Start off a server, you'll do fine and you will thank me later.  I used to bus and I don't miss those days.

 

"I was a bus boy. You know what that means? It means you take the BUS home" - Chris Rock.

 

SO true.

>sometimes bussers dont get tipped out and only work on base pay.  I think this is rare but I have definitely heard of it. 

 

I was a bus boy for 18 months at Frisch's on Colerain while I was in high school.  One time a guy gave me a $1 tip, otherwise I worked the whole time for $4.25/hr, there was no tipping out the bus boys, and obviously they take out taxes.  People give you all kinds of lip and the waitresses were all 17 or 18 and had 2 or 3 kids.  I think at one point we actually ran out of the maternity uniforms (and we even had a retarded girl working there who was pregnant).  Everybody smoked and was pissed off and they totally resent anyone who's planning to go to college, which was maybe one other person besides me.     

 

I did work as a server once for a year and I think I only had to go to the ATM once or twice that year, you always have cash in your pocket.  My regular job was 8-5 and then this job was four nights a week 5-1am.  It was on the next block so I walked instantly from the one job to the other often working multiple 15 hour days in a row.  That place really wasn't that tough and it almost never got too busy.  Also they didn't serve alcohol which limits the size of the tips.     

That's how it was for my dude Tom, he was a busser and server at Frisch's in Delhi and made basically minimum wage and almost every waitress there had a baby daddy named "Derek" but lets face it, Frischs is basically a Waffle House farther from Interstates.

 

Everyone thinks I'm crazy for taking a bus all the way to work as opposed to getting a job on or right off campus but what the heck is the point if it's a 10 minute bus ride FREE and I make double or triple the money in the form of cash and barely any taxes?! Just kidding about the taxes part. I'm a good American. :)

And Waffle House is expensive.  It's tough to get out of there for under $6, and the food is as basic as it gets. 

 

The thing that people in college who've never had a job don't see is that it never occurs to these people who work at Frisch's that after a year they could go down and apply to Red Lobster or any better restaurant and make more money doing the same thing for the same amount of work.  I've seen it sometimes at other jobs, that people are even offered promotions and don't take them. 

 

Right now that Via Vite place looks like the parking garage's vent building.  I don't know exactly what they have planned but I'm sure it'll look better than it does now. 

 

Now that we have that all out of the way, someone post some bullets of what developments are on their way for Fountain Square.  Is Potbelly's now out or are they still coming to the Square?  Is T-Mobile gone?  What about the Probasco Market?

No more cell phone stores. Really, the only people who should go to cell phone stores are people who don't know how to use the internet, except when a phone breaks.

Two more entertainment tenants finalizing deals for Square space

BY LISA BIANK FASIG | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

October 5, 2007

 

DOWNTOWN - Fountain Square is getting close to signing two additional entertainment venues, both of which would be new to downtown and targeted to keep people in the city well after the work day is done.

 

Tenants are being negotiated for the former Hit or Miss retail space, on the southwest corner of the square, and the former Fifth Third Securities site, near the breezeway, sources said. Each of those locations offers about 3,500 square feet, enough space to accommodate a Dewey's Pizza, for instance. Dewey's is among the list of potential tenants that have been identified for the square.

 

"Let's just say they are two entertainment eatery users that do not currently exist here in downtown Cincinnati," said Chris Hodge, a retail broker at CB Richard Ellis, which is handling leasing at Fountain Square. "If I gave you more, I'd have my head ripped clean off my shoulders."

 

Fifth Third Bancorp, which owns the property on the square, confirmed that it is talking to many potential tenants, but the lender does not yet have signed letters of intent, spokeswoman Stephanie Honan said.

 

"They are going after eatertainment for those locations. To keep people here past five o'clock," she said.

 

With its tenant roster lengthening, the square should find it easier to attract its final tenants. Via Vite, the Italian Bistro that will serve as an anchor for the square, is expected to open by the weekend of Oct. 12. Other operators include Cadillac Ranch, Potbelly Sandwiches, Graeter's Ice Cream and Jones the Florist.

 

Four spaces remain to be leased by Fifth Third, said Chad Munitz, executive vice president for development at Cincinnati Center City Development Corp., a nonprofit civic group in charge of the square's renovation. They include the Hit or Miss and breezeway sites, plus a space immediately east of the breezeway facing Fountain Square and a space at the southeast corner of the Fifth Third tower.

 

[glow=yellow,2,300]As for new tenants, sources said one will likely be announced soon, perhaps within a week, while the other will take time because it involves a larger company. Of the two, one will be "highly recognizable" to locals.[/glow]

So still to open is:

 

* Graeter's

* Potbelly Sandwiches

* Jones Florist

* Dewey's (Rumored)

 

Do we have any more rumors?  What about Probasco Market?  Is there are further information about this part of the project?

I heard from a very reliable source that 5/3 will be taking one of the locations for itself.  It's retail and private banking operation is currently on the second floor in the North (one with the new facade) building.  Since it is their corporate HQ, they want more of a visible presence there.  I wish they wouldn't but I guess it makes sense.  Oh well, more incentive for entertainment-oriented tenants to go to surrounding available spaces I suppose.

^ You are correct.  5/3 is moving in next door to Rock Bottom, or to the northeast corner of the square, facing the square.

 

 

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but the US Bank Tower (Southwest corner of 5th and Walnut) will be undergoing an extensive lobby renovation.  I am not sure if any new retail or restaurants will be part of this yet.  No official schedule yet.

5th 3rd and a florist are a total waste of space at the square,  unless 5th 3rd is open (tellers) till midnight for banking purposes. What else caan we screw up the sqaure with?  A skeffingtons formal-ware? Glamour shots? Sunglass Hut?

5th 3rd and a florist are a total waste of space at the square,  unless 5th 3rd is open (tellers) till midnight for banking purposes.

 

Agreed. I was disappointed to see Key Bank take that spot on 4th & Walnut, that just opened up.

^ You are correct.  5/3 is moving in next door to Rock Bottom, or to the northeast corner of the square, facing the square.

 

 

 

Well that is sh*t!  Why not use the lobby of the damn headquarters building for this?

Aren't we all picking this apart too much!

 

Business is business when it comes to finding tenants to occupy empty spaces.   Sure, you can't please everybody all the time, but the simple fact that companies are moving downtown to begin with satisfies me.   Remember how the 90's headlines read, "Another business picking up and leaving downtown!"     

 

Your not seeing this anymore.     If a florist thinks they can survive on the square (which we all should know he will), by god Let Em.   Very soon the square will be full and all the promises that were attached to the entire renovation project will finally be realized because the new prospective tenants are going to have to look for empty space within the surrounding blocks of FS.   The fountain is more packed today than I have seen in my entire 27 years on Earth.   I am extremely pleased with the buzz going on in CBD and OTR combined.   Remember the mass exodus took decades (people & business) to get to the point we were at in April of '01. (IMO, the turning point).    Little by little, these people and ALL KINDS of business will eventually find there way back DT.

IMO, if there is interest for entertainment or restaurant development downtown, it will happen even if it is not on the square.  There is still plenty of good retail space in the city center.  If the square's retail is full, the blocks surrounding the square will then start to fill up with these type of tenants....isn't that what most of us want anyway?

I am past the florist issue, I thought 5/3rds agreement with 3CDC was to pull all their wasted office space off street level of the square.

When the Florist goes out of business in the near future, the enquirer is just going to have fun printing that "ANOTHER downtown business has closed". Ok, I am done on the floral store too. I Can't wait for Graeters to open.  MMMMMM  Black Raspberry Chip ice cream :-D

I am past the florist issue, I thought 5/3rds agreement with 3CDC was to pull all their wasted office space off street level of the square.

 

This will not be an office to my understanding, but rather an actual 5/3 branch.

Aren't we all picking this apart too much!

 

Business is business when it comes to finding tenants to occupy empty spaces.   Sure, you can't please everybody all the time, but the simple fact that companies are moving downtown to begin with satisfies me.   Remember how the 90's headlines read, "Another business picking up and leaving downtown!"     

 

Your not seeing this anymore.     If a florist thinks they can survive on the square (which we all should know he will), by god Let Em.   Very soon the square will be full and all the promises that were attached to the entire renovation project will finally be realized because the new prospective tenants are going to have to look for empty space within the surrounding blocks of FS.   The fountain is more packed today than I have seen in my entire 27 years on Earth.   I am extremely pleased with the buzz going on in CBD and OTR combined.   Remember the mass exodus took decades (people & business) to get to the point we were at in April of '01. (IMO, the turning point).    Little by little, these people and ALL KINDS of business will eventually find there way back DT.

 

 

Honestly, I'd like to see something similar to 4th St. Live in Louisville (without all of the GD chains). Sorry, but that's just me.

^I'm sorry, but I just don't see how that is feasible in that part of downtown.

It isn't.  4th street live is contrived.  When I go to louisville, I head out on Bardstown road rather than stay downtown.

I just noticed today that the clock is back up on the carew tower at 5th and Vine. I'm pretty sure it reappeared in the past few weeks.

^I'm sorry, but I just don't see how that is feasible in that part of downtown.

^I'm sorry, but I just don't see how that is feasible in that part of downtown.

 

I'm sure that's what you would've thought when you first saw the site where 4th St. Live now sits.

Is that really what you want for Fountain Square?

Is that really what you want for Fountain Square?

 

 

Describe to me what "what" is ...

Is that really what you want for Fountain Square?

 

Describe to me what "what" is ...

 

not one person in that picture

If you mean a: cluster of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and shopping with open alcohol (without chains, like I stated upthread) ... then yes, this is what I want.

Sadly I still haven't been to 4th Street Live.  I was last in Louisville when the Galleria was the ghetto mall.  I am jealous that they have Lucky Strikes Bowling & Lounge bar though.

Lucky Strikes Bowling is to Montecarloss as,

Rubber Sidewalks are to UncleRando.

Are there two or three floors to the restaurant?  I remember hearing that their would be rooftop seating, is that still the case?

 

There is no roof top seating but there is a terrace. The second floor consists of three party rooms (possibly less depending on how much space a party needs). There is live music equipment set up on the second floor nearby, and of course the terrace surrounding the outer edge of the second floor. The terrace can hold 70-100 people believe it or not, but because they'll have rows of two tables, I would call ahead and reserve one of the tables closer to the edge of the balcony so that you can see the street life around the square.

 

I think you guys will enjoy the layout of the place. It's not as elegant as Nicola's, it's like the old restaurant but with more modern elements and lots of natural light. I only wish that the bar downstairs was bigger; being on fountain square, I'm sure their bar on the first floor will be extremely congested.

are they going to have any outdoor seating that also spills out onto the square?

I doubt it. I could be wrong but I don't think there's proper access to run food out to the square.

Can I use my $20 off Nicola's coupon from the Entertainment book there? :)

 

 

http://www.entertainment.com

 

Sure, just as soon as pigs fly.

 

 

 

Oops. Bad analogy in Cincinnati.

are they going to have any outdoor seating that also spills out onto the square?

 

I thought the plan for the raised area filled with packed gravel next to the new restaurant was for outdoor dining.

I love it when montecarloss posts a photo and links of commonly known objects.

3cdc Showed the Ohio state game instead of the Bearcats game.. hahaha!

^ Maximillian, part of that conversation is over at this thread:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3756.0

 

Grasscat... bah!

I've visited 4th St. Live once and will never go back again.  First they wouldn't let me in because I was wearing a hat backwards (just came back from a Bats game), then it was dress up day at Lucky Strike so I couldn't go in there either(who the eff dresses up to go bowl?).  All in all, bad experience.  And I like the sign at the entrances that state no hats backwards, no large white t-shirts, no baggy pants, and no sports jerseys.

atlantic station has those as well, not exactly the most subtle message

not one person in that picture

 

When I was at 4th Street Live last year, you'd didn't really see many people until evening, then the place boomed. The food court was packed at lunch, but that was just office workers rushing in and back. Of the four photos I took, only one has people:

 

^I wasn't making a judgement, just an observation

This largest mistake 4th St. Live made was keeping out "one of a kinds". Successful ones ... I'm not saying they purposefully did this, but it would appear that way to the naked eye.

 

you'd didn't really see many people until evening, then the place boomed

 

What kind of people? This is why you should be careful on who your tenants are. I saw the same thing and it was the same type of crowd ... people that think Bar Louie is the coolest bar in the world.

Lucky Strikes Bowling is to Montecarloss as,

Rubber Sidewalks are to UncleRando.

As strip clubs are to C-dawg.

 

It looks like a nice place. I don't know why anyone would go to a quasi-classy place with a hat and baggy clothes on; its just not the atmosphere for it even if thats what you typically wear. That's just my opinion though.

 

people that think Bar Louie is the coolest bar in the world.

 

Seriously. It's such a bland chain. Skybar and McFaddens are pretty cool (for chains).

I don't know.  I kind of like Bar Louie.  It's good for what it is, a low key place to chat with friends or have a beer before/after a movie, and they have great menu.  It's not my favorite bar in the world, but if you're looking for a relatively quiet place to spend time with people you already know, there are a lot of worse options out there.  And thankfully I've never seen an overzealous acoustic guitar player there, which seem to plague other area bars.  :-D

Yeah, Bar Louie is one of the few chain bars I will go to.  Where else can you get three Sam Adams and a burger for $10 (Wednesdays).  And, I can actually have a conversation there.  Now Lodge Bar...don't get me started on the Lodge Bar.   

I don't know.  I kind of like Bar Louie.  It's good for what it is, a low key place to chat with friends or have a beer before/after a movie, and they have great menu.  It's not my favorite bar in the world, but if you're looking for a relatively quiet place to spend time with people you already know, there are a lot of worse options out there.  And thankfully I've never seen an overzealous acoustic guitar player there, which seem to plague other area bars.  :-D

 

I respect your respect for Bar Louie. The problem I have with it is, one of there strong points isn't so strong and that's their food. Absolutely horrible. If price, food, and beer is what you're after, there are many, many other bars out there that are much better.

^ don't forget the tater tots.