On Oct 19, 2005, at 6:48 PM, Michael Thompson wrote:
But hey, as long as the Linden Hills enlightened can listen to
their jaaaazzzzzz, mannnnn, in a smoke-free environment twice a
month, that's all that matters, right? The smaller, locally-owned,
mom and pop bars where blue-collar working people go........ who
cares.
Um, we were discussing the closing of an Olive Garden. I'll admit it
is locally owned in a manner of speaking (General Mills), and I
suppose you could think of Betty Crocker as Mom...
I'm generally sorry for the bars that are negatively affected by the
broader societal shift away from allowing smoking in indoor public
places. But the idea that the Olive Garden might have closed because
people couldn't smoke there any longer is absurd.
As to Mike Hohmann's original question:
What's the solution for Hennepin Ave between 6th and 8th? Live
theater does well a couple blocks south, how about the movie
theaters in Block E? Are
they making it; doing well, or just getting by?
Last time I was at a late movie in Block E theaters, I found the
Hennepin
Ave. street scene troublesome... not inducive to normal business
activity or
welcoming to out-of-town guests. What are the crime statistics
(trends)
over the past five years in that location? Do they correlate with
lost
restaurant business?
As someone who has walked several or more times to the Nicollet Mall
from a movie in what I like to think of as a bastard child of a
Circus Pizza and a bus depot, here's my thought: Light up and
enliven 6th and 8th. Visually connect the disaster that is E Block to
the Mall, so that people feel comfortable walking between the two.
The connection between E Block and First is okay on 6th, but not
great on 8th, so that should also be improved upon.
I agree with Mr. Hohmann that the vibe we ended up with is not ideal.
We're stuck with it, though, for at least 8 years (wasn't that the
life of that building that stood where the Target is now?) so my
humble opinion is that the best way to deal with it is to create
pedestrian friendly corridors between it and the Mall and the Target
Center.
And as long as we're mentioning restaurants we miss, I miss Chez
Bananas. Beans and rice, fish in tropical salsas, rum drinks, and
magic 8 balls. Independent, too.
Becca Vargo Daggett
Seward
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