urbanSTL

Went there for a bit before the Cards game on Saturday and found it packed if not a bit chaotic. There's still some kinks to be worked out such as at least one set of parking gates was inoperable. Overall, it was kind of blah to me. I mean, it's just restaurants and bars but I can see the appeal.

The "Live" space has potential and it's a bit interesting as it's airy, expansive, and great for people-watching. It should be an awesome place to watch popular sporting events. Anyway, this is the coolest aspect for me.

As others mentioned, some diversity of attractions would be nice.

I wouldn't mind more legit entertainment over another bunch of restaurants. How about a good music venue on the same scale as The Pageant? What about a bar with tons of pinball/arcade machines like The Silver Ball Room? The proposed St. Louis Sports Museum? If Downtown didn't already have the MX and soon the Orpheum again (yay!), then I might even suggest a theatre. Perhaps a rec center with mini golf, laser tag, rock climbing walls, indoor water park like River Chase except way bigger and better, bowling, skate park + skating rink, etc. This would attract more than kids and teens, too. If adults play at the City Museum, that would play at this place also.

Maybe a future phase could include retail, i.e. a clothing store or Micro Center. One of my qualms about moving into the Arcade is that I would have to travel 10+ miles to Brentwood for a good computer store. But that's just me, so there are probably other stores that would appeal to more people Downtown that that.

For more restaurants, what about Strange Donuts, Sweetie Pie's, or Pappy's? McDonald's Play Place? I loved playing at old Busch's playground as a kid.

BPV in 2020 could easily be one of the greatest destinations in St. Louis, but it's got a ways to go before that. It's only a matter of time before the novelty of this first phase wears off after everyone has checked it out already. If it's going to keep on truckin' then it needs to get built up and it needs a wider variety of attractions. I don't want it to end up like Union Station.

Seems to me a Dave and Buster's would really clean up in this place.

I did notice yesterday that the area south of the stadium is looking rough. On ramps severing streets, boarded up buildings, unkept parking lots, and a lot of surface parking. The Cardinals added parking more parking spaces in the small area just south of stadium.

Dave and Buster's is a great idea. They appeal to people of all ages.

A 17 year old could get in there. They're open late. They have cool games and a big bar. They have no presence within St. Louis itself, only St. Charles.

I am glad you pointed out that there's not much someone under 21 can do Downtown. Most of what they can do closes early. But I mean, most teens will just go to the Loop. I have some friends in their early twenties who live in the Loop and they recently went DT for a concert and said that DT is "like a bigger version of the Loop with less stuff to do." I also remember when I was a teen I thought STL was kind of lame because I couldn't get into any of the cool places because you have to be 21.

Gateway City wrote:They have no presence within St. Louis itself, only St. Charles.

There's one in Maryland Heights, and none in St. Charles.

I know a girl that works at BPV and she says that there are already rumors that it is going to "expand". I don't know if she means phase II or expanded hours, but this thing has really become a smash hit. The more word gets out about this place the more fans flood in and I haven't heard any bad reviews yet, even from die hard urbanists like us. This place might actually have the potential to lift all boats. I hope the Cards are smart and announce the future phases quickly, because they could really ride the wave of optimism about this place.

I actually think the Cards would clean up if they make this area our version of Wrigleyville and make this a mixed use residential project. I'd imagine apartments would sell out overnight, a Cardinal themed hotel would also clean up and become an instant tourist trap. Even if a developer bought the garages that flank the project area, they would make a killing developing them as mixed use residential.

wabash wrote:

Gateway City wrote:They have no presence within St. Louis itself, only St. Charles.

There's one in Maryland Heights, and none in St. Charles.

Really? I guess I haven't been there since I was a kid. Must have remembered wrong. Someone told me it was in St. Charles. Either way, there's only one around here at all and it's not in the City.

I cant help but think that the south east corner would be great mixed use 30-35 story tower with ground level retail (a City Target, CVS or Walgreens would do great) and 10-15 floors of residential with balconys and 10-15 more floors of a Cardinals themed hotel.

I am not so sure that Microcenter or Dave & Busters would go over so well downtown, especially in Ballpark Village.

vpr611 wrote:I cant help but think that the south east corner would be great mixed use 30-35 story tower with ground level retail (a City Target, CVS or Walgreens would do great) and 10-15 floors of residential with balconys and 10-15 more floors of a Cardinals themed hotel.

I am not so sure that Microcenter or Dave & Busters would go over so well downtown, especially in Ballpark Village.

I know we all fantasize about a downtown Target constantly, and I'm not trying to say this is the best location for one... but can you imagine how many opinions of downtown it would change if someone that only thinks the city is good for the ballpark saw a Target across the street? I don't expect it to happen and residential should be priority #1... but it would change a lot of minds about the city.

Residential tower needs ground-level businesses. DT needs a City Target. While I would love to see it in the Arcade, Jefferson Arms, or T-REX, I think BPV will be their best option if they decide to build one at all. 30 stories worth of residents right in the heart of DT and with great visibility from the stadium on live TV all across the nation.

Another restaurant idea:

Something like Schlafly or UCB. Brewery tour and everything. Perhaps a mini-brewery for one of AB's many beers they have bought out? Perhaps even some Budweiser itself? Shoot, even just a Fitz's would be cool if you could see through the bottling window not just inside the restaurant itself but also from outside.

Gateway City wrote: Another restaurant idea:

Something like Schlafly or UCB. Brewery tour and everything. Perhaps a mini-brewery for one of AB's many beers they have bought out? Perhaps even some Budweiser itself? Shoot, even just a Fitz's would be cool if you could see through the bottling window not just inside the restaurant itself but also from outside.

There's already a Budweiser Brew House in Car Park Village

And a Schlafly Tap Room 13 blocks west.

I might be the only one who would like to see this, but I think if they built a large AMC multiplex it would be awesome. KC's has one with a lot of flashing lights and signs. It would look awesome here and the city could use a big theater.

moorlander wrote:

Gateway City wrote: Another restaurant idea:

Something like Schlafly or UCB. Brewery tour and everything. Perhaps a mini-brewery for one of AB's many beers they have bought out? Perhaps even some Budweiser itself? Shoot, even just a Fitz's would be cool if you could see through the bottling window not just inside the restaurant itself but also from outside.

There's already a Budweiser Brew House in Car Park Village

But is it an actual brewery? One where I get two free beers at the end like at the AB Brewery or Schlafly?

survivor147 wrote:I might be the only one who would like to see this, but I think if they built a large AMC multiplex it would be awesome. KC's has one with a lot of flashing lights and signs. It would look awesome here and the city could use a big theater.

Already have one a few blocks away at the MX.

^^No. The beer comes from the Brewery about a mile to the south.

However within a short jog there's Morgan Street, Alpha, 4 Hands, and Square One, and the Schlafly Tap Room. None of which give away free beer though. You'll have to go to Soulard for that.

downtown2007 wrote:

survivor147 wrote:I might be the only one who would like to see this, but I think if they built a large AMC multiplex it would be awesome. KC's has one with a lot of flashing lights and signs. It would look awesome here and the city could use a big theater.

Already have one a few blocks away at the MX.

No sh!t. Agree. Lets keep BPV an entertainment party place. And keep all the amenaties that make downtown "livable" around where people actually live(Wallgreen, Movies, Groceries, city target, etc.) BPV is quite a far walk for the bulk of Downtown residents (epecially on a cold winter day)

bigmclargehuge wrote:

downtown2007 wrote:

survivor147 wrote:I might be the only one who would like to see this, but I think if they built a large AMC multiplex it would be awesome. KC's has one with a lot of flashing lights and signs. It would look awesome here and the city could use a big theater.

Already have one a few blocks away at the MX.

No sh!t. Agree. Lets keep BPV an entertainment party place. And keep all the amenaties that make downtown "livable" around where people actually live(Wallgreen, Movies, Groceries, city target, etc.) BPV is quite a far walk for the bulk of Downtown residents (epecially on a cold winter day)

Seriously? Given the chance why shouldnt we extend residential south towards the stadium. Adding additional residential along with some commercial would be huge step forward. I personally hope for a mixed use tower with ground level retail, having bars and places to eat will only do so much.

I totally disagree with keeping Ballpark Village an "entertainment party place." It could be so much more! Could you imagine the impact of having places like City Target, Apple, Urban Outfitters, Gap, H&M, perhaps even a Kaldis coffee all sitting below 20-30 floors of residential and/or commercial?