urbanSTL

moorlander wrote:rlander » Tue May 31, 2011 1:07 pm
It's survival of the fittest. It's true that downtown does already have Mizu, Wasabi, and drunken fish. I don't know of any wine bars downtown.

Jade on Olive is also a sushi place

This is a prime area for chain restaurants that cannot be found in the STL Metro area. Beppa's, Smith and Wolenski, etc

the count wrote:I gather you like to see Buca di Beppa and Smith & Wollensky downtown.

Sorry. Autocorrect gets me everytime.

the central scrutinizer wrote:

downtown2007 wrote:This is a prime area for chain restaurants that cannot be found in the STL Metro area. Beppa's, Smith and Wolenski, etc

It's sad to think that people who won't come downtown to visit a local restaurant would come down to visit a chain.

Can understand your point CS, but you got a lot of space to fill any way you look at it and if it takes a chain restaruant to get someone downtown the first time they might be inclined to try something different the second time.

I imagine chains are popular among conventioners and business people staying downtown, since they are a known quantity. A Palm Restaurant could also be a nice addition.

Buca would be a travesty in our fine city.

That crap shouldn't be let within a 2 state radius of StL.

Here are the plans - rotate head 90 degrees

Mercantile Exchange first floor retail


Mercantile Exchange 2nd level retail


Laural frist floor retail

Here is the link to the actual retail brochure for The Mercantile Exchange:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/56835231/St-L ... l-Brochure

Thinking about the Blues museum that's supposed to go in the Laurel, I can't help but think of the possibilities had they found an arts benefactor to buy out the entirety of the 505 Washington Avenue building, seen here:



There are a lot of opportunities for this site, especially as it relates to a Blues Museum. Of course, having a tenant would really help to anchor this corner of Broadway and Washington, which is really a cross-section of two of our city's major streets. Secondly, it would neighbor Art St. Louis, automatically converting this area into a culturally-rich block, and offering another area of interest to potential tenants in Stifel-Nicholaus' building and 400 Washington (and some future development next to MAC, hopefully).

The building itself is modernistic and I don't think it would offend anyone's sensibilities if it was painted or gussied up to reflect the artistic flair of its honorees and tenants (Sidenote: If someone wants to, please Photoshop your idea of how you would adapt the exterior for a Blues museum/recording studio).

Finally, the tenants. Of course, there's the Blues Museum, which - considering St. Louis' history in the genre - should be substantial and a great draw for music lovers. They plan on having studios too. With a building of this size, they could create a world-class studio or two, and maybe get St. Louis on the map as one of "the" places for Blues recordings. From there, there's still a lot of space to fill out. Maybe they rent it out or maybe there's a Blues Conservancy and Incubator for area children and adults to learn, practice and play.

Anyway you cut it, it's great that a Blues museum is moving in, but I can't help but wonder how much more important and effective it would be if moved just one block east, closer to Broadway and closer to the river from which the Blues emerged.

^That building and the old GenAm building are two that should be brought back to life...Both would make amazing statements of "place" for a business or gallery IMO...And I agree that corner is extremely visible, ergo important...

Also, the plan for the MX holds a world of promise, right?! Or am I missing something (I keep waiting for Hank's "Give me cancer now God" response (see my previous post above (it's Farley and Sandler if you're still lost)))...Both the use of the space within the buildings and aesthetic of the complex are winners in my mind...Even the name and logo are hot IMO...Would love to see a few more solid anchors added to what has already been committed...Especially some things that would be unique to St. Louis...I also hope they find a way to cover parking for folks who patron the local business too...If there's truly something worth seeing or doing and parking is free, St. Louisans will come...

doug wrote:Why would a tenant choose this space over the Syndicate? I am curious since it has been empty for quite a long time. I checked the parking above today and it was rather full. There's a lot of available retail space downtown. So what incentives are the city offering for people to move into 600 Washington?

I would say location. Being that this is the newest development downtown is also a draw. You're right on top of the metro link and right across from the convention center as well. As far as incentives, I would think the city offers them to businesses to locate anywhere, not just at 600 Wash. So its probably more on the developer and i imagine them to have a pretty attractive tenant improvement package. I believe they are asking for $18/sqft which for that location is pretty good.

doug wrote:Why would a tenant choose this space over the Syndicate? I am curious since it has been empty for quite a long time. I checked the parking above today and it was rather full. There's a lot of available retail space downtown. So what incentives are the city offering for people to move into 600 Washington?

Hasn't Syndicate been available longer than 600 Washington?

Syndicate still has empty space. (as well as the old and new Tucker garages)

Seems to me that tenants choose Syndicate because it's close to Culinaria.

Also, when 600 announced Pi, it seemed like additional announcements were in the works.

I believe the theater will be opening in spring 2012.