urbanSTL

Noticed a new hertz location opened across from pappys, when did that happen?

goat314 wrote:^ The problem is that the "partnership" is not a true neighborhood association. They are really just a corporate mouthpiece organization. In fact, I have heard rumors that many of the corporate leaders do not want downtown to be a "neighborhood" over concerns over parking and traffic. You would be surprised many of our corporate leaders like the "small, slow, dead town feel".

Sad but not surprising. It's that kind of mentality that separates us from- and puts us behind- other Rust Belt cities like Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and yes, even Detroit in terms of local corporate investment in their respective downtowns.

I can't believe the concerns over parking and traffic when there are times that I could fire a cannon down most downtown streets and not hit a soul, and if we could park all of Lou Fusz's inventory in downtown's parking garages, there'd be thousands of parking spaces to spare. I also can't believe our civic leaders are in such a desperate need of a reality check.

threeonefour wrote: I can't believe the concerns over parking and traffic when there are times that I could fire a cannon down most downtown streets and not hit a soul, and if we could park all of Lou Fusz's inventory in downtown's parking garages, there'd be thousands of parking spaces to spare. I also can't believe our civic leaders are in such a desperate need of a reality check.

The concerns are more about the location of parking vs amount of available parking. Large companies want their parking to be connected to the building. They don't want to have to walk a block or 2 to get to their office building.

Detroit is showing some downtown retail creativity with The Belt:

Bedrock Real Estate Services LLC and Library Street Collective today unveiled The Belt, an art-filled alley between the two wings of The Z parking garage in downtown Detroit. The alley is decorated with the work of world-renowned street artists and will serve as the home to restaurants and pop-up shops.



While still a parking garage, the Z is pretty cool itself... significant retail and fine (street) art space:

RuskiSTL wrote:Noticed a new hertz location opened across from pappys, when did that happen?

From what I saw yesterday, it was actually an AVIS/Budget rental location.

m2tbone wrote:

RuskiSTL wrote:Noticed a new hertz location opened across from pappys, when did that happen?

From what I saw yesterday, it was actually an AVIS/Budget rental location.

Yeah, you're right. I'm guessing that the enterprise location on Washington influenced avis to open up downtown

roger wyoming II wrote:Another example of creative downtown rustbelt retail... Cityloft for holiday shopping:

Somerset Collection's CityLoft — an outpost of the upscale Somerset Collection in Troy — will open in downtown Detroit for holiday shopping on Dec. 3.

Nearly 40 stores from the mall are expected to participate, offering samplings of merchandise at CityLoft's new location, a 6,000-square-foot space in the First National Building, 600 Woodward.

http://www.freep.com/story/life/shoppin ... /19047557/

I can see something like this in a number of places downtown.... it could be part of the Union Station holiday experience, but it could also work in any number of spots in the CBD. The M/X could be an option, but perhaps the coolest would be re-opening the ground floor of the old Famous-Barr.

Damn. Why does Detroit get all of the cool ideas? The Famous-Barr main level would be the perfect spot for this, and it would provide an opportunity to decorate the windows for the holidays again. (sigh)

^ And bring back the train display. Every downtown needs a bit of holiday magic.

roger wyoming II wrote:Gyros are coming to downtown! To the old Hamilton Jewlers Building.... as expected the Arcade-Wright rehab was mentioned as a plus.

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... louis.html

The only thing we need now is the Chemical and just about everything will be occupied in the OPO block. wait.... also the restaurant space at the OPO Tower.

*Love* me some Gyro company! Hands-down the best Gyro in town IMO, and no I'm not affiliated with them in any way.

I'm thrilled they're doing well enough to expand, and happy to see they chose downtown.

-RBB

^ good to hear its good.... actually this is the third Medeterranian-influenced joint to announce a downtown opening in the last month or so.

Shake Shack is applying for an IPO...and still no location in STL...So tired of STL being a back-water town...

It may not be fair to either of them, but I view Danny Meyer similar to Jack Dorsey. I'll brag on them to outsiders, but amongst "friends" (STL people), I express disappointment.

It wouldn't be hard for these successful STL exports to help to throw their home town a bone, but they just don't seem too interested in it. (Yes, maybe they're investing behind the scenes, but their names mean something. Public actions would do more good.)

I don't remember if I commented on it since I was in NYC in September and got to try Shake Shack. I didn't think it was incredible. I can't believe people stand in those lines for it. I did think it was good. Good frozen treats. Good greasy steak burgers. But it's also definitely the product of good branding and hype.

Takaya at the MX has closed. Someone mentioned a while back they knew of 5 that were closing after the new year. Was Takaya one?

^You might have been combining Dweebe and I. I metioned having a top 5, and yes Takaya was on it, but i dont think dweebe mentioned numbers. He Just said there were going to be many closings. With the blues musseum finally starting im hoping that space wont sit empty too long

Crazy Bowls is also opening at the MX

^
And the Takaya spot is a prime location. Hopefully that space will have a new tenant soon.

I would think with the National Blues Museum going in across the street, there's going to be a good opportunity for a restaurant.