im perfectly ok with an opening day fountain turning on tradition

The whole Fountain Day concept did seem interesting though...too bad it didn't catch on more.  Maybe next year.

i hope this isnt the fate of other fountain square activities.  they sure are ambitious about the amount of activities they plan on doing.

i would imagine something like that would be more successfull next year when people know for sure that the square will be finished....hopefully!

waterwall was turned on today. Looks pretty sweet.

^yeah, went by there for lunch yesterday and it does look pretty cool.  i cant wait to see it at night when the led's are turned on.  the restaurant has come a long way too.

I heard through the grapevine that Potbelly's has signed a lease at the T-Mobile location on Fountain Square, in the bottom of the 5/3 tower.

 

;)

 

 

 

I love the food and the prices at Potbelly's....great place!  Hopefully what you heard is correct!

My husband and I go to the one at Clifton and Kenwood quite a bit....he is in love with those peppers they put on the sandwiches.  I think they even sell them by the jar.  Glad to hear that places in that price range are coming downtown......let's hope they stay open in the evenings.

I agree on the "let's hope they stay open for dinner" part.  While not my favorite place actually It's a good sign if Potbelly makes the move to Fountain Square.

Here is a picture of the progress on the restaurant over the garage entrance on FS.  You can see some of the 5/3 bldg work in the background as well.  This is from Tuesday 3/20:

I see the restaurant is partially opened for business and serving Mountain Dew. 

I see the restaurant is partially opened for business and serving Mountain Dew. 

 

LOL...

 

^ some of the best mountain dew around

Don't know if anybody else saw the square today but I walked by on my way home and there were a bunch of tables and chairs in the open area (between the fountain and 5th street).  They were the chrome metal looking ones.  Look nice to me and gives you plenty of room to sit and hang out.  I wonder if they plan on leaving them out all night or are they storing them overnight.

 

 

I know that up on Calhoun St most of the restaurants chain their tables and chairs up outside and bring the umbrellas inside overnight.  This is mainly to prevent from the bum college kids who will take any and everything.  Now when I worked over in Western Hills at that Panera...we simply left the tables and chairs outside without chaining them up.

 

I don't think that they have much trade or selling value.  I would hope that they wouldn't be at much risk for being stolen downtown.  Especially if they aren't some type of metal that people are wanting to sell off.

 

But then again...maybe they'll just have the DCI Ambassadors put them away and set them up each day.  But I really don't know right now  :|

2 New Tenants Named For Fountain Square

 

A pair of new tenants was announced Thursday for the revamped Fountain Square.

 

Cadillac Ranch Rock-N-Country Bar & Grill is scheduled to open in June on the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, in the space formerly occupied by Hallmark.

 

According to company officials, the 8,325-square-foot casual-themed restaurant will feature all-American food with a southwestern flair, as well as an outdoor patio.

 

Also Thursday, officials from Jones The Florist said the shop would move from its current location on Sixth Street to a 695-square-foot location in the north end of the Fifth Third Tower facing Walnut Street.

 

The florist will move temporarily to a kiosk in the lobby of Fifth Third Tower with plans of opening at its permanent location during the summer, officials said.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/wlwt/20070412/lo_wlwt/11726492

Here is some additional information from the Business Courier; I'll be sure to share their Print Edition story with everyone tomorrow that includes some more names!

 

Fifth Third names Fountain Square tenants

April 12, 2007 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

 

DOWNTOWN - Fifth Third Bank said the first two tenants after a $16.5 million renovation of its Fountain Square properties will be a relocated Jones the Florist and the Cadillac Ranch Rock-N-Country Bar & Grill.

 

Fifth Third (Nasdaq: FITB) has been tight-lipped about its leasing strategy for the buildings it owns near Fountain Square, which has itself undergone a $45 million facelift since last summer. Jones the Florist will be moving from its Sixth Street location to another site closer to the square, the bank said today. Cadillac Ranch will be located at the Sixth and Walnut corner that formerly housed a Hallmark store and other smaller tenants.

 

The casual-themed restaurant boasts a menu of ribs, steaks and burgers with a Southwestern flair. It will have an outdoor patio and big screen TVs and will feature country and classic rock music. Tomorrow's edition of the Courier will provide a list of additional tenants who are being recruited by the Cincinnati-based bank.

Here is the Enquirer version...with surprisingly more info than the other two articles:

 

Fountain Square adds eatery

BY JEFF MCKINNEY | [email protected]

April 12, 2007

 

DOWNTOWN - A restaurant and bar featuring country music and classic rock is the first new tenant to rent space in Fifth Third Bank’s buildings around the renovated Fountain Square.

 

The Cadillac Ranch Rock-N-Country Bar & Grill will occupy 8,325 square feet at the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets. The space formerly was a Hallmark Card store, said Stephanie Honan, a spokeswoman at Fifth Third.

 

She said the restaurant, which will have an outdoor patio plus multiple big screen TVs, will open in June. Cadillac Ranch has one other location in Nashville, Tenn.

 

The menu will feature grilled chicken, hickory smoked ribs and ribeye steaks. Prices will range from $7 to $20.

 

Meanwhile, Jones the Florist has signed a lease to occupy 695 square feet in the 32-story Fifth Third Tower facing Walnut Street.

 

The shop will move from its current location on Sixth Street this weekend and will temporarily operate from a kiosk in the Fifth Third Tower lobby until it moves into the new space this summer, Honan said.

 

The flower shop had to move in part due to work leading to the installation of a block-long sculpture by artist Julian Stanczak along the northern side of the five-story Fifth Third Center building.

 

A giant 51-foot by 355-foot sculpture, consisting of a series of 356 vertical rectangular tubes spaced one foot apart and painted in contrasting neon colors, will be placed on the building’s Sixth Street façade. Meanwhile, work is continuing on a back-lit glass curtain covering the four upper floors of the five-story building along the square’s north side.

 

Fifth Third is spending $16.5 million to renovate its Fountain Square complex. It also gave $4.9 million for the square’s $42.9 million renovation.

 

The bank continues to work with CB Richard Ellis to identify additional tenants for retail space.

 

“Our commitment to the revitalization of Fountain Square extends to signing quality and forward-thinking tenants, and we are excited to welcome the Cadillac Ranch to Cincinnati and continue our long-standing relationship with Jones the Florist,” George A. Schaefer, Jr., Fifth Third’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

Rock-N-Country Bar & Grill

 

I just threw up a little in my mouth.

you know in some cultures they only eat vomit

Classic.

Fountain revelers, put on your dancing boots

BY DAN MONK | [email protected]

April 13, 2007

 

DOWNTOWN - A country-themed restaurant and bar concept known as the Cadillac Ranch could join the retail mix at Fountain Square, as will new locations for Potbelly Sandwich Works, Graeter's and Starbucks.

 

All are among at least a half-dozen tenants soon to be announced by Fifth Third Bank, which last year unveiled a $16.5 million plan to renovate its Fountain Square properties and find new ground-floor retail tenants on the square's northern and eastern borders.

 

Fifth Third has been tight-lipped about its leasing plans, but Senior Vice President Bill Moran told the Courier this week that its retail space around the square is "fully committed." Moran said six to seven tenants will fill that space. One of those will be a new-to-market "eat-ertainment" concept. Several others will be new to downtown.

 

Moran wouldn't name any tenants, but downtown real estate sources identified Starbucks and Graeter's as retailers destined for the Fifth and Walnut corner, in the space formerly occupied by the Cincinnati Visitors Center.

 

The local leasing rep for Potbelly confirmed that the Chicago-based restaurant chain is negotiating for retail space fronting the square but declined to provide more detail.

 

Casey Ward, a vice president for Midland Atlantic Properties, said the Fountain Square Pot­belly is part of a 20-store expansion the company is trying to execute in Cincinnati. Stores are already open or close to opening in Kenwood, Norwood, Clifton and Tri-County, he added.

 

Fifth Third's biggest available retail space is an 8,000-square-foot shell formerly occupied by a Hallmark store, Widmer's dry cleaners and Servatii bakery on Sixth street near Walnut. Workers installing tenant finishes identified the new tenant as Cadillac Ranch. A bar and stage are framed in at the site. Several bars by that name in Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee boast of line dancing and live music, but owners of the downtown venue could not be reached.

 

Fifth Third's parking garage will undergo a dramatic transformation in the next several weeks as the company installs glass panels, new lighting and a large piece of art glass on the facade facing Fountain Square. The backlit glass panel, 22 feet square, will feature a profile of one of the characters in the fountain. The lighting system itself will have the ability to paint the square for different public events. Red lights could help set the mood for a World Series celebration, for example, orange could frame a Super Bowl rally.

 

Fifth Third still is working on the right mix of uses for the breezeway linking Fountain Square to Sixth Street. Moran said an outdoor produce market is possible.

Its not quite there yet, but once they finish up work on Via Vite and the 5/3 facade...it will be completely construction free.  I don't think it will be too much longer.

^ Ahem... don't forget about the proposed market and storefronts.  We have another year of construction to endure.

^ construction that wont impede even close to as bad as the current work does.  the flower arrangment is up now...i probably would have been more impressed if all the flowers werent dying because of the cold.

Cadillac Ranch must be 3CDC's retaliation at Newport.  Steal our German beer and we'll steal you country music and southern rock.

With all of our great local coffeehouses, I'm disappointed in the Starbucks. We've got plenty of that downtown.

With all of our great local coffeehouses, I'm disappointed in the Starbucks. We've got plenty of that downtown.

 

You know, I've thought the same thing. One of my personal dreams is to own a cafe almost identical to Baba Budan's (one of the best in the city) ...

 

I wish some local guy would've stepped up to the plate!

With all of our great local coffeehouses, I'm disappointed in the Starbucks. We've got plenty of that downtown.

 

I felt the same way, and I was disappointed with Starbucks already having three locations downtown.  However, I wonder if they were the only ones willing to stay open late?  There has to be a reason.  The original plan was to have local businesses on the square, but most of them are not.  It makes me wonder if the local places were unwilling?

Do you guys think the Starbucks on 4th and Vine will just be relocating to Fountain Square instead of a brand new store opening???  It wouldn't be unheard of for Starbuck's to be located so close to each other but that usually happens in cities with more populous downtowns.

Fountain Square is destined to be the touristy part of downtown along with the Banks that'll mean smaller shops popping up other places downtown.  I can live with that scenario moreso than an endless wonder of Starbucks throughout.

Do you guys think the Starbucks on 4th and Vine will just be relocating to Fountain Square instead of a brand new store opening???  It wouldn't be unheard of for Starbuck's to be located so close to each other but that usually happens in cities with more populous downtowns.

 

My wife works at the location on 4th and Vine. Yes, it's going to be a new location.

Do you guys think the Starbucks on 4th and Vine will just be relocating to Fountain Square instead of a brand new store opening???  It wouldn't be unheard of for Starbuck's to be located so close to each other but that usually happens in cities with more populous downtowns.

 

My wife works at the location on 4th and Vine. Yes, it's going to be a new location.

 

That's good news!!!  They will be right next to Dunkin Donuts one of Starbucks toughest competitions in the East.

Cadillac Ranch must be 3CDC's retaliation at Newport.  Steal our German beer and we'll steal you country music and southern rock.

 

lol!  Take that Nky!!!!  :whip:

I'm a little disappointed that we are getting a country bar instead of the Maker's Mark restaurant and bar that was originally discussed months ago.  That would have been such a better fit for the area than a country bar!!

 

 

There is still the possibility that the other place still opens up.  These are not the only places.

I loathe country music and the lifestyle for that matter.

I LOVE country music.  :) However, I do not like all country artists and the people and audiance they pander to.

Someone please post updates of progress on FS. Specifically Via Vite, Julian Stanczek art along 6th, Boi Na Braza. Thanks

Yes, the fountain square camera has been down for quite some time.  Updates?

It looks like there's still a ways to go on all Via Vite, Boi Na Braza, and the, uh, screening thing they're doing on the smaller 5/3 building.  I actually saw inside a little on Boi Na Braza and was a little disappointed it wasn't farther along -- but hopefully it's just finish work that won't take much time. 

 

 

^ Are you serious? I took a look tonight and it looks like they only have a few more weeks to go.

^ Looking in at Boi Na Braza from the Vine St. side, it looks like the bar and area around it are complete.  I saw a sign someone saying that they are now hiring for all positions.

 

I believe Via Vite has a few months. 

 

They are working on the 6th Street side of the 5/3 building.  They are redoing the facade for the new country place.

It looks like there's still a ways to go on all Via Vite, Boi Na Braza, and the, uh, screening thing they're doing on the smaller 5/3 building.  I actually saw inside a little on Boi Na Braza and was a little disappointed it wasn't farther along -- but hopefully it's just finish work that won't take much time.

 

Once restaurants have the necessary wiring and equipment hooked up (walk-in coolers etc) then it doesn't take very long at all.  From that point on, it is pretty much just the restaurant timing their opening for the best possible results.  You always want to open with a BANG!

pictures anyone?

^just relax...there will be some pics up very soon I would guess.  Patience my impetuous young friend...you must trust your fellow UOers to come through!

Sorry,

 

(I missed my yoga session yesterday.)

I spent the afternoon down at the square...I'll be posting some pics later tonight.  Great day by the way...the square was absolutely beautiful, and the weather was good enough to give me a sun burn!

Here you go MARK GLOVE!

 

The new facade on the 5/3 bldg is coming along nicely, and is growing on me:

 

Here is Via Vite:

 

The final part of the plaza area on the square where work needs to be finished

 

McCormick & Schmicks all finished looks quite nice on both the outside and inside!

 

On the other end of the block from McCormick & Schmicks, they are working on replacing the sidewalks and making the area more pleasing (like the rest of the block)

 

Exterior progress of Boi Na Braza

 

We'll end with some randomness around the square:

 

 

The structure in the background is the elevator entrance (with pay stations), as well as, the RR located on the far left in this picture...both complete and have a very classy feel.

 

My gf and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon studying on the square!