I like those Olympia parking decks.

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/downtown/lawsuit-alleges-toby-keiths-owners-had-scheme-to-reap-all-star-profits-short-change-workers

 

I hope this will not effect the Banks in anyway by allowing it to operate over the event.

This one seems like a no-brainer. I bet they will try to settle out of court.

This is the kind of crap that you see owners of individual bars and restaurants pull off, as well as low-class landlords and people who prey on college-aged "freelancers".  It's a bit more brazen for a chain restaurant with investors behind it to attempt it. 

Noticed last night that the GE building has skin up to about the 4th floor.  Moving right along.  Viewing from the direction of PBS, you realize that GE along with the apartments are pretty massive, especially compared to their predecessors a few blocks east.

 

Also there's quite a bit of equipment on site and the area is fenced off for the new garage construction.  This garage will really provide a huge pad for further development.  It's be nice to see the garage finished and development happening atop by this time next year but I'm sure that's pushing it.

I quickly skimmed that actual lawsuit and it seems the claim is because the final checks sent out to employees could not be cashed because the TKILTBAG account had no money in it. I don’t see how the All Star Game, or even The Banks itself has anything to do with this. It was probably an accounting error – I doubt they seriously thought they could get away with passing a bunch of (probably relatively small) checks.

 

There’s nothing wrong with them staying open through the ASG to make a bunch of money before closing, and there’s nothing wrong with them not telling employees ahead of time. It’s pretty normal to keep a pending closing secret until it actually happens, if the employees knew word would spread like wildfire and a lot of them would stop showing up.

 

Has all the negative press on these Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill closures around the country had any person impact on Toby Keith the country singer?  I'd assume all this shadiness would reflect poorly on him.

But you should at least have the courage to tell them in person instead of having them show up to work and just putting a sign on the door saying they were closed.

 

I wonder if deliveries were still coming to the door or if they had at least stopped ordering things.

Has all the negative press on these Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill closures around the country had any person impact on Toby Keith the country singer?  I'd assume all this shadiness would reflect poorly on him.

 

I don't think most people really care.

I quickly skimmed that actual lawsuit and it seems the claim is because the final checks sent out to employees could not be cashed because the TKILTBAG account had no money in it. I don’t see how the All Star Game, or even The Banks itself has anything to do with this. It was probably an accounting error – I doubt they seriously thought they could get away with passing a bunch of (probably relatively small) checks.

 

There’s nothing wrong with them staying open through the ASG to make a bunch of money before closing, and there’s nothing wrong with them not telling employees ahead of time. It’s pretty normal to keep a pending closing secret until it actually happens, if the employees knew word would spread like wildfire and a lot of them would stop showing up.

 

 

Hahaha innocent accounting errors don't end up in class action lawsuits.

 

Hahaha innocent accounting errors don't end up in class action lawsuits.

 

The only other logical reason would be they plan to file for bankruptcy and really don’t have money. You really think they thought they could pull a fast one to save a few thousand dollars? They probably had fewer than 100 paychecks to send out, most of which were for below minimum wage to servers and bartenders. We’re probably not talking about very much money, as this class action lawsuit is for 11 restaurant employee paychecks for a short period of time.

I guess you could ask them.

 

Oops, you can't. They aren't answering the phone.

It's pretty typical for restaurants or bars that are doing poorly to wait until just after a big event to close. Might as well get that boost of revenue at the end before you call it quits.

 

It's also pretty typical for bars and restaurants to not give their employees advanced notice before closing. Not trying to justify it, just saying it's very typical.

Phase II apartments coming along...

It already looks better than Phase I.  Hell, that fence and plywood look better than Phase I.

I think the should leave that Bengals Orange weather barrier paper up, personally. At least through the Super Bowl.

^The orange would probably be faded by 2019. ;)

Here’s when the next phase of the Banks will kick off

Aug 21, 2015, 12:46pm EDT 

Erin Caproni  Digital ProducerCincinnati Business Courier 

 

 

Construction of the third phase of the Banks development is set to begin next week.

 

A ceremonial groundbreaking for phase 3A will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Race Street and Freedom Way.

 

The next phase will include the creation of 690 parking spaces on two levels just south of General Electric’s U.S. Global Operations Center and the new apartment complex that’s currently under construction.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/08/21/here-s-when-the-next-phase-of-the-banks-will-kick.html

Whatever happened with Dinsmore & Shohl looking for new office space? Did they ever decide on anything?

Phase 3A ahead of tomorrow "groundbreaking":

Whatever happened with Dinsmore & Shohl looking for new office space? Did they ever decide on anything?

 

No recent updates. The latest being this Biz Courier article from a year ago: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2014/08/cincinnati-s-largest-law-firm-hunting-for-new.html

 

As it states, their lease isn't up until 2018 so they have some time to decide. Obviously GE took Banks Phase II office space, but Phase III is a possibility as is a potential new W&S tower.

I would really love for the other stand-alone restaurant to be announced already.  The sooner that happens, the sooner that lawn in front of the Freedom Center can stop being a construction staging ground. Also, the other restaurant would provide another 'stepping stone' leading over to the phase 2 establishments.  For such a small site, it seems to have a ton of importance and visual impact.  Hoping for an announcement there soon.

I heard rumors about that becoming a Giordanos, that could've just been based on their stated desire to have a restaurant downtown though.

Oh, God no.  No!!!

You guys will hate me for saying this and I think that space is much to high-profile for such a thing but The Banks needs a suburban slop-house like Fridays,  et al.

You guys will hate me for saying this and I think that space is much to high-profile for such a thing but The Banks needs a suburban slop-house like Fridays,  et al.

 

No thanks. We can have chains to draw in people who are less adventurous, but they need to be better than that. We've failed if we end up with a Friday's or AppleBee's down there.

If the Banks were being built 10-15 years ago, I would agree with you. But I think that the tastes of a lot of Cincinnatians have advanced quite a bit. A lot more people from the suburbs are looking for a unique dining experience when they come into the city. Maybe still not the majority, but a lot more than in the past... so there's no reason we should cater to the lowest common denominator. I mean, both the Lager House and Yard House are "American" restaurants where you can get a burger, a salad, chicken fingers, or whatever. If someone isn't adventurous enough to try one of those places, it's their loss. The only other excuse I can think of is that somewhere "kid-friendly" is needed... so why not build something like a Rainforest Cafe?

Yeah I could definitely get behind something that has kids specifically in mind. A ton of kids are always down at the park and having something that's quicker and easier for parents could be useful. Granted I don't think that would be a good fit for the pad across from Yard House.

 

Actually I think that would be a great idea for a small in-park cafe like what's being planned for Public Square in Cleveland. Small, quick service, easy food.

 

I'd really like some smaller out buildings in the park now that I'm thinking about it. A small coffee place, some kiosks that sell items like pretzels, bagels, pastries, etc. This might need to wait until office workers from GE are there and phase 2 and 3 apartments are finished but it's a good long term goal. These things bring a lot of life and adaptability to the park.

I don't think Friday's et al couldn't turn a profit at The Banks. It's gotta be a place where people order more alcohol. I think that's one of the faults of Johnny Rockets. I believe they sold alcohol, but no one wants to order a beer at Johnny Rockets. And most families aren't going to drive to The Banks specifically to get Johnny Rockets. Same goes for Friday's & Co. You need something that sells enough alcohol, is pretty unique to the region, but isn't too adventurous. Giordano's would do great at The Banks because it checks off all categories.

Yeah I could definitely get behind something that has kids specifically in mind. A ton of kids are always down at the park and having something that's quicker and easier for parents could be useful. Granted I don't think that would be a good fit for the pad across from Yard House.

 

Actually I think that would be a great idea for a small in-park cafe like what's being planned for Public Square in Cleveland. Small, quick service, easy food.

 

I'd really like some smaller out buildings in the park now that I'm thinking about it. A small coffee place, some kiosks that sell items like pretzels, bagels, pastries, etc. This might need to wait until office workers from GE are there and phase 2 and 3 apartments are finished but it's a good long term goal. These things bring a lot of life and adaptability to the park.

 

I agree completely with this.  Some place to just sell a small sandwhich meal, ice cream, coffee, etc. for lunch breakers.  Or possibly just allowing a lot more food trucks, or maybe some permanent food truck infrastructure if that makes sense?  Sometimes I like going down there for just the park itself, and thought many times how great it could be to grab a quick coffee while enjoying the views of the Ohio River and the quiet park.

Putting in some parking pads and electrical outlets and maybe some permanent outdoor seating would be all you need to make a food truck stand work.

I also want to say I am extremely excited in all this development happening at once on the Banks.  Will they be pouring 2 more parking Pads before this is built out?

 

The GE Jobs are going to do wonders for Downtown Cincinnati.  I think also it is going to accellerate the small business ventures in OTR who are helping service GE.

 

Things are really starting to roll in downtown and OTR and I can't wait for what the next few years bring, especially once the streetcar starts rolling.

Latest master plan for The Banks:

 

 

Not so sure about that block closest to Paul Brown Stadium...

Putting in some parking pads and electrical outlets and maybe some permanent outdoor seating would be all you need to make a food truck stand work.

 

This could start today at Castellini Esplanade.

^^ Once the Banks is all built out, I think then the city should seriously consider adding the caps over top of Fort Washington Way.  Perhaps they can do it with TIF Funds from the sites?

 

Is there a cap on TIF Funds for the Banks site?  What happens when all the development is finished?  Can they extend the TIF from The Banks over top of the blocks where the caps would go?  I believe that TIF Funds can only be spent inside the TIF Zone, correct?

I think that block closest to PBS looks odd. Seems like something else would fit better there, just not sure what.

That block by PBS looks a little like the state capitol complex of NY in Albany.

 

Yeah I could definitely get behind something that has kids specifically in mind. A ton of kids are always down at the park and having something that's quicker and easier for parents could be useful. Granted I don't think that would be a good fit for the pad across from Yard House.

 

Actually I think that would be a great idea for a small in-park cafe like what's being planned for Public Square in Cleveland. Small, quick service, easy food.

 

I'd really like some smaller out buildings in the park now that I'm thinking about it. A small coffee place, some kiosks that sell items like pretzels, bagels, pastries, etc. This might need to wait until office workers from GE are there and phase 2 and 3 apartments are finished but it's a good long term goal. These things bring a lot of life and adaptability to the park.

 

Back to the restaurant thing: I supposed Friday's was the worst example possible.  You expressed my thoughts better than I did.  Essentially I still feel a little sheepish about taking 3 boys under age 10 into YH and MLH (and especially HG) anytime after say 3PM since they are so "beer oriented".  I'm not a prude, I readily enjoy the brews when we do go, but I feel like the lids stick out a bit. 

 

A place like Rainforest would be good.  Not that familiar with Giordano's.

 

Heck, for that matter, why would LaRosa's not build a flagship there on the lawn?  (I think we've covered this before.)

 

http://www.wcpo.com/money/local-business-news/exclusive-chicago-style-pizza-giant-giordanos-eyes-cincinnati-as-expansion-market

I actually think a flagship LaRosa's somewhere in The Banks (not on the lawn as I think that needs to be something unique to the region) would work well, but they've stated they have no intention of doing a store Downtown.

Mayor: Scrap the office tower and do condos at the Banks (http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/08/25/mayor-scrap-the-office-tower-and-do-condos-at-the.html)

 

Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said it’s time for the Banks developers to look at a different use for first phase development pad earmarked for an office tower.

...

“They should reconsider that as a condo site,” Cranley said.

 

But Dan McCarthy, project executive for the Banks lead developer, Carter, said there has never been any conversation about switching the use for the site.

 

“We are moving full speed ahead with plans for class A office there,” McCarthy told me. “This will be a premier office building with high visibility. I can’t think of a better option for a large class A office user.”

 

Two things immediately come time mind because this Mayor has made me extremely cynical:

[*]The Mayor has a condo developer friend who would like the site

[*]The Mayor wants to grease the skids for his pal John Barrett and the new W&S tower, eliminating competition

Wow.

I don't disagree with Cranley too much over this. They need something there, it can't keep sitting empty. If there is a market for condos in that spot, build condos there. I think it'd be better served by office space but how long has it been vacant? Obviously there isn't too much demand for it but maybe GE will change that. Can't wait too long.

Maybe Cranley can follow up the stellar success that Incline Village was with another condo development of his own at The Banks?

Maybe Towne Properties could build 5 single-family townhomes at that site.

Maybe Cranley can follow up the stellar success that Incline Village was with another condo development of his own at The Banks?

 

He could build 14 condos, sell 2, then break the HOA and rent out the other 12.  Also, he could borrow $70,000 from the city, never pay it back, and never worry about the press calling him out on it. 

[Two things immediately come time mind because this Mayor has made me extremely cynical:

[*]The Mayor has a condo developer friend who would like the site

[*]The Mayor wants to grease the skids for his pal John Barrett and the new W&S tower, eliminating competition

 

Maybe the Lindner boys will snap their fingers and a UDF will sprout. 

 

 

I'm still shocked how ambivalent the local cincy companies are towards urban revival.  Greaters is the only one that gets it with their OTR store, which I'm sure is a practice format for a store in Chicago once they finally make it to the city here (probably delayed versus the suburbs due to a corrupt system of permitting that is in dire need of reform).

 

I'm not sure what the holdup is for UDF, Skyline Chili, or LaRosas - they all should be focusing on capitalizing on growth in the urban core - the writing is on the wall, I'm wondering if its just sheer parochialism that's holding them back.

I'm still shocked how ambivalent the local cincy companies are towards urban revival.  Greaters is the only one that gets it with their OTR store, which I'm sure is a practice format for a store in Chicago once they finally make it to the city here (probably delayed versus the suburbs due to a corrupt system of permitting that is in dire need of reform).

 

I'm not sure what the holdup is for UDF, Skyline Chili, or LaRosas - they all should be focusing on capitalizing on growth in the urban core - the writing is on the wall, I'm wondering if its just sheer parochialism that's holding them back.

 

Often overlooked in these conversations, Izzy's always got it, with their two CBD locations.  Skyline is sort of there as well, but really should have a presence at either the Banks or in OTR, given how widely popular they are.  Totally agree on the rest.

I'm still shocked how ambivalent the local cincy companies are towards urban revival.  Greaters is the only one that gets it with their OTR store, which I'm sure is a practice format for a store in Chicago once they finally make it to the city here (probably delayed versus the suburbs due to a corrupt system of permitting that is in dire need of reform).

 

I'm not sure what the holdup is for UDF, Skyline Chili, or LaRosas - they all should be focusing on capitalizing on growth in the urban core - the writing is on the wall, I'm wondering if its just sheer parochialism that's holding them back.

 

Often overlooked in these conversations, Izzy's always got it, with their two CBD locations.  Skyline is sort of there as well, but really should have a presence at either the Banks or in OTR, given how widely popular they are.  Totally agree on the rest.

 

Izzys still focuses a bit more on the lunch crowd than it does on residents.  Ditto for Skyline - as has been discussed the guy who runs the skyline at court/vine is probably loosing a ton of money by not being open later.

 

Though what's probably most shocking to me is a lack of interest in having "flagship" stores on the banks, ways to spread goodwill about the region to out of towners who might be passing through to baseball games give tourists a taste of local culture in a friendly easy to access package - the banks should be perfect for that.  Again insular focus.

Opening a Banks location would really hurt their Sycamore location since they stay open later on Reds game days. Also the Skyline on Vine and 7th stays open pretty late. There's no reason for the one on Court Street to stay open late when there is one 3 blocks away doing it. And they're hardly ever packed. So I don't think the Court Street location is missing out on a gold mine.

 

I think the owners of the Sycamore location should relocate in the former Johnny Rockets location.