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Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: February 28th, 2013, 1:20 pm
by mamundsen
It is still pretty dead and barren looking aside from Washington. I really think the city needs to reconstruct the streets over here...preferably with brick and historically accurate street lights. I think that would encourage more development. I know the original streets are fun and kitchy...but in some areas it is like you are driving on a bad dirt road, and I really think it is holding the area back from realizing its full potential.

PS, I am glad they decided to allow trees over here...I hope to see more of those too!
100% agree. There needs to be some serious road work, not just the patches that have been slapped on all over the place.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: February 28th, 2013, 1:29 pm
by mattaudio
Actually I like the current streets, except for the lazy patching. Keeps people driving slow. As soon as engineers get involved, we run a high risk of ending up with this:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9BUyWVg1xI[/youtube]

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: February 28th, 2013, 2:05 pm
by mnmike
I disagree...it looks awful, and you can actually do damage to your car on some of those streets even going 20mph, and the sidwalks are dangerous and missing pieces too.

I would prefer they keep a cobblestone look, and do it nicely...which I understand would be expensive:(

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: February 28th, 2013, 6:57 pm
by trkaiser
Yes, these roads are far beyond quaint. It's time to replace them. I would love to see a semi-historical material, but even blacktop would be an improvement. Whatever it is, I hope they get started soon!

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: March 1st, 2013, 7:14 am
by mullen
yes the roads between washington and 94 suck but these will be improved as there are still plenty of vacant parcels to develop. the north loop has many more years of growth of ahead of it.

i didnt even realize there was this quaint old fire station north of target field until i recently walked up that way.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: March 1st, 2013, 12:05 pm
by MNdible
The city does have a plan (an award winning plan!) to repair these streets. They just don't have any funding to do it.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: March 1st, 2013, 1:02 pm
by mulad
MPR had a story on the Smack Shack and other nearby spots along Washington Ave N.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/displa ... ie-hotspot

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: March 1st, 2013, 5:00 pm
by woofner
The city does have a plan (an award winning plan!) to repair these streets. They just don't have any funding to do it.
Looks like the feds are funding the work for 6th Ave N at least via the STIP to the tune of $1.12m:
Reconstruction of 6th Avenue N with preservation of historic pavers and loading
docks, installation of sidewalks from 5th Street N to the end of the street north of
Washington Avenue
We'll have to wait until 2016, and then we'll somehow pay almost $3m for a max of 1500' of roadway.

Oh yeah, and to the board in general :the paving in the North Loop is not cobblestone. It is brick. Please get it right - it's a pet peeve of mine (or don't if you want to bug me).

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: March 1st, 2013, 5:35 pm
by MNdible
...the paving in the North Loop is not cobblestone. It is brick. Please get it right - it's a pet peeve of mine (or don't if you want to bug me).
Except when it's wood. Which, of course, you already knew.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: March 8th, 2013, 9:24 am
by Nathan
Oh yeah, and to the board in general :the paving in the North Loop is not cobblestone. It is brick. Please get it right - it's a pet peeve of mine (or don't if you want to bug me).
Oh, yeah, by the way, they are not Brick, they are called Pavers, so if you don't want to annoy people, you might want to get it right too... ;) typically they are either Purrington Pavers, or Capitol Flint Pavers depending on when the road was originally paved in them.

Also, in related news, The slated Blue Plate restaurant is going to be a brewery as well!

Article: http://blogs.mspmag.com/foodiefile/2013 ... -new-brew/

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: March 8th, 2013, 10:42 am
by Didier
I heard about the brewery concept on the radio yesterday too. There's really no way a Blue Plate brewery-concept restaurant in the North Loop won't be a huge success. Plus, getting more normally-priced restaurants in the area will be a boon in general.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: March 8th, 2013, 10:43 am
by Nathan
I heard about the brewery concept on the radio yesterday too. There's really no way a Blue Plate brewery-concept restaurant in the North Loop won't be a huge success. Plus, getting more normally-priced restaurants in the area will be a boon in general.
I think you're absolutely correct, their pricing will make them stand out.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: March 15th, 2013, 4:42 pm
by PhilmerPhil
Joe's Garage is closing. Related: That surface parking lot next door needs to get developed.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: April 2nd, 2013, 12:18 am
by seanrichardryan
New restauarant on the Nicollet Mall, Ling & Louie's Kitchen:

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... -mall.html

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: April 2nd, 2013, 8:43 am
by twinkess
New restauarant on the Nicollet Mall, Ling & Louie's Kitchen:

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... -mall.html
Is that going in the bookstore?

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: April 2nd, 2013, 9:12 am
by seanrichardryan
Almost. It looks like it's the space occupied by the Jean Stpehen Gallery and the O'Day Chache store. The bookstore will become a lobby.

http://9sonthemall.com/floor-plans/

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: April 2nd, 2013, 11:39 am
by John
Mixed feelings about this project. Sad to see the last remaining independent stores leave Nicollet Mall which gave it some local flavor. I guess it was inevitable they would be pushed out. On the positive, it preserves the old buildings and extends the restaurant row along Nicollet Mall, which in the summer is quite wonderful with all the sidewalk cafe's and bustling street activity. The Asian influenced food will add variety.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: April 2nd, 2013, 12:45 pm
by Aville_37
I agree with John. I am sad to see more retail/unique businesses exit, especially those with a history on being on the mall. Perhaps O'Day Chache, the art gallery and book store can explore the possibility of relocating to some of the vacant buildings along Hennepin. My guess if any would be they would want to move to the North Loop.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: April 2nd, 2013, 2:06 pm
by mullen
i liked that bookstore too. oh well, the mall needs a total renovation north to south. it's a very sterile place except during warm weather lunchhours and warm weekend nights.

Re: Downtown Restaurant News

Posted: April 2nd, 2013, 3:05 pm
by Aville_37
Do like the idea of rooftop dining overlooking the mall.