Monday, January 15, 2007

Open Thread #12

Does anybody need topics?

How about the recently announced changes at the old Uptown/Downtown?
Any interesting rumors about new places setting up shop downtown this year?
Are you satisfied with the way the city streets have been cleaned so far this winter?
Speaking of winter, how are you staying warm?

Topics covered: Uptown/Downtown, bars downtown, Grand Junction moving to South Washington, roller derby league

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

What changes at the uptown downtown? I hope it involves new ownership...as that is the only way to clean up that club's act

Anonymous said...

As WDAZ first reported this weekend...Josh Gilleland and partner bought out most of the Uptown Downtown...they will be shutting down the bar March 1st...and re-open St. Patricks day because the Basement will be an Irish Bar...the top part will be a European Tech. bar....

GrandForksGuy said...

I think the news regarding Uptown/Downtown is great. The building has had a stormy history in the last couple of years and I hope the new owners can turn things around and make it a vibrant, respectable establishment. This year will see the opening of this Irish pub and the opening of an English pub (Tavern United) in the Canad tower. What was the name of the European tech bar again? It was something kinda crazy if I remember right...

BTW, good for 'DAZ. This is one of the few times that I can remember in the last year that they announced a new business coming to town before it was already plastered all over the local blogs. I'm not kidding...it's a rare thing these days!

Anonymous said...

A college bar opens (again) in a college town. Wow...big story.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I have to agree.

Is it really something to get excited about, when a "new" business opens just to be replaced by another "new" business a year or two later?

I thought the point of an expanding economy was to bring in "new" businesses while maintaining the old ones?

Anonymous said...

It's al relative, I guess. I think this period of "growth" comes after a time when a downtown business leaving was NOT followed up by another one to take its place.

GrandForksGuy said...

Anonymous readers,
In this case, I'm just happy to see new owners. The old owner whose name escapes me at the moment didn't seem to know how to operate a reputable business that people would actually want to go to. The new owners are (I think?) the people who own Gilly's across the street. Gilly's seems to be very popular so hopefully they can do the same with this new business venture.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if they'll have drink specials and big ugly posters? Oh, you have Budweiser. Really?

Anonymous said...

Most people of repute don't understand what kind of businessman Larry O'Connell (the former owner) was. He would give away free beer and allow his patrons to get so drunk in his club they would cause several problems downtown every weekend night. Several times there were 8 or more police cars outside his club...with all of the officers with their hands full with his bouncers and patrons. He never did anything to attempt to cure the problems in his club, except give away more free keg beer and watch his patrons fight, and the bouncers do nothing but throw them onto the street and become the police department's problem. (hey-at least he didn't burn this one down!)

Anonymous said...

Hey - I drove by the strip mall that Blockbuster is in on South Washington Street...on the far south end they are remodeling a business, so being nosy, I went and read the building permit. Another Grand Junction Sub shop. Seems like an odd location, but it is nice to see a good business go into that mall.

Anonymous said...

How soon the town forgets.

Larry O scammed his way into a liquor license in EGF. When the property was whacked by the flood, they wouldn't renew his license. The city probably gave him a big-buck boyout to go away. GF allowed him to transfer The Edge's license when he leased the joint. It was a very sad baromoter about the desperation level of our city/council.

dale said...

Say what you will, Larry O's bars kept the Holiday Mall (now Riverwalk Centre) hopping. At least when I was in college. Bring back the Level 7! (And the Spud, and Sportsman's Den, and Shenanigans, while you're at it. :-)

Anonymous said...

Long ago in a land far, far, away.

Anonymous said...

Cool - Grand Junction closer to my house. Not a bad location at all.

GrandForksGuy said...

I have it on good authority that the new Grand Junction is not in addition to the existing store. Instead, the existing store is closing and they are moving to this new location.

I personally can't imagine that visibility will be so great at the new store, but I hope they have success. I wonder what Hal Gershman will get to fill the empty space at his strip mall?

Anonymous said...

The visibility issue is a very big one with the new store, as it is directly behind the old Philips 66 gas station. It can't be seen from South Washington.

Matt BK said...

GFG, I bet you can help me with this. Someone I know on DakotaRoar.com is looking to start a roller derby league, and they're looking for a place to practice. Can you think of anyone they might talk to about a warehouse or other large space?

GrandForksGuy said...

Matthew...hmmm, I'm not sure. Readers? I'm thinking you wouldn't be able to find a facility unless you were willing to pay at least a modest fee.

Matt BK said...

They may be willing to. I really have no idea. I'm just trying to help them out.

Anonymous said...

...and speaking of visibility...

with the on-going dialogue over Gateway Drive blight, how about that doggoned eyesore of an abandoned Phillips 66 station on South Washington? Think of the possibilities of utilizing the design of an early-vintage gas station as one converted it to, say, a Mama Maria's or some authentic food stop that is so often mentioned in this blog.

Yeah...I know...money. It takes money.

Wendy said...

I may be way behind the times, as I don't travel on Columbia very often, but just noticed the other day that Perkins is flying a gigantic flag again. I think it went away for awhile, but 'tis nice to see it back. Anybody have the scoop?

Anonymous said...

I don't know about you but I miss Joe Dimaggios. They had such great food and the place was so nice with the paintings. I went into Joe Blacks and no one waited on me and I sat there for over 10 min so I just left. I heard they are not doing well. I can see why. Anyway like the songs says where have you gone joe dimaggios?

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