I love the scenery... The decor is pretty good, too. :)

Here is a nitpick that I had with Mynt, stemming from a discussion with several others at Arnold's the other night. What is the purpose of MyntMartini? To provide quality drinks at exceptional prices? Or to provide drinks at high prices? I've heard of mixed reviews of Mynt from at least ten people so far (on Twitter, elsewhere).

 

And now Mynt is running this jingle on their Twitter feed and site: "... be part of the IN-CROWD!"

 

Has Mynt gone exclusive? Is it now reserved for the popular crowd that wants to be seen? Is this heading down the path of exclusiveness to the point that it becomes too exclusive, such as the Righteous Room?

 

Mynt is one of the focal points of Fountain Square, given that it shares the space with a florist, Rock Bottom, Grater's, Potbelly's and VivaVite. Can you imagine if Grater's put in a bouncer at the door and made it available for the "in-crowd?" Even if Mynt does not physically restrict certain classes, races or patrons from the establishment, they are segregating the clientele by repeatedly stating that if one does not or cannot enter Mynt, they are not a part of this upper crust.

 

That annoys me (and apparently others, where I ran across this earlier today).

 

We don't need more of these establishments in downtown at the least.

Anything that walks and has breasts is hot to you :P

second from right

We don't need more of these establishments in downtown at the least.

 

Are you kidding? Downtown is too exclusive for you? The bar is surrounded by "a florist, Rock Bottom, Graeter's, Potbelly's" oh and don't forget nearby Cadillac Ranch, Lodge Bar, etc.

 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a bar that tries to create an image as the place where the cool kids go. It's a pretty tried and true strategy. Besides not everyone wants to ride a mechanical bull when they go out.

I wasn't implying that it was "too exclusive" for me to enter. I can go there now and get in. But I irk when I was looking through their tweets and posts, and noticed that they were only going for people who seek the "in-crowd." I guess I like the establishments that last, like Arnold's, where they are ... more accepting :)

 

There are places for everyone to go to. I just wish we had more stores and locations that cater to the residents than to tourists or people from the suburbs. We have a population of 10,000 that will only grow further, and we can't even attract or land a decent grocery store.

Fountain Square is about as good a place as one could think of to cater to tourists and out of towners.

 

We all understand that you would hate the idea of going out to be seen but some of us enjoy much better reactions from strangers  :lol:

Mynt isn't really my kind of place. I'm definitely not in their target demographic.  However, my wife and I were there for one of their early openings before new years eve.  Nobody was throwing the "exclusive" vibe out there.  The manager came by and introduced himself and seemed genuinely interested in having us enjoy our visit. The martini I had was good (and properly served).

 

I'm sure they're target audience is much "hipper" than the likes of me, but I didn't get the impression they were going to do the velvet rope routine.

 

I think it adds some variety to the square.  I suspect their outdoor seating will liven up that corner.

By the way, when I was there, the bartenders were even hotter.

 

:wink:

LOL Point taken.

Besides not everyone wants to ride a mechanical bull when they go out.

 

LOL

 

I agree, though, and I think downtown Cincy is certainly big enough to accommodate the velvet rope crowd as well as the "mechanical bull" crowd, and I think it's a sign of downtown's health that places like Mynt and Righteous Room are opening up along with the old favorites like Grammer's and Arnold's. The healthiest cities are the ones that have a good mix of establishments, ranging from touristy to upscale to dive. It's certainly possible for cities to go too far in the upscale/touristy direction (see: Chicago's Near North Side, and most of Manhattan), but Cincy has a long way to go before it reaches that point. If the day comes when Grammer's is getting squeezed out by a new Hard Rock Cafe location, I'll complain, but until then I'm happy to see new venues opening downtown.

 

And I like the exotic-looking one, second from the left.

Yeah, I see the opening of more upscale places in downtown as a definite positive thing. Black Finn, Lodge Bar, and Cadilac Ranch are all pretty trashy IMO, and I personally don't think I would ever willingly choose to frequent those spots.  Cincinnati's nightlife scene is pretty limited beyond bars, so I welcome additions like Mynt.

I like the way Mynt looks and I appreciate what they are trying to do with the whole upscale nightclub thing.  We need a true  danceclub here in cincy.  FBs and RightRoom are great, but not really dancable.  That little basement at FBs is NOT A SUITABLE DANCEFLOOR. 

 

BUT THE MUSIC THAT THEY PLAY AT MYNT IS HORRIBLE.  Its worse than the stuff they play at Lodge Bar or Caddy Ranch.  Seriously, the music there is the same stuff the cheesy wedding djs play, old catchy songs that even old suburban soccer moms are ashamed that they enjoyed while in high school in the late 90s.  NOT THE TYPE OF MUSIC AN UPSCALE CLUB SHOULD BE PLAYING

Well I was there on NYE and had a great time.  Sure the drinks could have been stronger, but overall the execution, service, and presentation was fantastic.

 

Each place targets a certain demographic...even your beloved Arnold's.  The people that are attracted to a place like Mynt Martini aren't attracted to a place like Arnold's or Grammer's much of the time.  There's nothing wrong with this, it's just not a place that is of interest to you.

 

The atmosphere is perfect for Fountain Square as it appeals to an trendy demographic and creates a vibrant scene that is looked on by those enjoying FS.  For example, on NYE many families waited in the enclosed walkway to stay warm until the ball dropped...and while they did they looked into Mynt through the glass walls for fun.  Some kids came up to the glass and danced next to people dancing inside, while others simply looked on.  The point is that the people enjoying the free atmosphere of FS are probably not looking for a club experience, but they do appreciate the show and vibrancy as they're out and about on FS.

Generally I've found that the more the advertisement for a bar, club, or party says "upscale/exclusive/VIP" (I will never go anyplace that bills itself as VIP), the trashier the crowd is in actuality.  They're just keywords to draw a certain mindset- douchebags looking for an excuse to act like douchebags by paying a lot to be where they are.

We need plenty of bars to hold all the douchebags, so they don't bother us when we go out to the real bars.

 

By the way, C-Dawg Njaim is right; second from left.  Hands down.

Generally I've found that the more the advertisement for a bar, club, or party says "upscale/exclusive/VIP" (I will never go anyplace that bills itself as VIP), the trashier the crowd is in actuality. They're just keywords to draw a certain mindset- douchebags looking for an excuse to act like douchebags by paying a lot to be where they are.

Agreed.

And i say second from the right for sure

What we actually need more of is high quality places to go dance Downtown or anywhere for that matter.  Cincinnati has a terrific bar scene, but the club options are atrociously small and sub-par for a city Cincinnati's size.  So with that said, I'm happy that Mynt Martini has a dance floor and will be drawing decent DJs.

I agree, in fact I blame the reason I can't dance solely on the fact that Cincinnati has no decent dance floors anywhere.... there's probably a few other reasons but that's the one I'm sticking with.

What we actually need more of is high quality places to go dance Downtown or anywhere for that matter. Cincinnati has a terrific bar scene, but the club options are atrociously small and sub-par for a city Cincinnati's size. So with that said, I'm happy that Mynt Martini has a dance floor and will be drawing decent DJs.

 

Agreed, but...

 

I like the way Mynt looks and I appreciate what they are trying to do with the whole upscale nightclub thing. We need a true danceclub here in cincy. FBs and RightRoom are great, but not really dancable. That little basement at FBs is NOT A SUITABLE DANCEFLOOR.

 

BUT THE MUSIC THAT THEY PLAY AT MYNT IS HORRIBLE. Its worse than the stuff they play at Lodge Bar or Caddy Ranch. Seriously, the music there is the same stuff the cheesy wedding djs play, old catchy songs that even old suburban soccer moms are ashamed that they enjoyed while in high school in the late 90s.   NOT THE TYPE OF MUSIC AN UPSCALE CLUB SHOULD BE PLAYING

 

...if that is true...then close it for a Cheesecake Factory or a Chuck E Cheese.  I can't imagine anyplace with worse music than Cadillac Ranch.

I like the way Mynt looks and I appreciate what they are trying to do with the whole upscale nightclub thing.  We need a true  danceclub here in cincy.  FBs and RightRoom are great, but not really dancable.  That little basement at FBs is NOT A SUITABLE DANCEFLOOR. 

 

BUT THE MUSIC THAT THEY PLAY AT MYNT IS HORRIBLE.  Its worse than the stuff they play at Lodge Bar or Caddy Ranch.  Seriously, the music there is the same stuff the cheesy wedding djs play, old catchy songs that even old suburban soccer moms are ashamed that they enjoyed while in high school in the late 90s.   NOT THE TYPE OF MUSIC AN UPSCALE CLUB SHOULD BE PLAYING

 

...if that is true...then close it for a Cheesecake Factory or a Chuck E Cheese.  I can't imagine anyplace with worse music than Cadillac Ranch.

 

No, it is most definitely better music than Lodge or Cadillac Ranch (neither of which I go to for that very reason).  On NYE they had DJ Ryan Cox who was pretty good.  There was only one or two songs that had me frustrated, as opposed to dozens at the other places.

Generally I've found that the more the advertisement for a bar, club, or party says "upscale/exclusive/VIP" (I will never go anyplace that bills itself as VIP), the trashier the crowd is in actuality. They're just keywords to draw a certain mindset- douchebags looking for an excuse to act like douchebags by paying a lot to be where they are.

 

Totally agree.

 

Most of the clubs/bars downtown seem to advertise themselves like this, which is why I rarely go downtown when I go out. Northside is much better.

If you've been to the mountaintop, you either don't go out anymore or you stick to neighborhood bars. 

The Dock and Adonis are both legit. dance clubs.  I'd recommend them to anyone who isn't homophobic.  I love The Dock's setting....under a freeway underpass.  Something about it makes it feel urban, real, and raw.  Well....as raw as gays are willing to go....which isn't far.  We tend to like our lube....which is handed out in excess at The Dock :) 

Interesting dialogue here.  My input:

 

1.  No doubt, second from left.

 

2.  It's fun to watch from a distance all these places opening. Downtown really is becoming the place to go for nightlife, even for people who would've once stuck to somewhere like the levee or their local dives.  Whether it's your style or not, it's great to see diversity in nightlife options taking shape.  We were back for the holidays and hit Tonic.  Great place, good drinks.  I was surprised to see a bar in Cincinnati as serious about cocktails as they are in SF.  The execution wasn't quite there yet, but as far as I know, they're the only ones in that game right now and I hope they do well.  Walked down Walnut and it reminded me of Main St. (in a good way) 10 years ago.  Crazy.

 

3.  As Rando laments, there is still nowhere to go for an all out, great underground music dance club.  Many, many people have put in a lot of time and money over the years and it's always baffled me that a strong scene never came to fruition.  I think the main issue is the nature of the people in the area.  Either you a) stop going out, settle down and have kids in your mid-20s or b) move to another city where people are more serious about music, nightlife, etc that come along with a more vibrant urban culture.

 

4.  I only went to the Dock a handful of times, but that was the closest I saw in Cincinnati to the come-as-you-are "music first" vibe that's so fun here.  The music wasn't great and the crowd was generally sparse, but it's a great space that still has a lot of potential with the right bookings.

I should go to tonic more often considering I live and work two blocks away

Cincinnati's transient crowd

 

How many premiere clubs, exclusive drinking facilities and VIP establishments can a city truthfully bear without tripping over itself?

 

Mynt Martini opened on New Years Eve 2009, ringing in the new year with an assortment of martini's and mixed drinks, and showcasing its decor in a pattern of green and blue hues. Located on Fountain Square in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mynt caters to those who want to be part of the "IN-CROWD!" Or as much as their Twitter feed exclaims, at the least. Their mixed-case messages, such as "HaPpY hOuR at MyNt" is killing my obsessive compulsive nature, too.

 

Read on to find out why I dislike transient clubs, bars and scenes, and why they are not a stable or applicable investment in downtown or to its nearly 10,000 residents. What distinguishes these establishments over the what is arguably the best and longest-lasting venues, clubs and bars in Cincinnati? And to what excess do we have with these places?

I have been to Mynt (I like to pronounce it "Mighnt") and will rarely, if ever, go again. That said, I don't take issue with the superficial "trendiness," and I use that term loosely (as the club is far from trendy, at least in a cutting edge sense). Rather it is a standard, safe middle-of-the-road "club" for those that would like to think they're doing something a little more "special" than peanuts on the floor and Moerlein on tap  Think couples and suburbanites who are making a trip into the city for dinner and dancing.  Think also out-of-towners staying at a nearby hotel.

 

Whether it is "transient" or not should have no bearing on whether it's existence in our fair downtown is justified.  Sure, it's not going to be in continuous operation since 1861, but, then again, most nightclubs are, by their very nature, transient, or at least temporary concepts in a space.  Concepts grow stale and need to be retrofitted every 4 years or so (and, by the way, I think Mynt's concept is already well past it's peak).

 

But to each his own.  The fact that there is more variety means that the people I don't want to hang out with will be able to find a bar to their liking....in the process ensuring that I won't have to hang out with them.  All cities have places like this. If you don't like it, there are plenty of other places to go that will suit you better. 

 

But "In crowd" it is most decidedly not. 

Where does one find a "long-lasting club" anywhere?  I think by nature most clubs must change their image and/or move on after a certain period of time.  The reason being is that most club-goers want to go to somewhere new, somewhere fresh because it can get somewhat boring to go back to the same place over and over to get your dance on.

 

Is this a bad thing?  I don't know that you can say for sure...it is what it is though, and it seems to happen everywhere.  The only "long-lasting club" I can really think of in the Cincinnati region is Metropolis out at Cincinnati Mills.

One of my main points was that not enough attention is being placed for the services and needs of downtown residents. In one of the downtown resident council meetings (or whatever they are called), a survey was passed around asking what the residents wanted. Nightclubs/bars was not on the list. Later-hour drugstores, grocery stores -- something larger than a corner shop, but not necessarily a Kroger Fresh Fare as some desire, and more family-friendly entertainment options were desired. That said, Newport is filling that niche nicely, with a Lucky Strike's (although it does serve adult beverages, but is a clean-cut establishment), GameWorks and other options that is only a 5 minute drive from downtown.

 

And that is what the new owner of Tower Place Mall is seeking out as well. The mall concept is dead and done for downtown, and he's not looking to fill it with clubs and bars. He wants something that is unique, and something for Cincinnati residents -- especially those that are in downtown, because it is so centrally located.

I have been to Mynt (I like to pronounce it "Mighnt")

 

of course you do

One of my main points was that not enough attention is being placed for the services and needs of downtown residents. In one of the downtown resident council meetings (or whatever they are called), a survey was passed around asking what the residents wanted. Nightclubs/bars was not on the list. Later-hour drugstores, grocery stores -- something larger than a corner shop, but not necessarily a Kroger Fresh Fare as some desire, and more family-friendly entertainment options were desired. That said, Newport is filling that niche nicely, with a Lucky Strike's (although it does serve adult beverages, but is a clean-cut establishment), GameWorks and other options that is only a 5 minute drive from downtown.

 

And that is what the new owner of Tower Place Mall is seeking out as well. The mall concept is dead and done for downtown, and he's not looking to fill it with clubs and bars. He wants something that is unique, and something for Cincinnati residents -- especially those that are in downtown, because it is so centrally located.

 

No doubt everyone has a wish list.  When the demographics and economics are in place to justify those demands, the market will react accordingly.  Right now, people are still making money with the bars and clubs. 

 

I think Gameworks days maybe numbered.  The whole concept is a little dated in the current video game age, as are the Sega games, and the place is starting to show a lot of wear and tear.  The bowling joint may spell the end of Gameworks. 

I think Gameworks days maybe numbered. The whole concept is a little dated in the current video game age, as are the Sega games, and the place is starting to show a lot of wear and tear. The bowling joint may spell the end of Gameworks.

 

I couldn't agree more. There are certain places that fill a niche like Chuck E Cheese that caters to young children or Dave & Busters which has more of an adult atmosphere. With the proliferation of items like the Xbox 360 and PLaystation 3 and online multi-player gaming, I think the arcades are fading fast. Look at Krazy City that was in the tri-county mall, it's already gone.

 

I have a few friends that opened up an arcade in Fairfield with lots of vintage and newer games they restore and repair and aside from the Pinball fanboys that occasionally come in, they make most of their business on tournaments geared around xbox 360 and playstation games that they hold there.

Arcades I would say are dead, but I think places like GameWorks can still survive due to the limited availability of entertainment options for those under 21, but over the age of 18.  GameWorks fate though may be sealed by the bowling joint as Casey mentioned, and if not that, then it will be over once an ESPN Zone opens at The Banks.

I haven't said anything on here about Mynt because I haven't gone there yet, but from the first announcement I just lumped it into the same category as Lodge, Blackfinn, etc.  IE: the places I don't want to go.  Someone will inevitably drag me in there at some point though.  I'm just a fan of the hole-in-the-wall bars, rather than the places that try to be hip.  I go to bars for their selection of two things: beer and/or girls.  Usually the "hip" places don't have my preference of either of those. 

The vibe I'm getting is a crotchety one. 

 

Even if Mynt isn't your thing, who cares?  As long as enough people like it, that will be good for downtown.  Don't tell me there aren't places for you downtown as well, because there are.  Also, there's no way to gauge what will be a longstanding establishment.  Any of the shops on Vine St, Downtown, or in Uptown *could* be gone in a year.  It's only in retrospect that we realize what worked well over the years.

 

Let the kids, yuppies, college kids, and the rich all have their fun.  You'll have yours too, if you end up getting over yourself.

Well said!!!!

 

The vibe I'm getting is a crotchety one.

 

Even if Mynt isn't your thing, who cares? As long as enough people like it, that will be good for downtown. Don't tell me there aren't places for you downtown as well, because there are. Also, there's no way to gauge what will be a longstanding establishment. Any of the shops on Vine St, Downtown, or in Uptown *could* be gone in a year. It's only in retrospect that we realize what worked well over the years.

 

Let the kids, yuppies, college kids, and the rich all have their fun. You'll have yours too, if you end up getting over yourself.

Sherman,

I just read your article on your site and it became the topic of conversation amongst several current and former bar/club owners I know, all of whom have or had places in OTR and the CBD. Have you ever considered that there is an obsolescence built into the business plan intentionally (and I am speaking primarily of clubs). The average club will be "hot" for approx 2 years. Knowing this, would you even consider writing a long term lease. Even if there were options that could be exercised, wouldn't it be best for the club owner to make those options as short as possible. What I am getting at is there is such a things as a business model that folds by design.

 

http://urbanup.net/index.php?q=blog&id=125

 

 

Sherman,

I just read your article on your site and it became the topic of conversation amongst several current and former bar/club owners I know, all of whom have or had places in OTR and the CBD.  Have you ever considered that there is an obsolescence built into the business plan intentionally (and I am speaking primarily of clubs).  The average club will be "hot" for approx 2 years.  Knowing this, would you even consider writing a long term lease.  Even if there were options that could be exercised, wouldn't it be best for the club owner to make those options as short as possible.  What I am getting at is there is such a things as a business model that folds by design.

 

Exxxaactly.

Sherman,

I just read your article on your site and it became the topic of conversation amongst several current and former bar/club owners I know, all of whom have or had places in OTR and the CBD. Have you ever considered that there is an obsolescence built into the business plan intentionally (and I am speaking primarily of clubs). The average club will be "hot" for approx 2 years. Knowing this, would you even consider writing a long term lease. Even if there were options that could be exercised, wouldn't it be best for the club owner to make those options as short as possible. What I am getting at is there is such a things as a business model that folds by design.

 

I understand that, but I'm not for certain that it is a viable method for gaining long-term viability for a neighborhood. One good comparison that is often made is the Main Street district, that was all of the talk in the 1990s and has all but folded away and died -- in comparison to the vibrancy that once existed. The second-tier tenants are more neighborhood-oriented now that the neighborhood is maturing -- coffee shops, boutiques, bakeries, that sort of thing. It's not an over-abundance of bars and clubs, which doesn't serve the residents necessarily.

 

Downtown is or is approaching 10,000 residents, and OTR south of Liberty is seeing a population increase. But we still lack many of the basic stores and amenities that one should desire for. At the DRC meetings, people are requesting the basics more than anything else; a drug store with longer hours or a dry cleaner. And more food options that are priced cheap. OTR residents may not desire to spend $10-30 per meal that the Senate is proposing, or what Lavomatic has priced at since its inception -- although the latter is now offering some cheaper options for lunch because of direct competition from the Senate. I could go on what the residents desire, but rarely are more bars and clubs on that list.

10,000 sounds very high to me.  Are you including other neighborhoods in that number besides the Central Business District? 

I could go on what the residents desire, but rarely are more bars and clubs on that list.

As a long time OTR resident myself (and longer time CBD resident), I will respond to this statement tomorrow.

Sherman, went to Mynt tonight ... looked around for you, but you were no where to be found.

I went to bed early, long day digging my SUV out and backpacking. :D

 

10,000 sounds very high to me. Are you including other neighborhoods in that number besides the Central Business District?

 

That's the number that has been toted around from several forumers here, so I was referring to that. I am inclined to believe that it includes at the least OTR.

I wish kaldi's or someplace just like it would come back.  Good (cheap) coffee, cheap food, cheap whiskey and sometimes cheap trendy girls (not that i need one now).  They had live music as well, usually quality stuff.

Forgot to mention cheap books.  Once the new scpa opens and washington park gets cleaned up i think something like it will pop up around there hopefully. 

teachers will need somewhere to get liquored up after school.

^There is Enzo's by the new SCPA.  They don't serve alcohol, but maybe they'll expand their hours when the school opens.  They have good food.

 

The website for the Downtown Residents Council says that there are currently 4,200 residents in the CBD.

10,000 sounds very high to me.  Are you including other neighborhoods in that number besides the Central Business District?

 

That's the number that has been toted around from several forumers here, so I was referring to that. I am inclined to believe that it includes at the least OTR.

 

No need to guess, the 2008 State of Downtown report by Downtown Cincinnati Inc. has the Central Business District's population at 4,268 and the CBD Periphery at 8,375.

 

“Central Business District” refers to the area inside the boundaries of Eggelston, the Ohio River, Central Avenue, and Central Parkway; “CBD Periphery” includes Over-the-Rhine, Pendleton, City West, Betts-Longworth, Adams Landing, and Riverside Drive; “Downtown” refers to both the CBD and the CBD Periphery.

 

See page 13.

http://downtowncincinnati.com/files/uploaded/State_of_Downtown_2008.pdf

I'm not for certain that it is a viable method for gaining long-term viability for a neighborhood.

Many people who are interested in OTR today got their first introduction to it because of some of those bars.  The clientele that was brought in every weekend by places like NEONS, Japps, Stowes (RBCs), Jeff. Hall, Westminsters, etc were all people who were never going to step foot in OTR otherwise.  The Main Street Entertainment Dist. in many ways paved the way for the redevelopment that is happening now because it provided a level of familiarity with OTR to many that wasn't all negative.

One good comparison that is often made is the Main Street district, that was all of the talk in the 1990s and has all but folded away and died -- in comparison to the vibrancy that once existed.

You and I have a very different perspective on the history of Main Street.  Most people, understandably so, look only at the back end offering of the business and equate the quality/type of that offering to the success or failure of the business.  When lease amounts go from near zero to 14-20,000 a month and other places like Newport on the Levee get hot and offers a Main St. anchor a deal he can not refuse (which cost us two venues), Mt. Adams returns, Mt. Lookout throws their hat in the ring (and that is about to go away), coupled with a riot (which did less harm than reported), the selling of business by good operators to incompetent ones (not going to name names), the practice of a certain out of town landlord to take huge deposits upfront from clubs he knew would default in the matter of months--all of this led to vacancies on Main.  The downfall needed to happen, we needed to reset both the tenants and the landlords. 

 

 

 

The second-tier tenants are more neighborhood-oriented now that the neighborhood is maturing -- coffee shops, boutiques, bakeries, that sort of thing. It's not an over-abundance of bars and clubs, which doesn't serve the residents necessarily.

 

Kaldis? Take the Cake? New York Dry Cleaner? Those all went out so should I deduce that these are failed business types based on that?  Miltons, 9 years and counting. Pitifuls, 10+ years,  NEONS, 25 years...what does that tell you?  It tells me that it is not an either/or proposition.  What coffee shop, boutique, or bakery would you put in a 12,000 sq ft space with a liquor lic?  Then what boutique are you going to put in the 10,000 sq ft space next to that, also with a liquor lic.?  The highest and best use for the 1200 block Main St. is bars and nightclubs.  Short of a Plasma center, what else are you going to put in there? 

 

I could go on what the residents desire, but rarely are more bars and clubs on that list.

I have probably lived in OTR and the CBD longer than you and I am pretty sure I have more interaction with both the new and the old residents as well.  We have store front after store front in the Q, Main St, and the CBD, all of which can handle all of the grocery, dry cleaner, lower-mid priced restaurants that you are talking about.  So where are they?  Where is the dry cleaner to replace New York?  Where is the grocery store who is so desperately looking for a space?  Why is Terry Danzilo's phone not ringing off the hook for low to mid priced restaraunts?  Is it all because they just want to move into the old J Hall space?  Only the Exchange space will do?  No.  And to sit back and say we will only have these types of business and are willing to just sit on vacancies for years and years is not acceptable or good for the, how did you put it, "viable method for gaining long-term viability for a neighborhood".

 

I am an OTR resident.  All of my partners are OTR residents.  We all said that if something isn't done soon on spaces like NEONS or the Diner, they will be lost forever.  It is that attitude that the only good bar is no bar that has influenced perspective tenants to go elsewhere.  That day is over, a new generation of neighorhood friendly entertainment venues is coming back to Main, and NEONS is not the only ones who have signed.

Mt. Adams returns, Mt. Lookout throws their hat in the ring (and that is about to go away),

 

Care to elaborate on this one?

I knew that would raise an eyebrow. Millions and MLTs are owned by Steven Sykes Valentino. Steve also ownes ORP realty.

http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story/I-Team-Condo-Conundrum/ALDEV2TcIEC4mE1gq9NB9w.cspx