller-skating waiters would have to be brought in indoors.)
    

Sugar Cravings in Times Square

I never particularly liked Pop-Tarts. But I think the brand’s just-opened pop-up store in Manhattan’s Times Square is a hoot. It also shows that, with a little creative thinking, how effectively a brand can engage customers in a physical space.

Wrapped in Pop-Tarts branding and promoted with a six-story billboard, the 3,200-sq.-ft. Pop-Tart World is hard to miss. The focal point of the space is a café, which serves some 30 snacks. The menu includes such concoctions as Fluffer Butter (marshmallow spread sandwiched between two frosted fudge Pop-Tarts) and Pop-Tarts Sushi, which is basically a fruit roll stuffed with three minced-up Pop-Tarts flavors.

Visitors can also create their own Pop-Tarts, starting with the basic pastry and then adding the frosting, toppings. and drizzles of their choice. Or, using a computerized vending machine, they can choose among all 23 Pop-Tarts flavors (23 flavors! Who knew?) to customize their very own variety-pack boxes to take home.

Computer screens in the store provide access to PopTartsWorld.com, social media sites and Pop-Tarts video games. Consumers can also buy themed merchandise, and even design their own T-shirt. The store also sells all variety of themed-merchandise. It even has select a Pop-Tarts T-shirt made by specialty artist

The lease on Pop-Tarts World, which is on the south side of 42nd Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, runs through January. Reportedly, executives will then decide whether the store has legs.