Piggybacking Restaurants

There's a trend that's happening around big box stores such as Target. It's cutting up the store's parking lot to allow  space for fast food restaurants. Is it a good idea? Will it bring in more shoppers? Or diners?

Most big box stores such Target and Wal-Mart have huge parking lots that take up a lot of acreage. This is fine during the Christmas shopping season.It's really the only time when the area is used. In Bergen County, New Jersey any land, even if it's a parking lot is valuable. The land can be built on with some kind of business that will bring in not only diners but shoppers as well. This is the case with the Hackensack Target . A Taco Bell has been built in one of the parking lot's corners and has just opened. This is great for the area. Fairleigh Dickinson University is across the street and a charter high school is just down the road. Instead of being stuck with cafeteria food or the nearby Boston Market fare, kids can get cheap tasty burritos and tacos with beef or chicken fillings.Unlike Boston Market, and even the FDU Starbucks, Taco Bell offers cold  slushie like drinks that are going to be perfect when the Spring and summer  seasons arrive. There's a lovely outdoor area that's perfect for students as well. Imagine sipping frosted drinks and sharing snacks at the end of this Spring's semester.There's only one problem  with this Taco Bell - it will cut into Target's snack bar. The snack bar has had several blows in the last few years. Its' space was decreased to make way for a Starbucks. It cut back on its' variety. Forget getting their brand of a Slushie and chicken fingers. Hopefully their hot dogs and pizza will still be around.

The Hackensack Target isn't the only one. The Target in Clark, right off Parkway South in central eastern New Jersey  has to compete with not only an Italian restaurant but also a Duck Doughnuts built in their overly large parking lot.. These food hang outs are fun if you want to make a day or night of your visit, yet you can more or less get the same fare in the store's snack bar and Starbucks. A bigger version of parking lot piggybacking is over at the Teterboro , New Jersey's Wal-Mart where there is also a restaurant row plus two chain restaurants, Texas Roadhouse and BJ's Brewhouse. Again, the many diverse eateries, from Blaze Pizza to Panera's bring in not only diners but also those want a quick meal before shopping. Wal-Mart only has a Subway and some others don't even have these. The Garfield Wal-mart doesn't have any place to order a lunch or a quick snack. Their parking lot has an Applebee's and a McDonald's which helps. Most people who go to that shopping center, however, either head for Wal-Mart, Pet-Smart for their animal companions or even My Doc to handle colds and minor ailments. Food isn't necessarily on their minds. Should these eateries be there then? Would more stores be better instead. Or does this save that particular Wal-Mart from the pressure of adding some kind of fast food joint in their store?

Will piggybacking restaurants be the start of a trend? Will shoppers and diners like this combo? It's hard to say.  It all depends on the price and availability of  local real estate .