Yes, I was sad to see it go. We would go ocassionally for lunch and noticed it gone when trying to visit the last time. I really liked the "friggin burger". It was more like meatloaf and also seemed to be a homemade (Polish?) specialty.

I think it was more a matter of location, scale (maybe smaller is better) and of course, economic timing. There was also a mall project on Lowell Rd that was cancelled. I think some local business owners expected that to bring in a lot more through traffic.

Best of luck to Susan. Please let us know where she resurfaces. I'm sure we'll want to visit.

Ultimately GG, any business survives or dies based on supply and demand. You must supply a quality product that consumers demand. Food is no different.

I'll assume the quality was there at this place. I only tried it once while passing through. The gelato was good, though I honestly haven't eaten enough of it to tell the difference. That leaves demand as the problem.

Let's be real here. Realizing this blog is mostly intended for the "gourmet" diners out there, how many of you are there, really? It's nice to sit around and talk about fancy meals, immaculately prepared dishes, and servers who do everything but follow you to the rest rooms and help out there. Last time I checked though, this is still the Merrimack Valley. This isn't Boston, New York or Paris. What people want and can afford here is completely different. Throw in a lousy economy and you have the recipe for business closings.

As financial conditions worsen, you're going to find people being more careful about where they spend their dollars. They'll still spend them, but they're less likely to spend them on bells and whistles and more likely to spend them on necessities. My advice to restauranteurs, for what it's worth, you'd better put out a quality product that appeals to your market, and you'd better do it at a price the masses can afford. Otherwise, all the positive reviews and kind words won't mean a thing.

Scott, I anxiously await your rebuttal.

GG, this was a very nice tribute to a woman who clearly made a great impression on you. I wish her the best, and applaud you for your tribute to her.

As I become more and more conscious of what I spend, I'm also being more and more conscious of where I spend it. My goal this year is to do the majority of my holiday shopping on main street - be it in Lowell, Nashua, Hudson, where ever. If I have a few dollars to spend, I want to spend it wisely, getting the best product more my dollars, but also supporting the best business with my dollars.

Nashua is having a big main street open house/sale next weekend to try to generate foot traffic and sales in the downtown area. Does anyone know if Lowell is planning something similar?

LostInLowell, did you go to the lights festival this weekend? Any businesses that were not opened for that event I think really missed out a great opportunity to show off. The paper and at least one business owner mentioned that the turnout was impressive this year. I'm walking distance so it didn't affect me, but it looked like garaged parking was free as well, which was an excellent idea.

Hey Corey, I missed the festival, but arrived in time to have to sweet talk a traffic cop into letting me into the Leo Roy garage, even though I'm a paying resident! I'm glad the turnout was so good, I like any event that brings more people into DTL, even it means extra noisy nights for DTL residents!

I checked out the lights festival with the ball and chain this past weekend. We had a decent time. I went down to one of my old favorites, the athenian corner as they were giving away free peices of their spinach pie all afternoon. Hmmmm, i wonder how people can afford to give food away like that when the economy is so bad?
I went back later on that night for dinner after the festivities and the place was packed. As usual i had a great meal that i could not finish. My wife of course, finished hers Even with a bottle of wine the check was under sixty dollars. So maybe jumpin jack is on to something. The places that give you a big, delicious portion at a reasonable price will always thrive. Plus having belly dancers that really turn the customers on doesn't hurt... The olympia is in the same category, great food, big portions, fair prices

My grandma LOVES the Olympia. I tease her because the color scheme matches her hair!

I love the olympia and the atheniantoo, if you ever go to either one (and they have it at the time) ask for the poulaki special. It is a rare bird only found in greece, but let me tell you it is delicious. Neither one of those places have it on their menu but often as a special. It is delicious. It is so tender it melts in your mouth.

And april showers, stop being mean to your grandmother, some old people are cool