So yes, while I’m excited to have Thumbs Up over the most recent incarnation of CM, I’m very disappointed to see many seemingly suggesting that a cash-only primarily breakfast joint is the best thing we can do. It’s like we have an inferiority complex and think having another chain means we’ve succeeded. Sure, you can argue that it’s a “local” chain, but that won’t go far. Both Lou and Rob chose to sell Decatur businesses when it was convenient for them, and neither one lives here. So now we’re welcoming them back and letting them tell us what we want? Yes, there are lots of “please keep ____ on the menu” messages here, but we know we’ll end up with the same menu and formula they have elsewhere. And sure, even I will eventually go to Thumbs Up (probably sneaking in my own coffee), but I’ll always choose to support local businesses that have remained dedicated to the community.

Certainly the present economy is challenging, and I’m glad that particular location won’t be completely empty (though it sure will be dark at night). What the City (and/or DDA) really appears to need is a more proactive approach to recruiting and maintaining businesses based on what the community desires. People have remarked that CVS is the busiest place in town (and it is their highest-volume location in the district) for a reason: it has what people want, which is a variety of things (but nothing particularly expensive). CM was the restaurant equivalent of that, and it did that well for years. I used to remark that I could eat there every night and have something completely different. I’ll look forward to one day being able to say that again about a Decatur restaurant.