July 17, 200915 yr Problem solved! Friday, July 17, 2009, 2:37pm EDT Newport on the Levee pins new tenantBusiness Courier of Cincinnati - by Lisa Biank Fasig Courier staff reporter A 12-lane bowling alley, with a restaurant, billiards and party room, is expected to open at Newport on the Levee next spring. The 24,000-square-foot attraction, described as "boutique bowling," will occupy space vacated by Café Istanbul, the Reserve Restaurant & Piano Lounge, Tala’s Distant Treasures and Art on the Levee. It will be owned by Newport on the Levee and managed by a third-party.
July 17, 200915 yr Lucky Strike was forced out of their location at 4th Street Live by Cordish, who reused their lanes and essentially branding to become a new nightclub/bowling center. I really like Lucky Strikes for the atmosphere, but it's too expensive for casual bowlers.
July 18, 200915 yr Lucky Strike was forced out of their location at 4th Street Live by Cordish, who reused their lanes and essentially branding to become a new nightclub/bowling center. I really like Lucky Strikes for the atmosphere, but it's too expensive for casual bowlers. I never knew it was in the city before. Maybe that's why it's not here anymore no one heard of it..lol
July 18, 200915 yr Like strike in Louisville,ky is gone? I havnt been down there in 3 years. Had a lot of fun @ 4th street live. Didn't understand why cinci area didn't have one. I miss FFB (Fat Fish Blue) .. Just another thing I have to go to Cleveland to enjoy.
July 18, 200915 yr Is that used video game store (the one that used to be a Game City 360) still there?
July 18, 200915 yr Is that used video game store (the one that used to be a Game City 360) still there? Yes, atleast as of a month or so ago.
July 18, 200915 yr Great addition, imo! Agreed. I've been hoping for a bowling alley or pool hall at NOTL for years. Good choice. Anyone know if Cafe Istanbul wanted to relocate? It's sounding like they opted to do so because NOTL needed that particular space, rather than relocate within NOTL.
July 20, 200915 yr Well that'll kill GameWorks I bet. It feels like all they are doing is swapping GameWorks for the bowling alley.
March 26, 201015 yr I thought the new "boutique bowling" place on the Levee was going to be a Lucky Strikes. But today I noticed that it's in fact a Star Lanes. Was this changed at some point, or was I mistaken in thinking it was ever going to be a Lucky Strikes?
April 16, 201015 yr http://cincinnati.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/photogallery/preview-star-lanes-and/1882568/content Star Lanes Pics
April 16, 201015 yr ^ Great for Newport! Nice addition ... However, I would love for this to be @ The Banks instead.
April 16, 201015 yr Glad to see this opening, but I was hoping for more than 12 lanes. I don't want to be on a waiting list to bowl.
May 12, 201015 yr I thought the new "boutique bowling" place on the Levee was going to be a Lucky Strikes. But today I noticed that it's in fact a Star Lanes. Was this changed at some point, or was I mistaken in thinking it was ever going to be a Lucky Strikes? Star Lanes is operated by Lucky Strikes, but owned by Newport on the Levee which named the place Star Lanes.
March 4, 201213 yr Something new for NOTL to try to attract customers, I wonder if the success of the venues at the Banks is what's diving this: Levee hopes flashy signs will draw visitors Mike Rutledge Cincinnati Enquirer 03/01/12 NEWPORT — If Newport on the Levee splashes its outside walls with giant illuminated signs, customers will flutter toward it like moths, operators of the 10-year-old entertainment and shopping complex hope. Huge ad messages, biggie-sized like signs in Las Vegas and Times Square – without the flashing neon – also can attract coveted retailers like the Apple Store or Dick’s Sporting Goods to the riverfront venue.... For more read: http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20120301/NEWS0103/303010217/ ---- This is reminding me of an earlier discussion we had regarding signs/lighting in OTR, remembering the old pic of OTR from the 1970s where there were flashy signs as far as the eye could see versus today where they have these almost unreadable small tab signs really makes me wonder why the suburban style ordinances that prevent anything more urban still exist over there. While it may be a mixed bag for NOTL with it not really being urban, I really think this same type of thinking should be applied to certain key areas in Cincinnati to really capitalize on its intense urban built form. As a side note, one of the things I really like about Chicago are the sheer number of bright light, neon and even digital LED signs around town, they do a ton to increase perceptions that a city is lively and add to the local character. I wish Cincy would do the same, and maybe NOTL is the first step?
March 4, 201213 yr I could see this working for Short Vine. I'm afraid im not very optimistic for NPotL.
March 4, 201213 yr ^^Are the OTR restrictions really the result of "suburban style ordinances" or because of the historical district guidelines? I actually like the small signs, though it would be cool if more were lit like Senate.
March 5, 201213 yr I don't see how this could possibly help NOTL, but I'm happy to see that they're finally going to try <i>something</i>. I still think that the real fix is to get some office/hotel/apartment/condo space in there, though. And reworking the parking fee structure would help, though that may affect NOTL's bottom line.
March 5, 201213 yr That nationally known urban adviser from Minneapolis that came here several years ago said that once Cincinnati built The Banks, NOTL would fail. I wonder if he will be right?
March 5, 201213 yr I don't see how this could possibly help NOTL, but I'm happy to see that they're finally going to try <i>something</i>. I still think that the real fix is to get some office/hotel/apartment/condo space in there, though. And reworking the parking fee structure would help, though that may affect NOTL's bottom line. I agree that the parking is a pain, mainly because you have to pay a decent amount when you're going there specifically to spend lots of money (almost nothing there is cheap). The fact that I can pay about $50 to take a date to see a 3D movie with popcorn & an icee and don't get all my parking money back is a bit ridiculous. It's cheaper for me to go out downtown on a Saturday night and not pay for parking than it is to see a movie at 3PM on a Sunday at NoTL. And I'm not one of those people who want it to fail or complain about it constantly. I think of Newport & Covington as part of the Greater Cincinnati Urban Core and WANT them to do well. Cov & Newport is to Erlanger as Cincy is to WestChester. I'd rather have people at NoTL than the Florence Mall. If they took that giant surface lot next to NoTL and built a sizable apartment building it would help the area dramatically.
March 5, 201213 yr It's free during lunch, and the few times I trekked down there (since it's a haul from Evanston), it was fairly crowded at the restaurants. But I don't see many downtown Cincinnati workers coming down - maybe more from northern Kentucky.
March 5, 201213 yr Many would decry if the new owners of the "Color building" in OTR would remove it's namesake HUGE C-O-L-O-R sign, even though that same sign would not be allowed if it were proposed new today. That's when you know you've got too many rules.
March 5, 201213 yr Many would decry if the new owners of the "Color building" in OTR would remove it's namesake HUGE C-O-L-O-R sign, even though that same sign would not be allowed if it were proposed new today. That's when you know you've got too many rules. Ditto. I guess your right it is for historic preservation, and as you know I'm pretty strong for historic preservation, but IMO this is too far, as long as the signs don't block a significant part of the facade I'm okay with it. Also, didn't they have large signs on Main Street back in its 90s entertainment district years is this regulation a new thing? It's free during lunch, and the few times I trekked down there (since it's a haul from Evanston), it was fairly crowded at the restaurants. But I don't see many downtown Cincinnati workers coming down - maybe more from northern Kentucky. If they were smart they'd either fund extra Southbank Shuttle runs during lunch (15 min headways is a bit much) or have their own shuttles between the Southbank runs to encourage downtown business. Might even be in their best interest to run these late at night on Friday and Saturday to enhance nightlife.
March 5, 201213 yr Many would decry if the new owners of the "Color building" in OTR would remove it's namesake HUGE C-O-L-O-R sign, even though that same sign would not be allowed if it were proposed new today. That's when you know you've got too many rules. Perhaps their long-term strategy is to set a restrictive precedent while they march up Vine with redevelopment, then see how everything turns out when the neighborhood is substantially repopulated. I can see how this is a prudent thing to do, when I look at things like the CURRENT AT THE BANKS sign. I mean, who needed that?
March 5, 201213 yr OK not that this is an OTR sign thread, but it does deal with signage, so... I looked and found this at http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/downloads/cdap_pdf3717.pdf "Wall and projecting signs should be located above the storefront or first story and below the second story sills. The size of wall signs shall be limited to one square foot per lineal foot of building frontage. Projecting signs should be no larger than 3 feet, 6 inches in width or height. Small projecting signs such as symbol signs are appropriate. Billboards and internally illuminated signs are not permitted. Neon signs may be approved on a case-by-case basis." In my opinion sections like this is the guidelines should just be removed. I'm fine with signs needing to be approved, but let's trust the process and the people in it.
March 5, 201213 yr Many would decry if the new owners of the "Color building" in OTR would remove it's namesake HUGE C-O-L-O-R sign, even though that same sign would not be allowed if it were proposed new today. That's when you know you've got too many rules. Perhaps their long-term strategy is to set a restrictive precedent while they march up Vine with redevelopment, then see how everything turns out when the neighborhood is substantially repopulated. I can see how this is a prudent thing to do, when I look at things like the CURRENT AT THE BANKS sign. I mean, who needed that? Totally agree on that. Although I don't think they necessarily have that long-term strategy - the document I found above is from 2003. Again, I think they should need approvals. Hopefully we'd get people on that board that could distinguish between signage that was fitting with the historic character, and disapprove anything that wasn't -- like that 'current...' sign.
March 5, 201213 yr OK not that this is an OTR sign thread, but it does deal with signage, so... I looked and found this at http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/downloads/cdap_pdf3717.pdf "Wall and projecting signs should be located above the storefront or first story and below the second story sills. The size of wall signs shall be limited to one square foot per lineal foot of building frontage. Projecting signs should be no larger than 3 feet, 6 inches in width or height. Small projecting signs such as symbol signs are appropriate. Billboards and internally illuminated signs are not permitted. Neon signs may be approved on a case-by-case basis." In my opinion sections like this is the guidelines should just be removed. I'm fine with signs needing to be approved, but let's trust the process and the people in it. Absolutely right. Who knows what sort of cool signage OTR is missing out on because of this restriction? Perhaps the decision makers in the approval process simply prefer a rule to fall back on instead of seeming arbitrary?
March 6, 201213 yr Wowwwwww This is insanely off topic. Can we please get back to Newport on the Levee or move this conversation to a different thread.
March 6, 201213 yr Bigger and brighter signs are an increased sign that NOTL is desperate and shaking in its boots as the Banks snatches away potential tenants like the Wine Guy Bistro. NOTL is the right location (excellent views of the city skyline) but the wrong type of development (disconnected from the rest of Newport). If they demolished the creepy mall and expanded the courtyard, they would have a fighting chance. Also if they built residential on the parking lot or at the IMAX theater, it would help tremendously. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
March 6, 201213 yr NOTL is the right location (excellent views of the city skyline) but the wrong type of development (disconnected from the rest of Newport). If they demolished the creepy mall and expanded the courtyard, they would have a fighting chance. Also if they built residential on the parking lot or at the IMAX theater, it would help tremendously. Exactly. Even though many of us don't love the Banks development, in terms of architecture (and maybe tenant selection), at least they started with a street grid and it was all based on the very hard work by many to get FWW narrowed and minimize the disconnect to downtown. The planner from "Urban California" (what a name...) who is taking money from NOTL - and promising them an Apple store once they add signage - has desperation as part of his business model.
March 6, 201213 yr Does anyone wonder how that Barnes and Noble stays open? It seems like they do well on the entertainment and restaurants but retail is hard, especially book/media retail.
March 6, 201213 yr NOTL is the right location (excellent views of the city skyline) but the wrong type of development (disconnected from the rest of Newport). If they demolished the creepy mall and expanded the courtyard, they would have a fighting chance. Also if they built residential on the parking lot or at the IMAX theater, it would help tremendously. Exactly. Even though many of us don't love the Banks development, in terms of architecture (and maybe tenant selection), at least they started with a street grid and it was all based on the very hard work by many to get FWW narrowed and minimize the disconnect to downtown. The planner from "Urban California" (what a name...) who is taking money from NOTL - and promising them an Apple store once they add signage - has desperation as part of his business model. I own two apple products and am about to buy my third. I've thought about getting their version of the "at home Geek Squad" thing, simply because I can not stand going to Kenwood Mall. If one came to NOTL, I'd be incredibly happy. I don't see that place getting the foot traffic to justify it for Apple though.
March 7, 201213 yr Haven't been to NOTL in years, but how well can it serve families visiting the Aquarium? The Aquarium is very good and does provide a baseline that other similar projects don't have (Portside in Toledo and similar places elsewhere).
March 7, 201213 yr Does anyone wonder how that Barnes and Noble stays open? It seems like they do well on the entertainment and restaurants but retail is hard, especially book/media retail. Anecdotal evidence, to be sure, but I was in that BN on a Tuesday night in January and it was hopping.
March 7, 201213 yr Specialty retailers are often really up and down foot traffic-wise during the week.
October 31, 201311 yr Lost during the hard drive crash were these stories: Jefferson Hall to close; may be replaced by bourbon concept 04/18/13 by Shauna Steigerwald Jefferson Hall, the bar/live music venue at Newport on the Levee, is set to close by the end of this month. Its last night will be April 28, according to Tony Cafeo, who owns Jefferson Hall, as well as the Incline Public House in Price Hill, with his brother, Dominic Cafeo. Jefferson Hall has been in business for 18 years, seven of those at Newport on the Levee. (Before that, it was at 12th and Main in Over-the-Rhine.) “Newport on the Levee seems to be going in a family-friendly direction, and Jefferson Hall isn’t family friendly,” Tony Cafeo said. Harold Dull, the Levee’s general manager, said Levee management is in discussions with a potential replacement, a Kentucky bourbon-centric concept. He expects to make an announcement within the next 30 days. Cont Bourbon-themed bar/restaurant The Still open at the Levee 07/01/13 by Shauna Steigerwald The Still, the new bourbon-themed tavern and restaurant at Newport on the Levee, opened Monday. It’s located in the former Jefferson Hall location; that bar closed in April. More than 50 varieties of bourbon; 12 craft beers on tap; live music; and fifteen 50-inch HD TVs are among the bar’s highlights. Bourbon-centric recipes from Chef Vitor Abreu, owner of Vitor’s Bistro in Westwood, comprise an upscale bar and entree menu. Cont "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
October 31, 201311 yr Was at the Levee Saturday night to catch a movie and was surprised to see that this place was dark. Signs at the front door still advertised their November & December band line-up so I wasn't certain they had gone out of business. Checked their Facebook page today and it appears they closed with no notice around the middle of October; former employee still trying to get his final check. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
October 31, 201311 yr having stopped in once because im a bourbon fanatic i will report my experience. it was an awful place. It was j-hall with a name change, but a concept that implied a complete overhaul of the space. it billed itself as a bourbon bar, yet had none of the atmosphere that you'd expect from one. frankly it didnt even have a good bourbon list. it was badly crafted from concept to completion, and i'm not surprised it failed at all.... being a resident of newport, i was really hopeful about this one too.
October 31, 201311 yr Sounds exactly like Whiskey Bar, which also closed. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
October 31, 201311 yr When it first opened up I went over there some, but can't remember the last time other than for a movie. Went to yard house last night to catch some of the UC game. Nice place.
October 31, 201311 yr ^They desperately need to work some hotels and/or apartments into that complex to liven things up. Some of the restaurants/bars are okay, but they aren't a destination by any means.
October 31, 201311 yr ^They desperately need to work some hotels and/or apartments into that complex to liven things up. Some of the restaurants/bars are okay, but they aren't a destination by any means. Good idea. Years ago They started marketing some retail space in the upper floors as creative office space. Not sure if they landed any Tenants.
November 1, 201311 yr Was this story wiped off the thread/UO too? Answers some questions about apartments. Also, I'm pretty sure there are at least a couple of businesses with office space in NotL Apartments, hotel at Newport on the Levee? Could be coming soon 05/22/13 by Tom Demeropolis Newport on the Levee is looking at a potential apartment and hotel expansion project next to its existing mixed-use development. Christy Gloyd, marketing director for the Levee, said the owners of the Levee are planning up to 220 apartments and a limited service hotel on the block of space just north of the Hofbräuhaus.
November 1, 201311 yr They need the world's largest bell a block away. Or this... http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaoSRh5yfWc/TqjDp0pDrNI/AAAAAAAADdM/uK_VFA480aY/s1600/milltower.jpg "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
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