Give me your Top 5-7 retailers that you think would succeed downtown and I'll call them this week to gauge their interest.
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I'll give you mine. Nothng sexy or creative here:
CVS
Walgreens
City Target
Jos A Bank
Dollar General
CVS
Walgreens
City Target
Jos A Bank
Dollar General
Dollar Tree/Family Dollar/Dollar Store/Dollar General (whichever one you think would be most interested/prone to this market)
7-11 (a newer, nicer one east of Tucker)
Steak n' Shake (I think they'd be a great fit in the no-man's land between DT and Soulard, and that would also provide some distance from 12th Street Diner)
Famous Footwear
Jos. A. Bank (A softball, since I know you've already worked with them)
Walgreen's (Why does everyone keep saying CVS? St. Louis is a Walgreen's town)
Chipotle (They're expanding quickly, and I honestly think one in the heart of the CBD would do really well)
It's a lot of discount retail and some fast food, but I think it's a realistic starting point.
7-11 (a newer, nicer one east of Tucker)
Steak n' Shake (I think they'd be a great fit in the no-man's land between DT and Soulard, and that would also provide some distance from 12th Street Diner)
Famous Footwear
Jos. A. Bank (A softball, since I know you've already worked with them)
Walgreen's (Why does everyone keep saying CVS? St. Louis is a Walgreen's town)
Chipotle (They're expanding quickly, and I honestly think one in the heart of the CBD would do really well)
It's a lot of discount retail and some fast food, but I think it's a realistic starting point.
My wishlist from when I worked DT last year:
CVS or Walgreens (CVS has a better logo, would make downtown look fresh contemporary)
City Target
Old Navy
Dick Blick (tons of artist lofts, no art supplies)
Steak and Shake (I believe STL has the most S&S locations of any market, heck, relo the HQ!)
Bandanas BBQ (not sure of the location, but would clean up with sports fans)
First Watch or Courtesy Diner (There's really no place get to get breakfast DT, when I've had morning meetings DT, the options are coffee and a muffin but you'd like something to eat, meet out in the county....)
CVS or Walgreens (CVS has a better logo, would make downtown look fresh contemporary)
City Target
Old Navy
Dick Blick (tons of artist lofts, no art supplies)
Steak and Shake (I believe STL has the most S&S locations of any market, heck, relo the HQ!)
Bandanas BBQ (not sure of the location, but would clean up with sports fans)
First Watch or Courtesy Diner (There's really no place get to get breakfast DT, when I've had morning meetings DT, the options are coffee and a muffin but you'd like something to eat, meet out in the county....)
Would totally prefer real barbeque like Bogart's or Pappy's...shadrach wrote:My wishlist from when I worked DT last year:
Bandanas BBQ (not sure of the location, but would clean up with sports fans)
You mean like Rooster, Blondies, and BreadCo? Not to mention the breakfast place going in at Washington and Tucker...shadrach wrote: First Watch or Courtesy Diner (There's really no place get to get breakfast DT, when I've had morning meetings DT, the options are coffee and a muffin but you'd like something to eat, meet out in the county....)
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City Target
Walgreens or CVS
Jos A Banks
Ann Taylor Loft
Famous Footwear
If I had to choose 1 national eatery...Qdoba.
Walgreens or CVS
Jos A Banks
Ann Taylor Loft
Famous Footwear
If I had to choose 1 national eatery...Qdoba.
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In terms of national retailers, I suppose I'd go with CityTarget and Walmart as the two I'd be most interested in hearing if they had any interest followed by CVS and Walgreens.
As for putting food into stomachs, Dunkin Donuts. Defintely Dunkin Donuts.
Query about local retailers: how is the Collective doing at M/X?
Would a sweet tooth collective work downtown? I'm thinking Jilly's Cupcakes, Kakao, etc.
As for putting food into stomachs, Dunkin Donuts. Defintely Dunkin Donuts.
Query about local retailers: how is the Collective doing at M/X?
Would a sweet tooth collective work downtown? I'm thinking Jilly's Cupcakes, Kakao, etc.
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This works for me, in that order, but I'll pick Steak 'n' Shake as my first choice for a national restaurant chain. Yes, I know they're all over Greater St. Louis, but I like to bring my children downtown as much as possible, and it's about as convenient, consistent, and inexpensive as it gets for a sit-down restaurant.downtown2007 wrote:City Target
Walgreens or CVS
Jos A Banks
Ann Taylor Loft
Famous Footwear
Oh, and since I love food, nostalgia, and nostalgic food, one of our current downtown restaurants really needs to put Famous-Barr French Onion Soup on the menu stat (or Jilly's can open a downtown location since they make this soup so well in my opinion). I'd also like the John White burger from Papa Fabarre's (it was on the menu at Joe Bush's in Southtown Centre as a nod to the Southtown Famous that once stood on the same site, but Joe Bush's closed a couple of years ago).
Well, shut my mouth—I forgot about Rooster!!innov8ion wrote:You mean like Rooster, Blondies, and BreadCo? Not to mention the breakfast place going in at Washington and Tucker...
Since when did Bread Co and Blondies start offering waffles with potatoes o'brian, corned beef hash and 2 sausage links? Apologies for being snarky, those two are still in the 'coffee and muffins' category.
Also, if you work at anywhere near Kiener/Met Square (do people still work in that area?) Blondies and Washington/Tucker are a haul.
Also, Bandana's has 15 or so locations in the metro area. Real BBQ or not, they are successful, popular and more likely to be able to open a 16th store than a restaurant opening their second location.There's also the 'familiarity/safety' psychology of suburbanites coming downtown. Like it or not, right now, a lof downtown's success is dependent upon the perceptions of people in Chesterfield.
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The Apple Store and H&M would be great, particularly for college-aged people. However, I could see an Apple Store being built in the CWE before Downtown.
Highly doubt that an apple store would be built in the city. Thats why a City Target makes sense, considering the apple inventory at a Target store.
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shadrach wrote:Well, shut my mouth—I forgot about Rooster!!innov8ion wrote:You mean like Rooster, Blondies, and BreadCo? Not to mention the breakfast place going in at Washington and Tucker...
Since when did Bread Co and Blondies start offering waffles with potatoes o'brian, corned beef hash and 2 sausage links? Apologies for being snarky, those two are still in the 'coffee and muffins' category.
Also, if you work at anywhere near Kiener/Met Square (do people still work in that area?) Blondies and Washington/Tucker are a haul.
Blondies has a full breakfast menu. And the best bloodie bar in the city!
Ok, that's a good list for now. I'll make some calls to a good portion of above that are both (a) realistic and (b) expanding.
Had not realized that the Smoothie King at Park Pacific has a drive thru inside the parking garage. Seems like the rest of this space is an ideal spot for CVS or Walgreens.
Sorry, worked across the street at the Rudmann building. Not a fan of Blondies and not gonna change my mind. I guess it's personal. I almost signed up for yelp to give them a negative 10 rating. Over-priced, deceptive and arrogant. stick with the coffee. Their food is good but not worth the $$$$ and attitude.moorlander wrote:shadrach wrote:Well, shut my mouth—I forgot about Rooster!!innov8ion wrote:You mean like Rooster, Blondies, and BreadCo? Not to mention the breakfast place going in at Washington and Tucker...
Since when did Bread Co and Blondies start offering waffles with potatoes o'brian, corned beef hash and 2 sausage links? Apologies for being snarky, those two are still in the 'coffee and muffins' category.
Also, if you work at anywhere near Kiener/Met Square (do people still work in that area?) Blondies and Washington/Tucker are a haul.
Blondies has a full breakfast menu. And the best bloodie bar in the city!
That's a shame. I've always had a good experience with Blondies.shadrach wrote:Sorry, worked across the street at the Rudmann building. Not a fan of Blondies and not gonna change my mind. I guess it's personal. I almost signed up for yelp to give them a negative 10 rating. Over-priced, deceptive and arrogant. stick with the coffee. Their food is good but not worth the $$$$ and attitude.
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Not necessarily my top choice, but I wonder why Lion's Choice's only city location is at Lansdowne and Chippewa.
Great list for starters.downtown2007 wrote:City Target
Walgreens or CVS
Jos A Banks
Ann Taylor Loft
Famous Footwear
If I had to choose 1 national eatery...Qdoba.
FYI, Famous Footwear is owned by Brown Shoe - and FF just closed a lot of stores nationwide. You would think Brown could at least put a small test store downtown. Geez. If it does well expand it or close it if it does poorly.
Also, I would still add a dollar store or Below Five. I think d-stores definitely have a useful purpose and would not compete directly with a City Target.
My restaurant choices would be one or more of the following fast-casual, casual-dining or entertainment-dining chains:
-Cini: Italian Chow (St. Louis-based with a 2nd location opening in Ladue)
-Chili's (If a mini-location can survive at Lambert, why couldn't a larger one survive downtown)
-Cheddar's (similar to Chili's, great food)
-House of Blues (especially in light of the forthcoming National Blues Museum). Eat then attend a concert.
I'm going to change your life, shadrach. Three words: Chili Mac's Diner.shadrach wrote:First Watch or Courtesy Diner (There's really no place get to get breakfast DT, when I've had morning meetings DT, the options are coffee and a muffin but you'd like something to eat, meet out in the county....)
It's on Pine between 6th and Broadway (right across from Metropolitan Square). I refer to it as "a greasy spoon with sass" because the waitresses are so damn nice and down home. Be prepared to be call "hun," "sugar" or "sweetie" and hear some classic diner calls for orders. The breakfast and lunch is standard diner fare -- but damn is it good! You're welcome!
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I second the requests for Buffalo Wild Wings and House of Blues...
The former would be great because it's a good kid-friendly environment in which to watch sports. There are some places where I like to watch a game and know that it's not a good place to take my children. But I'm with them more often than not, and I love to watch sports with my son (and to get my daughter to appreciate them as well), so I'd love to have one of these downtown instead of driving to South County, Kirkwood, or O'Fallon/Shiloh.
The latter, as Arch said, is a natural with the National Blues Museum on the former Stix, Baer & Fuller main level. Speaking of The Laurel, is there enough room left on the main level to accommodate the House of Blues as well as the museum, Robust, and the hotel/residence lobbies? Or how about the long-vacant retail space along Sixth Street across from Mercantile Exchange?
The Railway Exchange main level would be tricky to subdivide, but House of Blues would have plenty of room there, and there'd still be enough room for another large tenants or several smaller tenants. But I'd still prefer to see CityTarget in that space because (1) I hate to see it subdivided. We're all a bit jaded about Macy's now, but it was truly a majestic retail space when Famous-Barr was still at its peak. Also, (2) Target has shown a commitment to preserving the historical character of the existing buildings in which CityTargets have been built. Aside from the former Carson Pirie Scott flagship in Chicago, the CityTarget in Portland is also in a former department store. As much as it is going to pain me to see empty windows in the Famous-Barr/Macy's space for the first time ever, I'm actually okay with that space staying vacant for awhile if it means attracting a quality tenant that can use as much of the ground floor as possible and can keep as many historical elements intact as possible. A special place like this deserves special treatment in my opinion.
The former would be great because it's a good kid-friendly environment in which to watch sports. There are some places where I like to watch a game and know that it's not a good place to take my children. But I'm with them more often than not, and I love to watch sports with my son (and to get my daughter to appreciate them as well), so I'd love to have one of these downtown instead of driving to South County, Kirkwood, or O'Fallon/Shiloh.
The latter, as Arch said, is a natural with the National Blues Museum on the former Stix, Baer & Fuller main level. Speaking of The Laurel, is there enough room left on the main level to accommodate the House of Blues as well as the museum, Robust, and the hotel/residence lobbies? Or how about the long-vacant retail space along Sixth Street across from Mercantile Exchange?
The Railway Exchange main level would be tricky to subdivide, but House of Blues would have plenty of room there, and there'd still be enough room for another large tenants or several smaller tenants. But I'd still prefer to see CityTarget in that space because (1) I hate to see it subdivided. We're all a bit jaded about Macy's now, but it was truly a majestic retail space when Famous-Barr was still at its peak. Also, (2) Target has shown a commitment to preserving the historical character of the existing buildings in which CityTargets have been built. Aside from the former Carson Pirie Scott flagship in Chicago, the CityTarget in Portland is also in a former department store. As much as it is going to pain me to see empty windows in the Famous-Barr/Macy's space for the first time ever, I'm actually okay with that space staying vacant for awhile if it means attracting a quality tenant that can use as much of the ground floor as possible and can keep as many historical elements intact as possible. A special place like this deserves special treatment in my opinion.