In a message dated 2/4/2005 8:48:19 AM Eastern Standard Time, "Mike Fratto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>In many communities, the revival of the downtown area was driven bythe >strategic placement of public attractions. > Name one. I spent eight years as the aide to the City Council Member representing downtown St Paul and I can tell you one truth. Every successful downtown in the nation if not the planet is successful when it has established a minimum number of people who LIVE downtown. It is then and only then that night life becomes successful. You may be able to bring people in to see an attraction but the bars and restaurants that you want them to go to will only be successful if there is a stable customer group who frequents them when your attraction is dark. So, current example and learning experience. Which restaurants near the civic center are still doing OK (not gang busters but holding their own) with the Wild dark and while other restaurants are about ready to go belly up? If you answered the Downtowner, Cossetta's and McGovern's as businesses who bring in return customers you'd be correct. These businesses grew with the Irvine Park neighborhood and established themselves as a part of Downtown/West Seventh community. Whereas the Eagle Street Grill has been on TV crying about how bad business is. You remember them they were one of the bars that prided themselves on smelling like an ash tray and catering to clients who were trying to throw down a sandwich and as many beers as possible before the puck dropped. "I have to have smoking or I'll lose all my business," looks like he lost it all anyway... So, attractions are nice, and we should pick and chose which one's we want to invest in, but always remember we have to figure out how to get people to live there if we want any place fun to go after we visit the attraction. Just My Opinion Not Those Of My Employer Past Present Or Future Chuck Repke W. 7th _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
