What will the six Promenade restaurants be?

From the start of the long courtship, Elk Grove Promenade developers General Growth have promised us locals the moon, the stars.

So far they have delivered us a few pieces of gravel and broken glass.

First, it was going to be a high-end enclosed regional fashion mall to rival Roseville’s Galleria. We were promised Nordstrom’s, Macy’s and Dillard’s.

Then the project devolved to a drive-thru strip center with a Macy’s and possibly that other high-end fashion retailer, Targets anchoring the 'mall.' This so-called mall is shaping up to bare more resemblance to the new strip mall that occupies the space of the former Florin Mall.

But hey, it has outdoor fireplaces!

General Growth also promised to have six national based sit down restaurant chains on site. For the sake of argument and dreaming, let’s say they try to get some high-end eateries (not that we can afford to eat there) for the masses that congregate around the fireplaces.

For a steakhouse, maybe they’ll have a Morton’s or Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.

For seafood, a McCormick and Schmidt would be nice.

A high-end Chinese restaurant would be nice. Why not a P.F. Chang's.

For Italians food, at this point we might even settle for an Olive Garden to take the whole family to.

For a general restaurant, why not a Cheesecake Factory. While we’re at it, how about a Claim Jumper?

Any of these would be welcomed additions to Elk Grove’s homogenized national-chain oriented dining scene. Really.

What will we get? If the past history is any indicator, we will likely end up with something more low brow reflecting General Growth’s condescending view of Elk Grove.

For steaks, forget Morton’s or Ruth’s Chris and go for Carl’s Jr. They after all have the Prime Rib $6 Angus burger.

Long John Silver would be an appropriate seafood purveyor. With all the foreclosures and shrinking home equity, who can afford a $50 Maine lobster dinner anyhow?

P.F. Chang’s? No way! Another Panda Express would be a great addition to the food court.

For those seeking a national Italian chain, what could be better than Sbarro?

Forget The Cheesecake Factory or Claim Jumper at the Promenade.To sophisticated for Elk Grove.

Think another 24-hour Denny’s and since we are right near the freeway, how about a Fly J or Pilot Truck Stop.

Sound far fetched?

Given General Growth’s long list of construction delays, broken promises and other various shell games they have played with the people of Elk Grove, don’t by surprised if the sit down restaurants are nothing more than a bunch of fast food joints in their expanded food court.

But hey, those outdoor fireplaces will be great on those cold Elk Grove summer nights!