Has anyone heard rumors about Hickory Park closing ?

[ISUCubswin]

Went to Battlecry last Wednesday.

Food is amazing, better than Hickory Park (as was their old place as well)

However, service was pretty ******, which was the main reason I went in, because I heard a lot of people complain about it. Took well over 10 minutes for me to place my order. I liked the old way, where you could just get it done when you walk in.

Never been a fan of a place where it takes longer to order your food than for your food to be prepared.

 

[SCNCY]

He never got past the tyvek, it sat there for a long time, then the city told him to knock it down.

Really? That's weird and sucks that he started building and had to stop. Just curious, why did he have to stop and tear it down?

 

[kirk89gt]

Highly doubt Hickory Park is closing. Have heard that Hickory Hall is closed. Last I heard, Hickory Park is a business where multiple members of the family are involved in operating. With the owner getting older, one would have to think that there are plans in place to pass the business along.

Still enjoy going to HP every now and again, but having grown up around it and eaten there dozens of times, I am pretty much over it. Always have good food, family friendly, quick, affordable, ok BBQ. Honestly, anymore, my favorite is the ice cream.

As to the whole, pay the staff more if you are having trouble keeping them debate.........Being in the hiring game, I could write a small book on this from what I have seen in business. Long story short, money motivates...... to a point, especially when you are talking about low end paying jobs. I would say that given the nature of the restaurant business you are dealing with a fairly fluid workforce. Now couple that with the fact that you operate in a college town....now you have a work force that will constantly be in a state of flux. That could be a blessing or a curse depending on how you look at it. I would guess that HP would be able to make this an advantage of theirs as one of the better jobs in the industry in Ames due to some of the things that have been previously mentioned (good tips, flexible hours etc.). These things are music to college students ears. Trust me, business owners would be further ahead to offer a competitive wage and good work atmosphere (culture) to attract and retain a desirable workforce.

 

[CyBobby]

No way Hickory Park just up and closes, sold maybe.

They absolutely canNOT close Hickory Park....My Sister In Law worked there when she was a Student at ISU.....

Besides I Love the Food and thee ambience.................HellsBells boys and girls...even Fran Fraschilla Loves Hickory Park


Go Clones Lets GO Bowling................

 

[DurangoCy]

So the jimlad was necessary?

No, it wasn't.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

Really? That's weird and sucks that he started building and had to stop. Just curious, why did he have to stop and tear it down?

Flood plain.

 

[55dB]

It cannot be hard to find servers in a college town. I worked there for a few years during college. Money was good since it was always busy, and the turnover there wasn't bad compared to other places I've worked. Other than the owner complaining that pants were too tight, it wasn't a bad job.

 

[DurangoCy]

Most businesses in town have "now hiring" signs. It seems a lot of places are struggling to find workers.

Millennials are the worst!

 

[JP4CY]

Really? That's weird and sucks that he started building and had to stop. Just curious, why did he have to stop and tear it down?

From what I've heard he purposely built the foundation closer to the river than the city allowed.

 

[CyDude16]

Millennials are the worst!

Starting to sound like beachave.

 

[BCClone]

Place hasn't been the same since BDK left. I think that's why the place is struggling.

 

[CycloneErik]

Went there for lunch today. I can report with authority that they were, in fact, open for business.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

It cannot be hard to find servers in a college town. I worked there for a few years during college. Money was good since it was always busy, and the turnover there wasn't bad compared to other places I've worked. Other than the owner complaining that pants were too tight, it wasn't a bad job.

Tell me more

 

[IASTATE07]

Tell me more

You haven't noticed the girls wear the granny panties of khaki pants there?

 

[ISUCubswin]

Maybe put the Twin Peaks uniform on the servers there to up business.

 

[cyclone87]

Just called an older friend who knows the owner. Not happening. He has turned down opportunities to franchise in fact.

^^Thread probably could have ended after this. There is no reason (that I can see) for HP to close, if the the family didn't want to run it anymore I'm pretty confident they would sell it for a pretty substantial amount of money.

 

[cyclone87]

On another note I wish they would bring back the beef ribs now that beef prices have gone back down. Not many places with good beef ribs.

 

[brianhos]

You are high. When you leave ISU you can find a place like Battles in whatever town/city you end up in. You will never find another Hickory Park.

Battles may have better pulled pork (saucy southerner is my least favorite at Hickory Park), but the ribs at Hickory Park are among the best I've ever had. Add in the chicken, burgers, and ice cream and it blows battles out of the water.

Ohh come on, if you think the ribs at HP are the best, you have not tried them anywhere else. BBQ at HP is bad. Burgers and sandwiches are good, but their BBQ is not. Good value for your money is all HP has going for it.

 

[cyclones500]

I heard Fran Fraschilla's buying it.

 

[cyclone87]

HP's baby back ribs are good, not saying they are the best (I've had better) but they are good.