Birdbrain

I especially like the last line of that article: "In 2011, I think we'll see more conspicuous new construction, on a bigger scale, than we've ever seen before," White said.

Agreed. The application clearly indicates building space that 'Shroom is currently in, so it MUST be downstairs. (I simply can't imagine Mellow Mushroom leaving that location. Have you ever tried to get at table on a weekend night?) Velo looks quite interesting!

Right on schedule: today - January 39th, the orange construction barrels have appeared on Church Street. (OK, February 8th. Just seeing if anyone is awake.) Looking forward to the new street re-design!

FYI: The GHS child care center is expected to open in August 2011.

To answer the question asked by that idiot "Birdbrain," I rolled past that former S&S cafeteria site yesterday, and it is now a Michellin office building. Very nice, too, they added a glass "dome" for lack of a better word, that mimics the top of the large Corporate building. Still, I had hoped the site would be transformed into some amazing new dining experience to repeatedly detach me from my hard earned...

SouthEASTERN Mexican zest? (BLANDness alarm going off!) (Kidding. Calm down.) Love Mexican food, and another restuarant is always welcome. The competition may force some of the existing players to step up their game! Good for us!

Any word yet on Cheesecake Factory and/or Cheddars? It would be great to see something, ANYTHING positive going on at Magnolia. Not looking good with all the "defections" from the initial plans, i.e.: Apple, Trader Joe's, etc.

Oh, right you are StrangeCock, I got so excited about the idea that I forgot the venue. "Festive" may never apply here unless someone gets funky with the Mouton-Rothschild during a Fellini retrospective. Alas...

Holy smokes, a Cinema-n-Drafthouse in Greenville, SC! I never thought I'd live to see the day. OUTSTANDING! Don't judge the concept the first night -- drinking beer and reading subtitles don't go together well. ...If you've never been to a COMEDY at one of these places, it's a fantastic experience. Let's just say that adult beverages, a willing crowd, and "Monty Python's Holy Grail" tends to be a more... festive experience... so to speak. (Naw, don't you self-proclaimed film critics gimme grief about "cinema as art." Holy Grail is just an example. Right, then, we'll call it a draw!)

I see a flurry of activity at the former S&S Cafeteria on The Parkway between Wendy's and Michelin. (Or whatever that Cafeteria was called.) Does anyone know what's going in that building? I asked one of the workers, but he apparently didn't understand me, he just shrugged. Must be my accent....

Hey, I went to a fight and a baseball game broke out! Here's the Drive/Blue Claws brawl from last night's game (9/14/2010) that is making some national news: http://www.soxanddawgs.com/redsox/minor-leagues/video-greenville-drive-have-benches-clearing-brawl-with-lakewood-blueclaws.html

Always wondered when that would dawn on SCDOT. Biggest "Pinch Point" in area, and a relatively simple fix! Great news!

Well then; with the name Road Warriors in place, all that is left now is to start a campaign to rename the Bi-Lo Center to "Thunder Dome." Get Tina Turner in to do the National Anthem, and have Mel Gibson throw out the first slur puck, and... Oh, goodness, we could just go all day with this one! Looking forward to HOCKEY!

Road Warriors, huh? OK... yeah... that can be kinda cool! Looking at this positively - it COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE! (Sorry for the caps.) Considering that no one got to vote on the name, here are the positives: 1) Finally, we get a team with a semi-intimidating name; (Let's forget Rhinos while I'm on a roll, ok?) 2) The name is plural to signify a TEAM, rather than a trendy verb like The Dr... ah you know...; 3) It will instantly be shortened to "Warriors" by actual sports fans who go to games and plunk down cash for merch. I am just thrilled it's not the Greenville Bibendum -- or worse -- The Bimmers! (NO, these are NOT suggestions. Do NOT USE THEM... uh oh....)

So we've been writing about it for months, even have construction pictures, but it's not official until this. The Greenville Journal announces Trader Joe's going in by Academy Sports. (TBA section) Now if we only had a Grand Opening date!

I've heard unsubstantiated, 3rd/4th/27th person rumor that Cheesecake Factory is going to be breaking ground at Magnolia this calendar year. One of those "I know a girl who's dad's brother's Army buddy is a manager..." Naturally, there's nothing on their website corroborating. Grain of salt, I guess. It's interesting that we haven't heard a sudden rush of "Me Too's" by stores announcing plans at Magnolia Park after Bass Pro Shops announced. Hmmmm.

Why don't you folks take your little one-upmanship outside, so the rest of us can discuss the progress - or lack thereof - at Magnolia Park?

I've heard Trader Joe's described as the "Jimmy Buffett" of grocery stores. Laid back, doesn't take itself serious, and there's usually something wierd or interesting. (No, I'm not a parrot head...) It's just a cool store with really good and usually unique items -- most of them are actually good for you. Case in point - I'm enjoying some of Trader Joe's Chili-Spiced Pineapple right now. And if you have a sweet tooth, Trader Joe's has some amazing chocolate-covered- everything.

I see in an OLD post that the following list were expected tenants at Magnolia Park. My how time changes things... Apple Cheesecake Factory Sur La Table Biaggis California Pizza Kitchen Camille's Sidewalk Cafe Restoration Hardware Bravo! Cucina Italiana Chipotle Ben & Jerry's Maggianos Z Gallerie Tumi Urban Outfitters Anthropologie Smith and Hawken REI Trader Joes Lucky Brand So Apple is in Haywood; Chipotle and Trader Joe's are across the street. Playland-USA and Bass Pro Shops are coming in. Has anyone heard about any of the other stores listed above or possible additional firms interested in Magnolia Park? ... Anyone? Anyone? Beuller?

citylife - you continue to amaze! Good link with the available retail space PDF. I completely missed those side spaces by "Eyes." Duh! So Trader Joe's could be facing Woodruff Road right there by the intersections with I-85, Magnolia Park, and Woodruff Industrial? And folks will most likely try to use the entrance without the light? Whew. I was worried for a moment there. Thank goodness there's no traffic problems in that area! </playful_sarcasm>

Here is the link to suggest names for the new Greenville Hockey team: http://www.hockeygreenville.com/nameyourteam.html A perfect hockey name honoring the former "Slap Shot" team - The Greenville Goons - probably won't be chosen. Darn.

Just to help beat the Trader Joe's point to death - I stopped by the vacant store between Academy Sports and Eyes in Motion this weekend. The space is long, thin, with a very high ceiling. My first thought was that it would be a great basketball court. Not the usual layout for a TJ's. Which raises the following dumb question: After crossing over Woodruff and into the Magnolia Park area - is that road still named "Woodruff Industrial?" (You know the street - the one that curves behind McDonalds and clogs up after each movie ends...) If so, then it would probably indicate that Trader Joe's is going to go ahead and build in the Magnolia Park development rather than next to Academy. Many have speculated from the plans that TJ's would be located behind Rooms To Go, near Costco. I'm doing too much thinking just for a grocery store, huh? Yeah, I need to get out more.