A FedEx Kinkos will be opening up just east of Ben & Jerry's.  This is the space where Salsaritas was once marked as going...I'm assuming that they have totally backed out due to the inability to attain a liquor license.

 

To be honest I'm glad another non-food place will be opening up in that area.  That neighborhood needs more than just food stuff that caters to the student population.  There are, believe it or not, people that live in that neighborhood year-round.  I think it's only fair that some businesses open up that will serve them as well as the students.

They should get a decent plotter. If they're open 24 hours..they'd get bookoo business. Are they closing the one on Short Vine?

 

I went downtown to get some pages bound last year and they did it instantly. I went with my friend to get his bound the next day at the one on short vine and they said "just leave it here and come back tomorrow morning". I said "that's funny, they bind it downtown in about..1 minute!" She was like "we're really busy". There wasn't a single customer besides us in that store.

An inside source tells me that a beauty salon may be close to signing a lease for the vacant space inbetween Panera Bread and 5/3 Bank.

An inside source tells me that a beauty salon may be close to signing a lease for the vacant space inbetween Panera Bread and 5/3 Bank.

 

do you know if it is an actual full service salon or a Best Cuts/Great Clips franchised type place?

 

this area definitely needs a decent salon...the offerings on McMillian are subpar for most students and I hate having to drive out to Kenwood or Rookwood.

I heard a rumor today that the Ben & Jerry's under University Park has closed down due to poor management.  Apparently they have a lot of fund raisers where they split store profits with whatever group they're partnering with... and they just weren't making enough money, partially because of these.

ice cream stores shouldn't close in march, just wait for the summer

Tatestell: There are many other reasons. Coldstone Creamery has been shuttering a lot of locations, along with other higher-end food outlets. Consumer spending, especially on more expensive dining options -- such as Ben and Jerry's -- has declined as the economy has become depressed. Worries regarding the housing market and recession fears places more of that external money into ones savings account instead. People switch to cheaper brands. Etc. Demand for premium ice cream is pretty elastic, and demand is very much seasonal -- two minuses that led to its closure.

Ice cream places are almost certainly doomed in Cincinnati unless they bear the Graeters name.  Otherwise people just don't have the desire to get ice cream when it is cold for 5 months out of the year.  Coldstone, Maggie Moos, and Ben & Jerry's have all struggled in virtually every different type of market in Cincinnati.

 

This particular location did a pretty good job at trying to diversify and include some basic sandwiches, coffee drinks, and more of a lounge type atmosphere.  It was a really cool space if you ask me, but the product being served just couldn't carry the load.  There are very low profit margins in food to begin with...and it makes it even worse when you're dealing with something like ice cream that people only want in small portions, don't eat regularly, and only look to enjoy on a seasonal basis.

 

In my mind that would be like trying to open a hot cocoa shop on Peachtree Street in Atlanta...sure business might be good for a couple of months, but it ain't gonna pay the bills for the rest of the year.

Its not elasticity or any other economic indicators, it's the d@mn horrible Emo bands playing in Ben and Jerry's that drove away customers.

^ Ugh, that would run me off.

I used to work at this location for about a year and a half. (only on sunday's  :roll: )

 

The problem was:

 

1. People don't eat ice cream in the winter

 

2. Nobody really knew that we were also a coffee house (after a year you would still get people that would say "you guys sell coffee?")

 

3. During the summer there are VERY few students on campus, limiting your one good season to only a few weeks before school lets out and a few weeks when it is back in session.

 

4. The management sucked

 

....

I already miss Chunky Monkey in a waffle cone  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:

I second everything above and I'd add that the coffee was really hit and miss quality-wise. Also throw in UDF as a critical to crushing non-Cincy ice cream stores (Aglemisis too).

There are only a few units under UPA left with all the new shops that keep opening.  I wonder if a coffee shop or restaurant will take this unit or if it will be totally gutted.

They need an arcade in that strip or a good pool hall.

An arcade? Do people even still go to those?  This development isn't a suburban mall in 1995...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I think a clothing place like Aeropostale would do a killing there.  I think the addition of more food places is running the risk of over-saturation.  That is of course if that point hasn't been reached already.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I think a clothing place like Aeropostale would do a killing there.  I think the addition of more food places is running the risk of over-saturation.  That is of course if that point hasn't been reached already.

 

I agree with you about clothing stores...I could see H&M, Aeropostale, or maybe even Gap doing quite well there. H&M especially as there is no location in Cincinnati yet and their target audience is the fashionable, budget-conscious young adult. I see people around campus wearing their stuff all the time.

 

In regard to food...there are some definite voids that, if filled, could do quite well imo...look at BWW...they are SLAMMED all the time. A donut place (Dunkin' or Krispy Kreme) would be nice. Perhaps an First Watch or some breakfast/diner place in addition to the IHOP that's coming. I even think Skyline could benefit from opening a location here...Ludlow is far enough away that the 2 locations would likely serve different groups of people.

 

I think the ice cream/coffee market is definitely near saturation, especially with another Starbucks location opening soon, but food still has a way to go....

I would also push forward a Zara's.  I think TIC or is it TLC manages that property and they suck so essentially I'm going to ask people why they have the contract. Does anyone else want to help create a campaign to get them released from this property?

maybe a sephora or mac for all the college girls

They need an arcade in that strip or a good pool hall.

 

Not sure about the arcade, but I totally agree on the pool hall.  To the best of my knowledge there aren't any poolhalls in the area that aren't dives.  Too bad, because an upscale poolhall (like Westminster's used to be) can be a great asset.

They need an arcade in that strip or a good pool hall.

 

Not sure about the arcade, but I totally agree on the pool hall.  To the best of my knowledge there aren't any poolhalls in the area that aren't dives.  Too bad, because an upscale poolhall (like Westminster's used to be) can be a great asset.

 

Catskeller has pool tables and is usually pretty dead on the weekends. Also, I believe several other area bars have pool areas. I think with a smoking ban a dedicated pool facility could be quite risky too...

^Nobody wants to hang out on campus when they are not in class or participating in some other extra-curricular activity.

^ That has something to do with the fact that its a commuter rather than a resident campus.

 

I wish UC would build some real dorms....

A lot of students still live nearby. I agree no one wants to hang out ON campus afterwards but Macs was really busy this past thursday despite the rain. They're around, just at the edges of campus. Even people ON campus like to separate their academic life from their social life by being slightly off of campus. If that weren't true, people in Calhoun, Schneider, etc would all be in Catskellar. From what I've noticed of my friends in Schneider, they're not the type of people to party anyway. They all watch tv and play video games on weekends. They never throw parties even though it's a wet dorm, and sadly, they don't even know their neighbors in the building.

Catskeller has pool tables and is usually pretty dead on the weekends. Also, I believe several other area bars have pool areas. I think with a smoking ban a dedicated pool facility could be quite risky too...

 

Never been to Catskeller, I'll have to check it out.  Yeah, lots of bars have "pool areas", but it's always just two tiny coin-op "bar box" tables crammed into a corner or a back room.  I'm talking about a place with 10 - 15 regulation sized tables that have an hourly rate, so you don't have to keep winning if you want to play for a few hours.  Randy may be right, that it wouldn't work well on UC's campus, but I'd like to have something like that somewhere within 5 miles of downtown.

^ That has something to do with the fact that its a commuter rather than a resident campus.

 

UC isn't the commuter school it used to be.  I think something like 75% of the past couple incoming classes lived on campus.  In addition to that, the private market keeps adding student-oriented apartments all around the Uptown area...these are doing extraordinarly well.  Commuters are less and less what UC is now about.

This is true.  There is more and more on campus living.  The only quibble I have with these numbers is that I think (I could be wrong here) that they include such things as Stratford Heights, etc.  To me, thats not really "on campus" living.  I realize that lots of folks live really close to campus, you can't walk anywhere on Jefferson or upper Clifton (or even on Straight St near my house) and not see that its primarily students.

 

That said, its a different picture from a retailer's perspective than what they might expect for other universities.  Many other universities still have half of the university housing filled with students over the summer as well.  Its pretty dead up there in the summer...

Why do people think UC is lacking decent places to hang out?  :wtf:

 

UPA and Stratford aren't much different from regular dorms. People share bedrooms and UPA (not sure about stratford) has RAs. I think Stratford Bar has pool tables downstairs, I can't remember, last time I was there I was  :drunk:

This is true.  There is more and more on campus living.  The only quibble I have with these numbers is that I think (I could be wrong here) that they include such things as Stratford Heights, etc.  To me, thats not really "on campus" living.  I realize that lots of folks live really close to campus, you can't walk anywhere on Jefferson or upper Clifton (or even on Straight St near my house) and not see that its primarily students.

 

That said, its a different picture from a retailer's perspective than what they might expect for other universities.  Many other universities still have half of the university housing filled with students over the summer as well.  Its pretty dead up there in the summer...

 

Most universities of which I am aware  (having worked in the campus housing field for 14+ years)  depend on summer conference attendees to fill housing needs---not summer school students.  I know of very few that have over half there housing filled in the summer with students.

Hmmm, not sure who fills the dorms in Boston, never paid much attention to whether it was students or what, they all seemed young... the big dorms at BU and BC seem to always be mostly full over the summer... I spent many summers just paying the housing fee for summer housing...  And the student housing in NYC for the summer I was there seemed to be mostly full too...

I also think that a pool hall would be a much higher draw amongst males...correct me if I'm wrong, but girls always want to dance and socialize when they go out to drink....not sit around for hours and shoot pool. This is why many of the bars such as Mac's are successful...there is something for everything.

 

I know this would probably never happen, especially since the units left are so small, but I also think a place like Corner Alley in Cleveland could work well. If you guys are not familiar with it, it's basically a somewhat upscale bowling alley that, through decor, music, and drinks served, doubles as a chic nightspot and ultra lounge. Also, remember that entertainment orientated businesses like these are supposed to be for the 'entertainment district' further back on Calhoun...across from Old St. George.

 

This whole area just makes me so frustrated. So much potential here...so much foot traffic...and so much available space!!!! ...yet there does not seem to be hardly any new activity.

^Some of what you see during the summer in cities like Boston and New York is for intern housing and some high school summer programs.

Its pretty dead up there in the summer...

 

It should help somewhat when UC switches over to the semester system 3 years from now.

 

^Some of what you see during the summer in cities like Boston and New York is for intern housing and some high school summer programs.

 

UC does this as well.  There are international people that come over and live on-campus and take the bus up to Kings Island to work over the Summer.  Essentially it is a way for them to get into the country at first.  There are other programs around I'm sure, but that is the one I'm familiar with.

Well what I meant by pool hall is put in 15 to 20 tables and maybe a bar and some good music.  Who knows it could be a good thing...and for cyrin' out loud there needs to be a good nightclub in Clifton.  It could work.  Not necessarily a major upscale club, but a nice one with a respectable dress code.  It's a good spot and would liven that strip up into the night hours.  Plus, once the other stuff is built across the street, we could have ourselves a pretty kickass area right there.

of course...waking up the people might be a tad problem;)

Well what I meant by pool hall is put in 15 to 20 tables and maybe a bar and some good music.  Who knows it could be a good thing...and for cyrin' out loud there needs to be a good nightclub in Clifton.  It could work.  Not necessarily a major upscale club, but a nice one with a respectable dress code.  It's a good spot and would liven that strip up into the night hours.  Plus, once the other stuff is built across the street, we could have ourselves a pretty kickass area right there.

 

AGREED! Cincinnati, Clifton especially, has the type of people that would frequent an upscale nightclub with good DJs and a dress code. You can find this in almost every other major city. Cleveland has nearly half a dozen of these types of places, Columbus has even more. I know it has been argued about in other threads...but this is why I sincerely hope OSG is renovated into a nightclub.

Some of them go to OTR and MT Adams, a few go to Newport (we do have a good shuttle service for this) but I admit we could use a few upscale clubs instead of having just options like Mac's, Arlins, Baba Budan's etc. near campus. Something modern and trendy would be good. Loud music, decent sized dance floor. I think it would work well here.

 

trendy

 

 

One of my favorite words!

I only like those places because that's where the better looking women go!

I'm more of a bar with pool tables kinda dude.

I'd go one step further and say that we need an afterhours club near campus.

I'd go one step further and say that we need an afterhours club near campus.

 

well, Gypsy Cafe sorta fills that genre, but that would be really cool too.

There is an afterhours club up on Short Vine that I have heard isn't too bad.

on another note, today is free cone day at Ben & Jerry's...which makes the closing of the one on Calhoun that much more unfortunate...

 

When did Ben & Jerry's close? I am surprised it didn't last.

on another note, today is free cone day at Ben & Jerry's...which makes the closing of the one on Calhoun that much more unfortunate...

 

When did Ben & Jerry's close? I am surprised it didn't last.

 

about a month ago, and really sudden. the place still has all its furniture and everything, as if they just closed one day like normal and never opened the next.

on another note, today is free cone day at Ben & Jerry's...which makes the closing of the one on Calhoun that much more unfortunate...

 

When did Ben & Jerry's close? I am surprised it didn't last.

 

Unless your name is Graeters, you don't stand much of a chance operating a year-round ice-cream operation in this part of the country.  They certainly tried to diversify their revenue (i.e. coffee, sandwiches, etc) but it just wasn't enough.

on another note, today is free cone day at Ben & Jerry's...which makes the closing of the one on Calhoun that much more unfortunate...

 

When did Ben & Jerry's close? I am surprised it didn't last.

 

Not surprised at all.  I had Ben and Jerry's once in another city, and I thought it was overrated.  If I remember correctly, it was much more expensive than Graeter's, and definitely more expensive than UDF. 

Its more expensive, but it also a much denser ice cream.  It has roughly 2x the cream solids of other brands of ice cream (which is why when you look at the nutritional info its twice as bad for you as other brands ;) ).  There is a great deal of air whipped into both UDF and Graeters.  B&J is a much richer ice cream, and uses MUCH better ingredients as the mixers than any of the local chains.

 

Coming from the northeast, B&J is one of my favorites, but they will always have a hard time competing with entrenched brands (Especially if you are not used to really dense ice cream).  I was not surprised at all given the market they were competing in.

Sounds like Ben & Jerry's does much better selling ice cream consumed at home.

^ The only advantage to the store is that you don't have to get a whole pint and feel obliged to eat it ;)

From Graeter's website "The gentle folding process prevents air from whipping into our ice cream and accounts for the extremely dense and creamy consistency."

 

Graeter's is some dense stuff, I like B&J too but I don't think it's any denser than Graeters. It does how ever have lots of delicious chunks.

 

I never went to the one on Calhoun because usually I was looking for real food, which I didn't know that they apparently had. Maybe they needed to market themselves better since it was different than any other B&J I've seen and took up more space which obviously cost the more.

 

I am sad we missed free cone day, last year when I was in St. Louis, B&J was across the street from my apartment so I just hopped in line a couple times during the day. yum.