I too am concerned about Johnny Rocket's. I keep hearing from friends of mine that work downtown that it's just too expensive  to justify going for lunch on a regular basis ($17 for burger, fries and a soda - OUCH!) The place is always dead when I go a jog down there at night during the week.

 

Kind of seems like bad timing to open a) in a new location without much foot traffic yet b) in the winter c) without any of the stadium traffic

 

Seems like a ripe location for Five Guys to come in :-)

^One night a friend and I were out late shooting (edit: shooting photos, not heroin) and decided to hit up Joe's Diner on Sycamore for dinner as we often do. We swung by The Banks to just check on the progress and saw the Johnny Rocket's sign spinning so we decided to eat there instead. The lettering painted on the door says they're open till 2 A.M. or something on weekends, but this was like 9:00 at night and they were already closed or hadn't officially opened yet.

 

We tried back a few weeks later and the dining room was locked. This time it's like 11:00 P.M. on a Friday night. They had a street window open and there were a few people milling around from the Holy Grail looking to eat too. The girl at the window informed us that they were closed for the night and that the 2 AM thing was their "summer hours." She was really polite about it though. I guess I just need to try and go there when it's not late at night.

 

When I was a kid I loved Johnny Rockets and thought it was THE COOLEST restaurant ever because of the whole 1950's theme. I grew up in Fairfield and I remember when they put one in at the failed Forest Fair Mall/Cincinnati Mills/Cincinnati Mall. The Forest Fair and Newport one never seemed to be like the one I remember as a kid. I always remember them having the cooks sing and entertain you - even at Cedar Point a few years ago they still did this. I hope the one at "The Banks" has a little bit of that "experience" to make it more of a destination place.

 

Regardless, JR food isn't the most unique cuisine, but it's not bad.

Went to Toby's Kieth's last night for opening weekend and it was indeed packed by 11:30. It's quite a large space and essentially feels like a sports bar with a live music stage. No cover, but drinks were on the more expensive side for Cincinnati ($4 for a domestic bottle)

 

The mix of people was straight-up weird. Lots of UC kids, YPs and even some hipsters, and then much of what I imagine the real target audience is for this place if you get my drift...

 

While this is not really my kind of place, I can guarantee that most of the people in there last night were from the suburbs and came into the city just to check it out. More people coming into the city to see the real progress happening, the Banks especially, is definitely a good thing.

 

I'd like to ask you a few questions about this place.

 

Did you love the bar?

Did you love the grill?

...finally made it to the Banks this weekend. 

 

I can see how that new street leading to the Red's ballpark will be a hot location for food & drink.  It works good with that stadium entrance.  Looks like something called "Tin Hat" will be opening on that street.

 

Though I usually like that infil style architecture so far the place seems sort of sterile.  It's not working as well as I thought it would, in terms of aesthetics or urban design.  Not sure whats up with that. 

 

Still hoping the riverfront park will turn out OK. 

^I think the whole atmosphere will liven up a little bit when the weather's nice for people to be outside, there's the park and the lager house open. Right now it feels kind of Cold Warish.

Would also help if there was some greenery/trees/flower pots around. Is this in the cards?

WVXU is reporting that some smaller improvements to The Banks are about to begin due to phase 1 coming in under budget.  The article notes the following improvements:

 

-A new pedestrian bridge over Pete Rose Way (anyone know where this will be?)

-Security cameras and emergency call stations

-extending the 'riverwalk'

 

http://www.wvxu.org/news/wvxunews_article.asp?ID=9788

 

Anyone have more details on the pedestrian bridge or what is meant by the riverwalk?

WVXU is reporting that some smaller improvements to The Banks are about to begin due to phase 1 coming in under budget.  The article notes the following improvements:

 

-A new pedestrian bridge over Pete Rose Way (anyone know where this will be?)

-Security cameras and emergency call stations

-extending the 'riverwalk'

 

http://www.wvxu.org/news/wvxunews_article.asp?ID=9788

 

Anyone have more details on the pedestrian bridge or what is meant by the riverwalk?

 

I don't like the sound of a pedestrian bridge.

The article states "replacing" the bridge.

Emergency call stations, really? I remember those emerged on the Purple People Bridge after a really nasty robbery, but those things just scream: "ALWAYS LOOK BEHIND YOU AND BE SCARED." Downtown's not that bad and every college campus at night looks awful with those things. At least when they're the individual poles sticking up everywhere.

If it is Pete Rose Way, it is likely that metal atrocity that leads to US Bank arena; the one that is on the eastern part of the baseball stadium.  Not really part of the banks and not sure why extra $$ wouldn't go to additional phases and/or the Riverfront park but replacement of that bridge is necessary. It is one of the biggest eyesores in the city.

The pedestrian bridge is the bridge from US Bank arena across to the corner of Pete Rose Way & Broadway.  The bridge that is there now was built in 1998 or 1999 as a temporary bridge during the FWW and as preparation for Great American Ballpark.  People used to reach US Bank via the FWW skywalks to Riverfront Stadium.

If The Banks came in under budget, for the love of god use that money to make the next phase fancier than cinderblock and vinyl siding.

 

I don't care who's money it actually is, just give me some nicer buildings.

If The Banks came in under budget, for the love of god use that money to make the next phase fancier than cinderblock and vinyl siding.

 

QFT

News has leaked that The Freedom Center and the Museum Center will be merging.  What that means for the exhibits in the Freedom Center Building, I don't know.  It's tricky because the exhibit space available at Union Temrinal is all down in the basement, so if the Freedom Center exhibits are moving perhaps they will be taking some of the space on the first floor wings. 

News has leaked that The Freedom Center and the Museum Center will be merging.  What that means for the exhibits in the Freedom Center Building, I don't know.  It's tricky because the exhibit space available at Union Temrinal is all down in the basement, so if the Freedom Center exhibits are moving perhaps they will be taking some of the space on the first floor wings. 

 

The Enquirer article seems to imply that the Freedom Center will stay at the Banks, unfortunately.  With any hope, the Museum Center will have some temporary exhibits at the Freedom Center to attract a larger crowd.

The small stretch of Walnut Street to Theodore M. Berry Way has finally been opened to vehicles.

I predict this is just step one of the transition.  In 5 years I think we'll see mainstream museum exhibits at the Freedom Center building and the Freedom Center stuff relegated to one corner of that building. 

So what makes sense and how can these two buildings complement each other as it relates to the museum offering in Cincinnati?  I can see positives and negatives to an array of plans.  Maybe the way to do this is to make one facility of local subject interest and the other of broader appeal for tourists and conventioneers.

It'll certainly allow the nat history & cincy history museums to showcase more of the collection. They only exhibit somewhere around 50% of their stock (I believe that's what I've heard/read/been told).

No Major changes will happen in the way things are exhibited on site. Touring will change, administrative things will change, fundraising will change and there will be more special events.

 

NURFC is a great museum with shaking management. This fixes that problem. 130,000 attendees with no amenities around is great. That will now change as people show up for the restaurants, park, etc.

 

The building will stay NURFC for a long time.

No Major changes will happen in the way things are exhibited on site. Touring will change, administrative things will change, fundraising will change and there will be more special events.

 

NURFC is a great museum with shaking management. This fixes that problem. 130,000 attendees with no amenities around is great. That will now change as people show up for the restaurants, park, etc.

 

The building will stay NURFC for a long time.

 

opening several years before the Banks as an island by itself couldn't have helped.  The streetcar, central riverfront park and the banks will help the connectivity and foot traffic.

How about this for The Banks:

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/newintown/2012/02/14/jack-in-the-box-to-open-several-local-outposts-west-chester-will-be-first/

 

Several locations are slated for Cincinnati, with the first in West Chester. This would be great to have at The Banks. There needs to be some quick, lower cost options and Jack in the Box gets my vote. (Unless we can do the impossible and lure an In-N-Out Burger!)

Are you kidding me? Jack in the Box is worse than McDonalds!

^You're nuts.  Jack in the Box rules!  (as far as fast food goes)

Jack in the Box is no higher brow than McDonald's. Just because it's new doesn't mean it's win. Might as well put a McD's at the Banks.

 

(I see edale beat me to this by an hour...took me that long to finally read the tab I opened. :-) )

Please no McDonald's at The Banks.  There are plenty of other places one can kill themselves.  Just don't do it there.

I'm not a fast food eater, but McDonalds is literally the worst quality, and Jack in the Box is often rated one of the best. After the mad cow issue 15 years

Ago they started all kinds of increased quality control.

 

Still, not sure if the banks is the right place for any fast good joint. Although its true that we should increase price point options.

As if The Banks needs any more restaurants of any sort at all to begin with. 

"I love the smell of mayo in the morning."

I wouldn't mind a few more super cheap places downtown.  There are only a handful of places where lunch can be had for less than about $6.

If we're going to get a west coast burger chain here, I'd prefer In-N-Out.

I wouldn't mind seeing something along the lines of an Imbiss that serves German doner kebabs somewhere downtown or anywhere else in the region for that matter. 

 

http://theeatenpath.com/2010/05/24/dino-imbiss-doner-kebab-bonner-talweg-37-bonn-germany/

5 Guys at The Banks might work really well.

Raising Cane's at the Banks = #WIN!

I wouldn't mind seeing something along the lines of an Imbiss that serves German doner kebabs somewhere downtown or anywhere else in the region for that matter. 

 

http://theeatenpath.com/2010/05/24/dino-imbiss-doner-kebab-bonner-talweg-37-bonn-germany/

 

German doner kebabs....OMG. The most incredible thing after leaving a club in Berlin at 7AM as the sun comes up.....oh memories.....

If we're going to get a west coast burger chain here, I'd prefer In-N-Out.

 

I second that.  I lived in L.A.  In-N-Out is literally the best burger joint of the West.  Best Drive-thru burger joint also.  That could be a very fun spot.

While most would agree that an In-N-Out would be the No. 1 choice, it's a fantasy. It took the stars to align absolutely perfectly and they still had to bend over backward just to agree to move into the Dallas market.

 

Cincinnati might as well be in Scotland for all they're concerned. Not happening.

While most would agree that an In-N-Out would be the No. 1 choice, it's a fantasy. It took the stars to align absolutely perfectly and they still had to bend over backward just to agree to move into the Dallas market.

 

Cincinnati might as well be in Scotland for all they're concerned. Not happening.

 

Then again, there's one in Centerville, Utah.

 

 

^ Centerville UT is not BFE. It's one of the wealthiest suburbs of already wealthy Salt Lake City.  Additionally, it's a 12 hour drive from the CA In n Out distribution plant. The only reason they moved to Texas was because they agreed to build a whole knew distribution plant outside of Dallas. 

 

RockyMountainHigh is right. 0 chance. Sigh...

Mmmm.....Sonic

So back to the emergency beacons- that's really disappointing. They put a police station in the Banks, there is no crime down there, and they want to add emergency things like you'd have on a college campus?!

^Anyone know where they're going?  That pedestrian bridge isn't really at "The Banks", so maybe these won't be either.  If they're putting those emergency lines under the overpasses or on the bridges, that would make more sense than on the streets of The Banks.  I have a friend who walks the suspension bridge to/from work each day, and she has been accosted several times over the last few years and always carries mace because of this.  So unsightly as they are, they might actually serve a purpose.

So back to the emergency beacons- that's really disappointing. They put a police station in the Banks, there is no crime down there, and they want to add emergency things like you'd have on a college campus?!

 

There has been a real problem with car break-ins on the street, just an FYI.

^On Freedom Way between Main and Walnut??

The media totally missed this, because nobody in our media ever goes for a walk, but the riverfront homeless tent village was bulldozed about four months ago.  It looked like 20 or more people were living down there at any given time, and I have no doubt that it was the source of some of these problems. 

 

The Banks hit rock bottom in 2008, right before construction began, when some guys took up residence in a tent along the retaining wall where the pad for the office tower is now.  The brush and even a weedy tree had gotten so tall that, again, nobody in the media noticed or else they would have turned it into a big dust-up.

It looked like 20 or more people were living down there at any given time, and I have no doubt that it was the sorce of some of these problems. 

 

Anecdotally, it was.  Of the several incidents I was made aware of, all of them were the same few homeless people loitering around the bridge every day.  Glad to hear that the tent village is finally gone.

^On Freedom Way between Main and Walnut??

 

 

Not sure of the exact street names down there. But it has been an issue for people living in the apartments, who park on the various streets down there. It even happend right in front of that little police station.

It here are more car break ins in OTR and downtown than around the Banks. Plus. Unless people are literally watching those and not being able to call 911 on their cell phone, not sure what benefit these things will have on combatting car breakins

There are, incidentally, a lot of cars and trucks being stripped in the West Chester industrial parks.  Many warehouses are having the catalytic converters ripped out from under their delivery trucks and vans, and cars left overnight (often by salesmen) are getting hit.  Enquirer is not covering this.