baobabs727

Sprite $ is ridiculous. The rest of it was definitely pricey. They need to keep an eye on this. Perhaps that's why they just did the 20% Military discount on food.

New: 20% military discount with military ID at most places in Waterside District. Excludes alcohol. http://pilotonline.com/inside-business/news/tourism-and-hospitality/percent-military-discount-available-at-waterside-district/article_847cc658-5ead-5ea6-9942-fb8ab6180652.html

Before or after tax? You know how ridiculously high our taxes are for restaurant. I think it's 11.5-12%? I would tend to agree with you. That's pricey. Depending on portion size, that should've been around $23-$25, incl. the soda...AFTER tax. I went to CPK @MacArthur last night and paid $3.29 for a Dr. Pepper fountain drink. Totally ridiculous, but at least there were free refills. If you go to Nordstrom Café, which I recommend, and order an entrée salad or a smallish sandwich or a clay oven fired personal pizza... plus a cup of soup to mimic your meatball course...plus a dessert and a fountain drink, and you're looking at around $28-$33 AFTER tax. What I'm saying is that it's damned expensive to eat out these days, especially downtown. Sucks but true.

Mon Dieu. I don't think you know enough to make those types of assertions, and I highly doubt that any competent business person would allow their good name to be sold out to the highest bidder in such a careless manner. I don't buy it. How do you know that the establishments haven't trained individuals to specialize? Why would a local establishment like Cogan's pizza lend their good name to a "mediocre" endeavor? Why would they not ensure high quality and training standards? Their good name is all that they've got. Accordingly, they are incentivized to maintain and preserve it. And if you think that a bad reputation at Waterside won't negatively affect their reputation elsewhere, you're dead wrong. The term "market" can mean tons of things: Produce, flowers, fish, groceries, prepared foods, prepared bottled items, canned goods, drinks, household items, novelty items, even clothes. You simply had a preconceived notion of what "market" meant for Norfolk (though you've yet to define your term), which had been, by the way, entirely and thoroughly rebutted and controverted by all media accounts leading up to the opening. Finally, are you in fact fearful for your personal safety at "Waterside 2.0" after dark?

I suppose we know very little more than we knew yesterday. Fewer than half of the stores have been announced. https://www.google.com/amp/pilotonline.com/business/consumer/norfolk-premium-outlets-taking-shape-with-about-half-the-businesses/article_c03d3130-a786-50e4-b041-7044ae7833b1.amp.html

Hmm. Did you walk around? Upstairs, downstairs, out back, out front? There are great patios out back and out front. Striper's Seafood is being built out now, and these "bars" also are restaurants. The Harbor Club upstairs is upscale and 10,000 ft.², plus there are other areas which don't get photographed much inside. All in all, there are supposedly 17 different meal purveyors. As for the T-shirts, I believe that all the employees working in the Market work for Cordish, so that makes sense for them to wear shirts with a unifying theme. Also, there is the Mix, where you can dine out on the patio and order from any of the 17 purveyors. So they are one big team, essentially. Is Vin open yet?

Right now, Columbus St. is basically cut off, as it stops at Constitution. It's pretty much a parking lot after that. In the new plan, however, Columbus St. extends all the way through the new block, functionally, and dead-ends at the apartment development where you have to make a left to go up and around the new central greenspace feature. Notice also how the buildings have been pushed to the perimeter on the East side of this block.

OK, but please no Courthouse/Jail complex!

https://localtvwtkr.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/vb-town-center-proposal.pdf The Official Proposal from AH! Reviewing the proposal, it would appear as if something may be amiss with the quoted 560 seats for the new theater. That doesn't even cover four screens. The current theater has twelve.

https://www.google.com/amp/wtkr.com/2017/05/18/virginia-beach-town-center-could-be-growing-redeveloping/amp/ Additional information, discusses the phasing of this project.... "Phase one - Relocate and rebuild Bed Bath and Beyond Phase two - Relocate and rebuild Regal Cinema, new parking deck and retail, new office building Phase three - New City Hall, new parking deck and retail, new hotel Phase four - New multi-family apartments" Oct 2017-Dec 2021

Actually, though it's extremely difficult to make out on the diagram, that gray/white lowrise L-shaped building on the Boulevard is actually the FYE/ULTA/ Barnes & Noble Bldg/wing...plus the Harold's & the Cigar place, etc. So while there is no building currently planned for that space in the diagram, I'm sure there will be one before too long.

These fat, wide buildings read way more suburbia than downtown. What the heck happened? Years ago these developers and their property management company all preached the gospel of the almighty high-rise all the way to the current location of the Super Walmart! Sadly, it would appear as if they've caught a bit of the "Sifenitis."

Went there earlier tonight. Great time. Super cool vibe, high-end interior, locally-sourced produce, meats and other provisions where possible… Including craft beers! Loads. Add to that a sleek bar with flat panels, great outdoor seating, an outdoor lounge area and fire table, and you've got a winner. Oh yeah, and the food is pretty fabulous, as well. There's a room in the back to that seems to be semi-private.aviation themed. The menu is absolutely huge. I had a great dinner, highly recommended. That mall needed this one big time.

I just read about 50 Facebook comments on their page, and no one is mentioning that they need to stay open later. However, many people are complaining that it's not family-friendly enough ...that there's nothing for kids to do...that it's not stroller or wheelchair accessible, and that the atmosphere was more food court/bar than fresh market or sit-down eatery. So, while I actually think people should leave their kids at home when coming to a place like this after the dinner hour, plus keep their comments and attitudes in perspective given that it was a grand opening, it looks like we may be out numbered. I guess you can't please everyone! True. Truth be told, the president sometimes hangs out on my neighbor's porch. Not sure how often he will be there now given his crazy schedule, but if I see him and can find an appropriate moment, I will engage him in person.

Yes, that was quite a tragedy. Did they ever catch the guy? Something about a black pick up truck that may have been in storage during a deployment? There was a huge, high profile investigation from what I remember. The story really haunted Downtown and Downtowners for many months. Not to mention how sad it was for her family and friends. From what I understand, Cordish runs a very tight ship…with age minimums and visible security. Zero tolerance.

I've met Mr. Sutch. He's a nice guy: laid-back, casual, pleasant. He does have experience running this type of thing. I did not realize the hours were so curtailed, otherwise I definitely would've asked about that. The only thing I asked him was why they were having such a difficult time programming the upstairs. He really didn't have much of an answer except to say that he truly needed our patronage. In fact, he stressed the need for patronage beginning in the morning hours (when they will be offering some type of quick breakfast and coffee), through lunch and during mid-day. So after watching that strange video, I now I strongly suspect that Council and Mayor Fraim quietly directed Cordish to change the original concept from "Live!" with its late-late nights and music-centric format to this so-called "family-friendly" "District"... or "living room" concept. I'm sure it had something to do with the fact that there was a dragging death on Waterside many, many years ago, along with shootings and assaults which Council believed to have been fueled by alcohol and late night revelry. Personally, I believe that this project would be less likely to attract the same type of clientele who are inclined to commit such malicious mischief and felonies, alike. But who knows. So I say increase the hours to 12M Sun-Weds, & 2AM Th-Sat...and let's see! (Y'all know in this town it's never, ever going to go beyond 2 AM anyway, right?) What hours would you propose?

According to the Internet, Cordish's Kansas City Power and Light is open 24 hours, while Louisville's Fourth Street Live is open every day until 2 AM. Both of these developments are several times larger than Waterside District.

^^ Indeed! So for those of you who aren't already living down here, come and join us! Help us reach critical mass. Don't miss out. The best is yet to come!

NOW UPDATED: "When asked by Virginian-Pilot columnist Harry Minium whether Hampton Roads could support two major arenas, Alexander replied that Scope is 'already here and needs renovation.' 'The question should be posed to Virginia Beach: Do you need to build an arena?’ the mayor added." "Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms said he wishes Norfolk the best but expects it will be 'challenging and expensive to renovate Scope.' 'I truly do not see it as competition,' Sessoms said of the possible expansion. 'We’re going to have an arena that’s going to be cutting edge and with a sufficient number of seats that concerts look for and basketball tournaments look for.' Asked for a response to Alexander’s comments, Sessoms repeated, 'I just wish them the best.' ” LMAO. Mayor Kenny Williams' snark vs. Mayor Will Sessoms' cool arrogance. Popcorn, anyone? No, seriously. This is everything that is wrong with this area. Good Lord help us.

Maggie McFly's now open at Lynnhaven Mall. 180 item menu, one hundred beers, 48 of them on tap…a nitro wine system and a bunch of other stuff. Outdoor dining. https://pilotonline.com/inside-business/news/small-business/maggie-mcfly-s-a-connecticut-based-award-winning-restaurant-opens/article_e571948c-2ae9-5898-ba9c-be13395b071a.html

You seem to be hung up on the fact that it wouldn't have been a very big brewery. So it would've been an itty-bitty brewery with seven barrels and a half-dozen three-legged stools. It would've still been a brewery and not a bar with a bunch of beer taps. And it would've been delivered as advertised: "Starr Hill Brewery, based in Crozet, recently announced plans to operate a secondary location in Norfolk as part of a downtown entertainment complex known as The Waterside. The Starr Hill model will include food service and live entertainment. Technically a brewpub, the Starr Hill site will use a 7-barrel brewing system." “We’re excited about this brewpub as it’s an opportunity for us to brew on a pilot brew system,” said Jack Goodall, Starr Hill’s marketing manager. “Currently, we only have a 25-bbl system at our brewery, which is not necessarily conducive for brewing smaller batches and doing R&D." “The beers we’ll be able to experiment with and brew at the Norfolk location will benefit our portfolio overall. We see it as an opportunity to test new beers for larger distribution as well as brewing special batches just for limited releases. There’s also the opportunity to hold some great events in this new space, as well as right down by the waterfront." http://virginiacraftbeer.com/the-future-is-now-for-satellite-breweries/ I'm not sure what part of the current iteration (surprise!) resembles the description from the man himself, above.

Respectfully, perhaps you're missing the point. It would've been an actual full-fledged brewery--not just another bar with a bunch of beer taps. It would've been the only brewery in the house. Probably the largest in ORF. Giant stainless steel tanks in a glass box. There would've been tours. Special brews, made right there for the District. Experiential, visually arresting, unique...to the building and to Norfolk. Now it's just another bar, ho-hum. BM will be the star now. Pardon the pun. As to Vdogg's excellent and poignant point about bait and switch, the region's collective expectations, our historic/chronic disappointment and the ever-present chip on our shoulder, well, I guess you have to have lived here a long time to "get it."

http://pilotonline.com/business/consumer/armada-hoffler-to-open-next-phase-of-town-center-by/article_182e4101-f502-5153-9910-20e84b836671.html Along with financials, AH is reporting that Block 9 is on schedule for a Summer 2018 delivery.

http://pilotonline.com/life/flavor/alcohol/instead-of-a-brewhouse-starr-hill-will-open-a-beer/article_74b3cb82-644a-5b55-847b-aae5754dd05a.html "Instead of opening a whole brewhouse at Waterside, Starr Hill Brewery will just open a craft beer bar. The brewery based in Crozet, just outside Charlottesville, previously announced plans to open in Waterside in 2015, but plans have shifted slightly since then." Retail/Dining/Entertainment development model/mantra for success in the 21st C.: "Unique." "Experiential." "Interactive." "Dynamic." With this change, the place just got a little less all of the above.

Cool! I didn't realize there was an event over there tonight!