May 2, 20169 yr Signage for Coastal Taco getting installed today. Bright blue. Looks pretty cool Ran through yesterday and saw the signage...definitely stands out and I think it fits with that neighborhood...does it face the water too? I only saw it from Old River as that is where I ran. It looks like there is a window facing the street at Coastal Taco where you can possible order tacos to go and go eat them in the park or whatever. Nice add in my opionion. There is a small building next to Coastal Taco that is erected...is there something else going there?
May 2, 20169 yr Signage for Coastal Taco getting installed today. Bright blue. Looks pretty cool Ran through yesterday and saw the signage...definitely stands out and I think it fits with that neighborhood...does it face the water too? I only saw it from Old River as that is where I ran. It looks like there is a window facing the street at Coastal Taco where you can possible order tacos to go and go eat them in the park or whatever. Nice add in my opionion. There is a small building next to Coastal Taco that is erected...is there something else going there? Might that be the Metroparks new water taxi stand?
May 3, 20169 yr Author Magnolia to Join Entertainment Scene in Flats East Bank http://m.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2016/05/03/magnolia-to-join-entertainment-scene-in-flats-east-bank "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 5, 20169 yr http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/05/jimmy_buffetts_margaritaville.html#incart_river_home
May 5, 20169 yr Boom ;) [quoete author=shakeratl link=topic=1823.msg801619#msg801619 date=1462464523] http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/05/jimmy_buffetts_margaritaville.html#incart_river_home
May 17, 20169 yr Coastal Taco is opening sometime during Memorial Day weekend and is looking super cute.
May 24, 20169 yr FEB applies for Open Container Ordinance http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/05/flats_east_bank_could_become_c.html#incart_river_home
May 25, 20169 yr Coastal Taco is opening sometime during Memorial Day weekend and is looking super cute. Was in there tonight for the soft opening. Food and service were so so, but that's to be expected. The space is superb. Full opening this Friday. My hovercraft is full of eels
May 25, 20169 yr FEB is going full Bourbon Street. God I hope not. Hope they class it up. Bourbon street is disgusting
May 25, 20169 yr Author FEB is going full Bourbon Street. God I hope not. Hope they class it up. Bourbon street is disgusting That's what the old Flats East Bank was. At least with Bourbon Street they washed the streets first thing each morning. Not so with the old FEB, and the "after-party" would accumulate. Now THAT was disgusting. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 25, 20169 yr FEB applies for Open Container Ordinance http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/05/flats_east_bank_could_become_c.html#incart_river_home Interesting to see if they get this in order before the Republican convention. As described by the ordinance, here are some of the steps an applicant would be required to take: Provide evidence that the area would be "in accord" with the city's master zoning plan, and the area contains no areas that would be hazardous to pedestrian use, including railroad tracks, an area with a "steep grade or slope" or areas that abut bodies of water, including streams, rivers, lakes, etc. ^ Amazing that the FEB has all of these!
May 29, 20169 yr My friend & I Rapid-ed down to Scene's "Taste of Summer" festival which was totally free yesterday afternoon-evening. Huge crowds, including a number who opted to use WFL rather than drive. The entire scene (no pun intended) was impressive as all the FEB restaurants got to strut their stuff with speciality food & drink in separate booths mainly next to Crop establishments. After the rains let up, it was a leisurely evening: we sampled several items; strolled the Boardwalk, boat and people watched. Later on in the evening, we strolled over to the new Coastal Taco for some drinks and a couple tacos while we caught the 1st half of the Thunder vs. Warriors NBA game. CT was literally slammed with people; we could barely get a seat at the bar and, then, it took forever to get a bartender's attention... But it was all good; no rush. Everyone was in a good mood. My friend was amazed at the crowds, as was I. Coastal Taco is a middle-of-the-road counterpoint to the upscale Alley Cat up the Boardwalk; these are the only 2 FEB eateries that are directly on the river and, like Alley Cat, Coastal Taco has a substatial outdoor deck. One insteresting aspect is the exterior of the place. Even though it's brand new; just opened this weekend (I believe), the building looks older, its walls were like white painted brick. This seemed deliberate for effect on down to the kitschy faux tropical signage. It reminded me a lot of the old Beach Club along the old FEB; nice touch.
June 2, 20169 yr Checkout these guys enjoying the Flats last night! Awesome stuff... Saturday eve, there was a guy who came over to Coastal Taco boasting that he'd seen LeBron & Co. over at Alley Cat. Obviously, he wasn't lyin'... Btw the building is made of wood, not brick (I touched it), which further enhances CT's beach resort motif... Went by yesterday at around 4:30p on a lazy afternoon, and the joint was busy -- not packed like Saturday, but very busy, with lots of folks at the bar, some in the restaurant, and most out on the outdoor plaza -- others were playing games, like ping pong... CT looks like a hit already.
June 2, 20169 yr The inside of Coastal Taco is a sunny, surfy knockout. The patio was inviting (but preferred indoors). The place was very crowded last Friday, the announced opening day (notable locals Scott Wolstein, Doug Trattner and Sam McNulty were among the diners I saw). Not sure I personally bought into the order-by-checklist Taco menu, but liked the place. However, Crop's nearby concepts appeartoed be struggling... and Punch Bowl wasn't all that crowded when we left around 7:30 on a Friday.. Hope things pick up at night.
June 14, 20169 yr Author GCRTA and Delta Railroad Construction of Ashtabula replacing more Waterfront Line light rail crossings and tracks this week at the Flats East Bank station... 20160614_130511 by Ken Prendergast, on Flickr 20160614_130442 by Ken Prendergast, on Flickr 20160614_130429 by Ken Prendergast, on Flickr 20160614_130315_002 by Ken Prendergast, on Flickr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 14, 20169 yr Author Coastal Taco expanded its hours and opened for lunch on June 10. Nice crowd on their riverside patio. The views of the city and passing ships were even better.... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 14, 20169 yr The inside of Coastal Taco is a sunny, surfy knockout. The patio was inviting (but preferred indoors). The place was very crowded last Friday, the announced opening day (notable locals Scott Wolstein, Doug Trattner and Sam McNulty were among the diners I saw). Not sure I personally bought into the order-by-checklist Taco menu, but liked the place. However, Crop's nearby concepts appeartoed be struggling... and Punch Bowl wasn't all that crowded when we left around 7:30 on a Friday.. Hope things pick up at night. I am tad concerned about Punch Bowl, too. They just have so much space and it's got to be a pretty penny. When crowds let down even a little, it's going to make Punch Bowl seem semi-empty. In the summer when more people want to sit outside, the place may suffer-- although PB has outdoor seating, too. I hope it works out; it's a fun place... The Taco's at Coastal were OK, but I really liked the place esp its outdoor deck ... although they can't out-deck Alley Cat.
June 14, 20169 yr ^^I'm glad RTA is finally replacing the Main Ave FEB crossing. It was very rough on the tires.
June 14, 20169 yr The inside of Coastal Taco is a sunny, surfy knockout. The patio was inviting (but preferred indoors). The place was very crowded last Friday, the announced opening day (notable locals Scott Wolstein, Doug Trattner and Sam McNulty were among the diners I saw). Not sure I personally bought into the order-by-checklist Taco menu, but liked the place. However, Crop's nearby concepts appeartoed be struggling... and Punch Bowl wasn't all that crowded when we left around 7:30 on a Friday.. Hope things pick up at night. I am tad concerned about Punch Bowl, too. They just have so much space and it's got to be a pretty penny. When crowds let down even a little, it's going to make Punch Bowl seem semi-empty. In the summer when more people want to sit outside, the place may suffer-- although PB has outdoor seating, too. I hope it works out; it's a fun place... The Taco's at Coastal were OK, but I really liked the place esp its outdoor deck ... although they can't out-deck Alley Cat. I've heard that the CLE punchbowl is the highest grossing in the chain of 11 restaurants they have thus far.
June 15, 20169 yr Took my dad, stepmom and grandma down to the on Sunday to eat at Alley Cat. It was their first time down to the new flats (and my grandmas first trip downtown at all in over a decade). They all thoroughly enjoyed it and were very impressed by the whole development, and especially the boardwalk, and kept saying how much nicer it was than the old flats. Even my grandma, who usually thinks of Cracker Barrel as the best place to eat, is super excited to come back and try other restaurants and absolutely can't wait for Margaritaville to open.
June 20, 20168 yr Author Flats cost overruns call for reworked loans June 19, 2016 UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO By STAN BULLARD Keeping the now-rocking Flats East Bank Neighborhood rolling through the fits and starts of the Great Recession was tough, but a city of Cleveland-led drive to restructure government loans that aided the project show it was even tougher than known at the time. The $750 million project razed old buildings along Old River Road facing the Cuyahoga River from Main Avenue to the Port of Cleveland and took one of the oldest parts of Cleveland back to bare ground in 2008. Then most work ground to a stop in the financial crisis. Financing the project was changed to get it started again in 2012. Two phases of the project have since transformed the east side of the river adjoining downtown with the 2013 opening of the Aloft Hotel and Ernst & Young Office Tower and, over the last year, the Flats at East Bank apartments, restaurants and a public promenade on the riverside. MORE: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160619/NEWS/160619804/flats-cost-overruns-call-for-reworked-loans#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccl-morningroundup&utm_campaign=ccl-morningroundup-20160620 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 6, 20168 yr So, this past Friday the wife and I stopped down to the "Flat Out Fridays" on the East Bank. Here's a link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1566811976944645/ I was pleasantly surprised with the event. And I didn't realize that the open container area had been passed for the FEB. It was nice to be able to be there outside, walking around, enjoying the music and having a few drinks. Another win for the East Bank!!! Later in the evening, on the way back to our car, we also stopped in for a quick appetizer and drink at the East End. I had driven by the place a few times and was glad that we stopped in. Here's a link with their info: https://www.facebook.com/EastEndRestaurant/?rf=1500695900240362 Enough of a club vibe inside to remind me of the good old Flats / W.6th days, but also with a bit of a grown up restaurant / lounge vibe. Good times!!!
July 6, 20168 yr I was pleasantly surprised with the event. And I didn't realize that the open container area had been passed for the FEB. It was nice to be able to be there outside, walking around, enjoying the music and having a few drinks. Another win for the East Bank!!! Has it officially gone into effect? I thought you were able to walk around with drinks because certain areas are gated off and security is present, such as with other outdoor events with alcohol.
July 6, 20168 yr Has it officially gone into effect? I thought you were able to walk around with drinks because certain areas are gated off and security is present, such as with other outdoor events with alcohol. Not sure if it's official yet?? But after Friday being able to be out there walking around w/ drinks, even up and down the boardwalk. I just figured that the open container area had been passed.
July 29, 20168 yr Everyone is ragging on Stark for delays at nucleus, but wasn't Phase 3 supposed to break ground in winter/ spring 2016. And nobody is complaining.
July 29, 20168 yr Maybe that's because Fairmont has completed the first 2 phases of FEB which, to date, is a very extensive, amazing, game changing development while Stark has yet to turn a single spade of dirt on a major downtown project while he has been running his mouth about such for 15 years,...at least... Yet I'm ready to cut him some slack since the Beacon at 515 appears to be a go and nuCLEus seems to ne advancing. ... I know earlier it was posted that FEB had some cost overruns and reworked loans. There was no word as to whether this would delay FEB Phase 3, though Fairmont has been silent as to when Phase 3 will break ground.
July 29, 20168 yr From what I've heard, Phase 3 is being reconsidered. It was previously supposed to be another midrise office building. But another apartment building is looking more likely at this point
July 29, 20168 yr From what I've heard, Phase 3 is being reconsidered. It was previously supposed to be another midrise office building. But another apartment building is looking more likely at this point
July 29, 20168 yr Author So two apartment buildings may be in phase 3? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 29, 20168 yr Maybe that's because Fairmont has completed the first 2 phases of FEB which, to date, is a very extensive, amazing, game changing development while Stark has yet to turn a single spade of dirt on a major downtown project while he has been running his mouth about such for 15 years,...at least... Yet I'm ready to cut him some slack since the Beacon at 515 appears to be a go and nuCLEus seems to ne advancing. ... I know earlier it was posted that FEB had some cost overruns and reworked loans. There was no word as to whether this would delay FEB Phase 3, though Fairmont has been silent as to when Phase 3 will break ground. FEB took over 7 years to get shovels in the ground, and that project was in the hands of a much larger developer than Stark.
July 29, 20168 yr ^Timing (Great Recession) and land assembly had a lot to do with that. I remember the city considering the use of eminent domain in order to get the holdouts out of the way in order for construction to begin. Remember some of the renderings the holdout property owners put together for their "plans" for the East Bank? Some were quickly put together overnight only to push the price of their land up. But that's part of the game. Stark has site control for both the Beacon and NeCLEus. One can only hope it won't be too much longer before NuCLEus gets off the ground.
July 29, 20168 yr Author Flats East Bank got a ton of subsidies too (TIF, Issue 2 grants, city-led eminent domain, low-interest port-backed financing, etc) because no one was financing major construction projects in the late-00s. I was Sun's Cleveland City Hall reporter back then and Mayor Jackson's staff said the city needed some stimulus and some wins to jumpstart the climb out of the Great Recession. FEB was one of the wins the mayor pinned his hopes on (so were the Inner Belt bridges, convention center/MMCC, casino, and some lesser public sector-led projects). "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 29, 20168 yr ^I think it's safe to assume NuCLEUs is working hard to get its own layer cake of subsidies and patchwork financing, likely including TIF, bond financing, as-of-right tax abatement, etc. Things maybe somewhat better now, but conventional lenders still aren't financing big projects in Cleveland without a huge equity/LTV cushion.
August 13, 20168 yr Bad news. The Flats Crop restaurants and On-air will close this September... I've also heard that Flipside will be closing in the near future... Is this the beginning of the end?
August 13, 20168 yr I guess we won't see phase 3 breaking ground soon when all of these restaurants are planning on closing. Some some lower rents would help these businesses break even. http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/crop-rocks-crop-sticks-in-flats-east-bank-to-close/296371605
August 13, 20168 yr Hmmm, they're closing 3 of their 4 restaurants, including one not at FEB. I'm guessing location wasn't the problem.
August 13, 20168 yr I thought they were highly visible when I visited. The thing about the flats is unless you passed it on a boat ride, saw it from the west bank, or are exploring you don't know about it. This is true at least from people I've talked to. When people mention downtown I always ask, "have you visited the flats" and they'd ask "where is that?". Downtown is easy to explore a lot of times but having a neighborhood tucked at a bottom of a hill, connected to an unknown train line hurts it's potential without any type of advertisement or marketing. EDIT: Now I haven't visited at night in a little while so I don't know the current climate. Crop Rocks may very well have some deeper issues going on. With flipside potentially closing as well it the closures issue is something to look out for, that would make 4 since it opened. I understand restaurants close all the time but in the same development? That's a little worrisome. Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
August 13, 20168 yr The Crop restaurants aside from Crop Bistro never impressed me. Food was ok and service was mediocre. They never seemed busy. It also seems like the concepts were not very well thought out and executed. FlipSide however is worrisome. I really like FlipSide and have always had good food and service at the downtown location. I hope that rumor isn't true. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
August 13, 20168 yr The Crop closures don't surprise me, although I did enjoy their food, drinks, and atmosphere (I seem to be in the minority here). The flipside rumor is confusing to me, because every time I'm at Willeyville I see people nonstop funnel into that restaurant. They always seem to have a steady customer stream. Hoping it's not true...
August 13, 20168 yr Phase 3 will tie together the Aloft side and the water side... and can't come quickly enough. With that said, Crop overbuilt. Simple as that. Seemed wrong from day one. Flip side, who knows. The always busy one here in downtown Chagrin Falls seems less busy - and they just started a happy hour, which they didn't have the 4-5 prior years they have been open. Wonder why? Burger trend over? Just had a work friend from Green Bay visit for football Hall of Fame over weekend. He and friends (without me included as tour guide) found the Flats East Bank raved about the FEB and downtown. By the time I made it to Green Bay for a meeting this week, everybody in office has heard how great CLE was now.
August 13, 20168 yr The one time I attempted to try Crop Sticks, we sat down, got our drinks and placed our order, no problem. Then 5mins later the waiter comes back and tells us the sushi chef had left and the kitchen was closing early. This was about 8:30 on a day they were open until 10. To be fair they did give us a gift card. Even though I don't personally like their burgers, I love the milkshakes at Flip Side. I hope their closure is just a rumor. It's always been busy when I was there at night, although a little empty around lunch time even on weekends.
August 15, 20168 yr The one time I attempted to try Crop Sticks, we sat down, got our drinks and placed our order, no problem. Then 5mins later the waiter comes back and tells us the sushi chef had left and the kitchen was closing early. This was about 8:30 on a day they were open until 10. To be fair they did give us a gift card. Even though I don't personally like their burgers, I love the milkshakes at Flip Side. I hope their closure is just a rumor. It's always been busy when I was there at night, although a little empty around lunch time even on weekends. Ugh. Haven't heard that as I like Flip side better than B-Spot. That's the problem with these type developments. Its always so difficult and risky for the initial round of merchants as critical mass just isn't there to support them at such a high rent location.
August 15, 20168 yr The Crop closures don't surprise me, although I did enjoy their food, drinks, and atmosphere (I seem to be in the minority here). The flipside rumor is confusing to me, because every time I'm at Willeyville I see people nonstop funnel into that restaurant. They always seem to have a steady customer stream. Hoping it's not true... Crop was in a tough location of the FEB. Away from the traffic flow and not on the waterfront like Alleycat. People pull up to park and see 5 other restaurants first - Bold, Willeyville, Flipside, Beerhead & Punchbowl... make that 6 now with Coastal Taco. Flipside is good but from someone who works in FEB, how many $12 burgers can a person eat?
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