We went by Potbelly's last Friday before 8PM and they were closed...end up going to Arnold's instead. Who knows what time they close....

 

Someone needs to contact the regional manager and report/complain.

With a place like Potbellys (cheap and fast), with its location on FS where a lot of people either start or end their night, and many more people will casually pass by, most of their evening business will probably be from people who were going to be on the square anyways and just kind of wonder in.  I'm not sure who they would advertise to, besides downtown residents, as no person from the burbs is going to see that Potbellys has extended their hours and make a trip downtown to get a 5$ sandwich...

 

I agree that no one from the suburbs will drive downtown just to eat at Potbelly.  However, there are 4500+ people living in the CBD and more on the fringes.  These are people they could advertise to. 

 

They should at least post a sign saying that they have extended hours.  If people (downtown residents, people working late downtown, etc) know that they are open later, they are more likely to walk over to them.  But now, people walk up to the place, see their posted hours, and assume that they close at 7. 

 

Potbelly is not the only downtown restaurant or retailer guilty of this.  There are several businesses that will say "we are trying out Saturday or evening hours."  They never post a sign stating this, so people just don't realize it.  Then, the business will cut back hours again, and say "we tried extended hours, but they didn't work."  Of course they didn't  work because no one realized they were open later!

We went by Potbelly's last Friday before 8PM and they were closed...end up going to Arnold's instead. Who knows what time they close....

 

Someone needs to contact the regional manager and report/complain.

 

Potbelly will probably just say that they were opened during their posted hours.

I agree that no one from the suburbs will drive downtown just to eat at Potbelly.  However, there are 4500+ people living in the CBD and more on the fringes.  These are people they could advertise to. 

 

They should at least post a sign saying that they have extended hours.  If people (downtown residents, people working late downtown, etc) know that they are open later, they are more likely to walk over to them.  But now, people walk up to the place, see their posted hours, and assume that they close at 7.

 

Sounds like something the Downtown Residents Council should take up.  Maybe approach the owners and tell them that whenever they are going to test expanded hours, or change their operations around, that they should notify a designated person (i.e. Downtown Residents Council President or something).  This person could then take the information and distribute it accordingly to members of the DRC, Cincy bloggers, etc to get the word out.  This will require 1 simple email from the owner and will result in thousands of people getting a heads up.

^ The owner is fully aware of the DRC.

Has a specific option like that been presented to them though?  Sometimes you just have to spoon-feed them.

Has a specific option like that been presented to them though? Sometimes you just have to spoon-feed them.

 

Yes. 

 

The DRC is pretty good about talking to new businesses downtown and telling them about options.  We have had business owners make an announcement at our meetings along with passing out menus and business cards.  Downtown businesses can also send a blurb to the DRC for inclusion in their weekly E-News letter.

Yeah Potbelly's closes at 7PM, I complained to them once and they pointed to a pretty empty store during another visit after 6PM.  Thing is that people start coming down to the Square again around 6:30 for the live music and such.  I never see Graeters empty at night but then again Graeters is an institution in Cincinnati.  In fact it might be a disease because I can't pass one without stopping in for a quick cone of Toffee Chip. 

Here is a run down of the quantifiables for this past Summer:

 

• 85 concerts were held on the Square.
  
• Overall attendance at the PNC Summer Music Series is estimated at 50,000.
  
• Movie Night ran for 15 weeks, showing 29 family-friendly movies in our unique “drive-in without the cars” setting.
  
• Combining movie nights and the music series, 300 volunteers contributed 1,290 hours.
  
• “Salsa Night” (Thursdays) showed the most growth, starting with dozens of attendees the first week and quickly growing to crowds of 400-500 by the end of the season. Salsa included dance lessons, which were very popular.
  
• “Smooth Sunday”, a night of soul and R&B on the Square, was also new and grew in popularity as the summer went on. On the Sundays before and after the July NAACP Convention, the concerts drew about 1,000 people.
  
• Beer and soft drink revenues were up 400% over the year before. Money raised through beer and pop sales goes right back into creating new events and programming on the Square.
  
• Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, revenue in the Fountain Square Garage was up 70% compared to 2007.
  
• Traffic to the Fountain Square website (www.myfountainsquare.com) was up 40% this summer compared to last summer.

“Salsa Night” (Thursdays) showed the most growth, starting with dozens of attendees the first week and quickly growing to crowds of 400-500 by the end of the season. Salsa included dance lessons, which were very popular.

 

Tropicana had a Salsa Night on Thursdays, and it drew A LOT of people for a bar of it's size.  I wonder how many of these migrated to Fountain Square's Salsa Night when Tropicana closed.

Money raised through beer and pop sales goes right back into creating new events and programming on the Square.

 

Not sure what "pop" is but it looks like you meant to type "soda".

I just copied/pasted the news release that I got from 3CDC.

Money raised through beer and pop sales goes right back into creating new events and programming on the Square.

 

Not sure what "pop" is but it looks like you meant to type "soda".

 

"sodie pop"

Are we being sarcastic or is there really somebody who lives in Cincinnati who doesn't know what pop is?

Are we being sarcastic or is there really somebody who lives in Cincinnati who doesn't know what pop is?

Please??  :-D

http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/popvssodamap.gif

http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/popvssodamap.gif

 

Yeah, I believe the same author of this map states that Cincinnatians have a NYC pattern in their dialect.

 

It is a sure sign the holidays are closely approaching as the centerpiece of the season arrives Downtown at Fountain Square.

 

This year, the Fountain Square Christmas Tree is a 60-foot Blue Spruce. The tree was delivered from Wooster Sunday morning and it is about 30 feet taller than traditional trees used in past holiday seasons.

 

"We're really excited about the tree this year, it definitely rivals anything that you would see in any major city," said Bill Donabedian of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation. "We have 20,000 lights, that's 17,000 lights more than last year."

 

The tree comes to the city courtesy of Richard Duffy, and the lighting presentation is scheduled to take place November 28.

 

 

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7d6f6fb9-2d86-4069-ab29-0c409d245f35

last year's tree was pathetic

Pathetic as it may have been, I am glad Cincinnati chooses to get a local tree.  This years tree builds on that strong tradition and raises the bar for the future.

 

 

"We have 20,000 lights, that's 17,000 lights more than last year."

 

That's a sad, sad fact.  Are they going to put Charlie Brown style red cardboard stars on it again?

 

Let's play, who can spot the Christmas Tree:

 

 

 

 

Three cheers to Cincy aiming higher this year.

Pathetic as it may have been, I am glad Cincinnati chooses to get a local tree. This years tree builds on that strong tradition and raises the bar for the future.

 

As much as I like to support local resources, I must confess that I don't really care where the tree comes from.  Just make it impressive and I won't ask any questions regarding the tree's origin.

Looking forward to the lighting celebration, hope to make it down!

Not sure if this is in the right place.

 

I'm writing a paper comparing and contrasting old and new FOuntain Squares after the renovation in 05-06.  Does anyone know where I can get a diagram of what the old square looked like before the renovation?

 

Myfountainsquare.com has the new map, but I wanted to find the old diagram.

 

Thanks for your help!

^^I'd say you should ask someone in DAAP's urban planning program to get on GIS for you and clip a few MrSID satellite shots of Fountain Square configurations over the years.

 

I would but I'm on co-op right now, so I don't have access to CAGIS.

Blades of glory: Praise, patrons for Fountain Square rink

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/01/19/story12.html

 

It has to be cold – but not too cold.

 

It can be warm – but not too warm.

 

And it definitely can’t rain. Especially not on a Saturday.

 

Such is the fickle business of Fountain Square Ice Rink, recently named one of the top 10 “cheap” outdoor ice rinks in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.

 

Open this year from Thanksgiving until Feb. 22, the downtown ice rink gets an average of 350 skaters each day, said Manager Lindsey Manck. Saturdays are the busiest – with one Saturday before Christmas setting an attendance record of 2,500 skaters.

 

There are 17 college student employees who keep the rink going, not including Manck. She manages the operation for the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp.’s Fountain Square Management Group LLC.

 

A delicate balance

The goal is to turn a bit of a profit, she said, but that’s not easy.

 

After all, rain can require the rink to close, and having to shut down on a Saturday would be a revenue-killer, Manck said. (It hadn’t happened this season, as of deadline for this story.)

 

“It is a little bit unpredictable,” she said.

 

Indeed. In general, temperatures in the 20s with little or no sun are best for an outdoor rink, said Kevin McCormack, vice president of the Metropolitan Ice Rink Manager’s Association. “Days with a little cloud cover are good, too,” he wrote in an e-mail.

 

“The worst conditions,” he said, “are rain or even snow. Rain and snow can actually be worse than a 60-degree day assuming that you have a nice, big refrigeration system.”

 

But for all the uncertainty, running the rink is fun, Manck said. The Olympia 250 used to resurface the ice acts up from time to time. That provides regular amusement for the staff. And then there’s the “skating.”

 

“It’s entertainment,” Manck said with a smile. “Some of the wipe-outs are just so extreme.”

 

So extreme, in fact, that the ice rink has a “roamer” patrolling the edges of the rink to make sure everyone stays safe.

 

The new, improved Fountain Square Ice Rink was first installed after Thanksgiving in 2006 when 3CDC’s Fountain Square Management Group took over supervision of the square. It’s about 50 percent bigger than the old rink and is similar in size to the Rockefeller Center rink in New York City, according to the management group. The chiller below the rink can maintain ice up to 60 degrees in dry weather. And during the spring and summer, the chilled water it generates cools the Via Vite restaurant on the square.

 

The rink holds 225 skaters comfortably and averages twice as many daily visitors as the old one, according to Fountain Square Management.

 

It’s also a much better surface than the smaller rink that was its predecessor, said Rhonda Nunlist of Cheviot. She took her three daughters skating one Saturday evening before Christmas and said the ice on the rink seemed much thicker and smoother than the old one.

 

“Just being in the middle of downtown is great,” she said.

 

Fun for all

She is far from the only one who thinks so. The night Nunlist was there, Fountain Square was jammed with families.

 

There was a little girl in a puffy pink coat who circled the rink, powdery ice dust covering her knees and butt. A boy so excited that he plowed into his dad and tackled him from behind, knocking the man on his back. There were older brothers helping nervous little sisters around the rink. And teenagers making their way around the ice, laughing as they slipped and bumped each other, one by one.

 

And that’s the point. Fountain Square Management Group views the rink as one more attraction on the square to help bring people downtown, despite the unpredictable nature of the business.

 

That’s fine by Manck.

 

“I’d rather be busy than bored,” she said.

 

No problem. The rink is open daily, depending on the weather. Go to www.myfountainsquare.com for rink hours and closures due to weather or events.

Mynt Martini coming to Fountain Square?

http://www.urbancincy.com/2009/03/mynt-martini-coming-to-fountain-square.html

 

Fountain Square has been transformed over recent years into a vibrant hotspot of activity and it maintains the status of being the spot where people meet and socialize when hitting up Downtown.

 

The new commercial spaces, fronting on the Square, have injected new life from the outdoor dining, mixture of retail uses, and programmed activities. But there has been something missing – that nightlife component that puts a constant stream of activity right on the Square after hours.

 

There is one commercial space left on Fountain Square and its tenant may fill that missing void both physically and socially. The space is 17 Fountain Square Plaza which is adjacent to the 5/3 Banking Center and across the walkway from Rock Bottom Brewery.

 

Manga, 1, Inc. registered the restaurant/bar business in May of 2008 with the State of Ohio. This was followed up by an application to transfer a liquor license from “Coach & Four at the Edgecliff Inc.” to their new business registered through “Manga, 1, Inc.”

 

The transfer request includes the ability to sell liquor, wine, beer, and the ability to stay open late (until 2:30am). Individuals associated with the Fountain Square Management Group stated that 5/3 tenants their building and declined to comment further. No response has been received from 5/3’s leasing agent Chris Hodge from CB Richard Ellis.

 

Follow ups have been made and UrbanCincy will update this story as it develops.

Looks like they are going to get approved...what ever it is!  At the bottom of the link is references "downtown residents council was notified of the application and do not object".  Does anyone know if DRC was notified of the establishment?

 

http://city-egov.cincinnati-oh.gov/Webtop/ws/council/public/child/Blob/25489.pdf;jsessionid=0DA9DCC4496047C3D997B9F944EFEA22?rpp=-10&m=1&w=doc_no%3D'200900170'

^That link is not working for me. 

 

The DRC is always notified of new liquor licenses in the Central Business District.  They were recently informed about a liquor license for the new bagel place on 7th Street. 

^That link is not working for me.

 

The DRC is always notified of new liquor licenses in the Central Business District. They were recently informed about a liquor license for the new bagel place on 7th Street.

 

A liquor license for the bagel joint? Really ...

Looks like they are going to get approved...what ever it is!  At the bottom of the link is references "downtown residents council was notified of the application and do not object".  Does anyone know if DRC was notified of the establishment?

 

http://city-egov.cincinnati-oh.gov/Webtop/ws/council/public/child/Blob/25489.pdf;jsessionid=0DA9DCC4496047C3D997B9F944EFEA22?rpp=-10&m=1&w=doc_no%3D'200900170

 

The link doesn't work for me either, but I was told that liquor license transfers rarely get denied.  At the same time I was told that transfers take a while to process...so it's probably just a matter of time.  I'm gonna keep digging for more information though.

I know you guys are tired of me saying this, but we don't need another martini, snazzy, nada-type place.

 

We need something low-key, hole in the wall ... like Northside Tavern.

not really the best place for a hole in the wall

 

 

northside has become a little large to be a hole in the wall... go around the corner to c & d

not really the best place for a hole in the wall

 

 

northside has become a little large to be a hole in the wall... go around the corner to c & d

 

Ok, maybe not a hole in the wall on Fountain Square, but we have enough lounge-type places all over. Maybe even something similar to Rock Bottom Brewery, but it not being centered around a restaurant.

I was just thinking about this space last night, and wondering when we were going to hear anything about it!  Great news that there is at least some work going on here.

 

I think this space should definitely be upscale, modern, kind of flashy, and definitely independent. This is one of the most visible spots in downtown, and it should be a premier place.  While I agree downtown could use some diversification of nightlife options, this is not the place for it, IMO. Mainstay on 4th seems to be a live music centered place, so maybe that can appeal some people looking for a Northside Tavern type of vibe.  Also, I don't really see the need in having every type of establishment in downtown. I kind of like the fact that you can get different nightlife vibes in different parts of the city.  You know if you want something indie and hipster, go to Northside. Upscale and a little more expensive, Mt. Adams, younger and cheaper post college places, Mt. Lookout, etc.

 

Btw, there are some laid back places in downtown and OTR already.  Mr. Pitifuls, Grammers, O'Malleys (is that still open?).

O'Malleys is still open and most definitely a hole in the wall type place with some fairly decent food to go along!

Btw, there are some laid back places in downtown and OTR already.  Mr. Pitifuls, Grammers, O'Malleys (is that still open?).

 

Plus Rockin' Robin's and Madonna's, both within 1.5 blocks away from Fountain Square.

Don't forget Arnold's.

I went to Arnold's just this past Saturday. None of these places have the same feel as NST, maybe Arnolds would be the closest ... but nowhere near the square.

Found a good link:  http://city-egov.cincinnati-oh.gov/Webtop/ws/council/public/child/Blob/25489.pdf?rpp=-10&m=1&w=doc_no%3D%27200900170%27

Found a good link: http://city-egov.cincinnati-oh.gov/Webtop/ws/council/public/child/Blob/25489.pdf?rpp=-10&m=1&w=doc_no%3D%27200900170%27

 

Doesn't work? What is it?

Really weird how the link breaks... I've attached the pdf.

So is this a case of the Cincinnati Po not having an updated address list? Or the owners of this fine estalishment not having a clue?

 

I sure hope it's not the latter. Makes you wonder how successful this place will be if management can't even put a real address on their liquor application.

Earlier today, someone in my class said the square is owned by 5/3.  There is no way this is true.  Someone else said 3cdc still controls the square.  I thought/remember 3cdc turning over control to the city.  The city owns the land correct? 

Earlier today, someone in my class said the square is owned by 5/3. There is no way this is true. Someone else said 3cdc still controls the square. I thought/remember 3cdc turning over control to the city. The city owns the land correct?

 

My understanding is that Fountain Square is a public square, but it is managed by the Fountain Square Management Group (part of 3CDC).  I don't think 5/3 ever owned the square.

5/3 does not own Fountain Square.  Never have, never will.  They do own Fountain Square West (air rights above Macy's) though.  They also own the two buildings that front onto the Square on its north and eastern sides.

I really hope something is announced for the last open spot on FS.  It's ridiculous that one of the most public and prime locations in the city has been sitting empty for 2 yrs now.  Does anyone have information about this?

Last I heard it is going to be a nightclub called Mynt?  Can anyone confirm?

I believe an announcement was made a while back, but I haven't seen any work progress so far.

its gonna be a martini bar. I popped my head in there a few days ago and checked out the construction. i asked the construction guys.