Several people attending the YAEDA Revisited meeting stated that there has to be a way to prevent national chain restaurants from moving into downtown Youngstown. It was felt that these chains would probably force our smaller locally owned restaurants to close and would also remove money from the local economy.
Should our city's downtown revitalization efforts discourage chain restaurants?
Did these "several people" happen to be restaurant owners? I don't think there is a legal way to discriminate against one business for the sake of another, and I wouldn't want to see it happen if there was a way.
Buffalo Wild Wings is pretty close to being a national chain. Should they be forced to close their restaurant, or do they get a pass because they are locally based?
I think a couple might be OK. Some people actually prefer chain restaurants because they are consistent/predictable. By that I mean, if you eat at Applebee's in Indianapolis, you can expect the same thing in Pittsburgh. So, a couple chain restaurants might attract some people who wouldn't come downtown otherwise.
By "discouraging" I think these people meant: not providing the same incentives to start new businesses. (i.e. tax breaks, greatly discounted liquor licenses, etc.) I don't think they were suggesting that we somehow make it illegal for chain restaurants to open downtown.