BB King's to open in Grand Center

southsidepride · PostFeb 21, 2014#12014-02-21T21:19+00:00

http://nextstl.com/2014/02/bbs/

When I first saw this I immediately thought it would be downtown somewhere close to the National Blues Museum.

But the more I think about it Grand Center would be a great fit. And while STL has some cool home grown blues clubs getting one with some more space will be cool.

south compton · PostFeb 21, 2014#22014-02-21T21:57+00:00

Sounds like a huge get for Grand Center. It's a chain (with an Orlando location no less) so I'm surprised they didn't go for BPV.

dweebe · PostFeb 21, 2014#32014-02-21T22:03+00:00

I know a chain in Grand Center is going to piss some people off big time: but this is a good sign for the Grand area, midtown and even the St. Louis metro area as a whole

robertn42 · PostFeb 21, 2014#42014-02-21T22:34+00:00

Big get for Grand Center. It will be a destination place for tourists and suburbanites. The restaurant scene in Grand Center stands to benefit greatly from their presence.

framer · PostFeb 22, 2014#52014-02-22T04:28+00:00

The best part about this is that Grand Center gains another live music venue. The critical mass keeps growing.

goat314 · PostFeb 22, 2014#62014-02-22T14:37+00:00

Grand Center is on the verge of becoming a new it neighborhood with its central location and proximity to SLU, its really going to pop when the central corridor streetcar gets built.

BrickCity4470 · PostFeb 22, 2014#72014-02-22T19:35+00:00

I'm very thrilled it's going into Grand Center..Now if we were to get a House of Blues i would hope it goes Downtown. In all another good development for Grand Center ..

roger wyoming II · PostFeb 24, 2014#82014-02-24T02:17+00:00

BrickCity4470 wrote:I'm very thrilled it's going into Grand Center..Now if we were to get a House of Blues i would hope it goes Downtown. In all another good development for Grand Center ..

I wonder how this move would affect House of Blues possibilities here, but it would be awesome to have one near the Blues Museum. With locations in Cleveland and Detroit you think they'd have to be scouting downtown Saint Louis. I can't remember if the Museum plans on having a significant performance venue... anyone know?

blzhrpmd2 · PostFeb 24, 2014#92014-02-24T13:27+00:00

The original plans and discussions I heard for the Museum included a performance space, but I'm unsure if that was more a niche space for very specific usage, or one that would have regular bookings.

The House of Blues discussion is an interesting one. I could be completely off base, however, it seems to me that House of Blues isn't necessarily a blues venue, but more of a highly marketable concert venue. BB's on the other hand (at least the one in Memphis on Beale St.) has a heavy bend toward blues bands. I love that BBs is going to Midtown/Grand Center, but if House of Blues were to sniff around STL, at first blush, I think HOB would be a better fit for Midtown with BBs in closer proximity to the museum for more of a symbiotic effect. Since it appears HOB books all types of bands and even comedy acts, it would add a big contemporary punch to Grand Center's offerings.

Removing HOB from the equation, I think BBs will add said punch anyway and the streetcar line will nicely service the connection if there is to be any marketed connection between the two.

downtown2007 · PostFeb 24, 2014#102014-02-24T16:09+00:00

Does anyone think the Orpheum theater would be a good fit to house a House of Blues. Just around the corner from the museum and in the heart of Downtown.

Gateway City · PostFeb 25, 2014#112014-02-25T01:15+00:00

Is the Orpheum Theatre going to be a live venue, movie theatre, or what?

roger wyoming II · PostFeb 25, 2014#122014-02-25T16:24+00:00

^ iirc the developers have the Orpheum on the end of the priority list for their new properties. I think they're pretty focused on Tower OPOP right now and then will eventually figure out what to do with the Orpheum and Locust properties. I believe they sold the Mayfair Hotel which is currently being remodeled and will become a Magnolia.

I haven't been in it enough to know whether its bones would be a good fit for House of Blues, but it is an intriguing possibility. I also can't remember how much space may be available at the Drury-Convention Center location, which used to be a city market. If there is enough, that would be another potentially cool spot.

seanmcelligott644 · PostFeb 25, 2014#132014-02-25T18:30+00:00

roger wyoming II wrote:^ iirc the developers have the Orpheum on the end of the priority list for their new properties. I think they're pretty focused on Tower OPOP right now and then will eventually figure out what to do with the Orpheum and Locust properties. I believe they sold the Mayfair Hotel which is currently being remodeled and will become a Magnolia.

I haven't been in it enough to know whether its bones would be a good fit for House of Blues, but it is an intriguing possibility. I also can't remember how much space may be available at the Drury-Convention Center location, which used to be a city market. If there is enough, that would be another potentially cool spot.

Work has already started on the Magnolia. BTW

Gateway City · PostFeb 25, 2014#142014-02-25T18:59+00:00

So after THE TOWER and Magnolia, they will still have:

-Orpheum Theatre
-10th & Locust Buildings (proposed hotel)

and I THINK -

-The building at 9th and Locust...Right? I thought I read somewhere that they were going to work on that one, too.

Jeeze, Locust is really blowing up!

roger wyoming II · PostFeb 25, 2014#152014-02-25T19:25+00:00

^ yeah I think there were rumors to keep an eye out for retail developments at the Board of Ed building but don't know what if anything may really be in the works.... its a great location though. I believe the residences above are all done. As for the collective at 10th, it isn't clear that they intend to do a boutique hotel a la the Roberts plan.

PostFeb 25, 2014#162014-02-25T19:31+00:00

Getting back to BB King's in Grand Center, I suppose this is going to give further momentum to GC's interest in a parking garage(s).

threeonefour · PostFeb 26, 2014#172014-02-26T06:38+00:00

I think it would have been a better fit for downtown, or perhaps even Ballpark Village since that's the best place to reach the masses, especially those who don't ordinarily venture downtown. But it's a big win for Grand Center, no doubt!

blzhrpmd2 · PostAug 16, 2014#182014-08-16T14:08+00:00

Was there a timeline outlined for this?

roger wyoming II · PostAug 16, 2014#192014-08-16T14:37+00:00

^ yeah, the Missouri Theater is just one of a number of exciting projects that seems to be taking a long time to get going. The retail component was supposed to be completed this fall but I don't think work has even begun. The residential was supposed to be completed next year.

I was expecting full steam ahead on multiple projects throughout the central corridor this summer but the stall of this and the OPUS project has been a bit disappointing - along with the absence of any major new announcements.

wabash · PostAug 16, 2014#202014-08-16T22:12+00:00

roger wyoming II wrote:the stall of this and the OPUS project has been a bit disappointing

Couldn't agree more RW. I find the lack of action on the Opus proposal particularly deflating. That said, both of the developers of these project (Opus & Lawrence) have solid track records, extensive experience in their respective neighborhoods, and seem to be willing to play a long game to see their vision achieved. Trying to stay positive....

Also (and this is total conjecture), U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation is obviously, far-and-away the market leader when it comes to structuring and investing in New Market Tax Credit and Historic Tax Credits. Basically, they seem to be (I hate to say it) the Goldman Sachs of this business, and we're lucky to have them headquartered here in St. Louis. They seem to take on projects of a scale and complexity that no one else touches. I wonder if a lot of their resources have been focused on the $77 million Arcade deal, since that was such a convoluted, multi-faceted deal to structure. Perhaps now that it's closed they'll be able to put more energy toward projects like this one, which also have a lot of moving parts. Just a theory, but again, trying to stay positive.

roger wyoming II · PostAug 16, 2014#212014-08-16T22:14+00:00

^ I'm with you.... we gotta keep positive!

blzhrpmd2 · PostNov 11, 2014#222014-11-11T15:42+00:00

With the opening of Jazz STL's new digs this fall, the BB's project really missed a nice opportunity to further grow/brand Grand Center's image.

Perhaps BB's can eventually coincide with the hopeful acceleration of the Blues Museum Downtown.

stlien · PostNov 11, 2014#232014-11-11T16:00+00:00

blzhrpmd2 wrote:With the opening of Jazz STL's new digs this fall, the BB's project really missed a nice opportunity to further grow/brand Grand Center's image.

Perhaps BB's can eventually coincide with the hopeful acceleration of the Blues Museum Downtown.

Is BB's no longer happening in Grand Center?

blzhrpmd2 · PostNov 11, 2014#242014-11-11T16:45+00:00

I think still happening, just not at the anticipated pace.