Captain.Metro
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Posts posted by Captain.Metro
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I hope the UK Imports bode well. There was once a European fast-casual chain (the name slips my memory) in the space now occupied by Nature's Table at Lincoln Plaza along with Testa Rossa in Millenia, now occupied by Sushi Katana. The latter of which had very good quality sandwiches and espresso. A shame they may have ventured too early.
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That hotel looks great. I also think they would make for nice condos--- Imagine the views from the North and West facing units.
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Yeah Courtesy is definitely still open.
District I wonder if it will ever happen. It got back burnered when the Church St properties became available and they opened up Native and such.
I noticed some buildout progress on "The District" projects when going to The Courtesy this weekend. I think they'll happen eventually, certainly before Aura opens.
Speaking of Church Street, as I was passing the old Dragon Room yesterday, I noticed active buildout going on. Hopefully, that German Restaurant concept is going in--- and a good one at that.
While on the subject, the former Shakai Sushi/Ichiban space is being replaced by Underground Public House, themed to a London public house. From their Facebook page, one of the investors is from Stigma. Could be a promising addition to downtown.
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Fair enough. Here is the photo she sent me, and I was just checking to confirm since you really can't tell from it. Since then they have posted on their facebook so it seems like they are open and fine.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/970743_10102083598917912_490430052_n.jpg
That makes sense now. This photo shows now The Courtesy, but "The District" bars under construction. The Courtesy Bar is a few doors north of these.
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Did Courtesy Bar close up? A friend drove by today and said it looked like it
Very unlikely. I was there yesterday. At least on Sundays, they do not open until 4P. I think it's safe to say Courtesy is not closed for business.
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SoDo is not a destination? I wonder what the people who go there refer to it as, then. And I wonder if the people who run the Super Target or any of the other retail & restaurant establishments there feel that they are not a destination. I can see somebody living in WP or Maitland wanting to hop on the train & take a quick CONVENIENT jaunt down to Target or the new Walmart Market at O&M, without having to call, then wait for, then fork over more money for a cab just to go another half mile when they should just be able to hop off & walk a block or so.
I'm betting that before too long, there will be a stop added in that vicinity.
If someone is living in Altamonte Springs, it's very unlikely they would want to journey to the Super Target in SODO when there are other Target Stores closer, with groceries. One wouldn't take SunRail with perishables. 24 Hour Fitness may be another "destination" stretch. Let's be honest, most of the businesses (retail and restaurant) surrounding SODO are intended to serve the community within a 5 mile radius. I doubt they advertise to the residents of Altamonte Springs or even Maitland.
Also, we need to remember this is a commuter rail line. I don't know a commuter rail line in any other city I've experienced (internatioonally and domestic) that would have so many stops near each other. It's up to the community to voice intermodal connections for the surrounding areas. I'm hearing you, I just don't think commuter rail is the answer to this area.
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True. Weather always plays a factor in a city with public transit. In this case, she would take a taxi from the station, or in the future take LYMMO. Plus, other than an orthopedic center or to visit someone in The Lofts at SODO, SODO isn't particularly a destination.I dunno. If I was a middle aged woman who lived in WP or AS & I wanted to visit SoDo, I don't think I'd be too keen on the idea of getting off downtown & riding a bike.
Especially on a hot or rainy day.
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I think Don Jefe's is still in a VERY SOFT opening and figuring a lot out. I have been three times (don't ask.) and have had three very different versions of the same dish. One time I was there for lunch and they were doing light construction while we were dining. It's the only table-service Mexican place in the core, and if they can get the food right, should be able to drive a good lunch business.
There are a couple of other dining establishments in the pipeline for Church Street -
New restaurant in the old Dragon Room. German Food was the last rumor I heard.
Church District Tavern in the old Dessert Lady space - Pittsburgh-centric sports bar
The Flame Broiler rice bowl chain out of California
Kasa Tapas & Raw Bar - still working on interior, looks like some kitchen equipment has already been installed
Once these are open, the only Ground Floor retail left empty on Church Street between Orange and I-4 is the 55W Corridor, Depot, Bliss and Cheyenne Saloon.
If the German Restaurant rumor for the former Dragon Room space is true, it would be a breath of new life to downtown. Finally, a new concept... Plus, I love German food! I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one.
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Looks like even more great progress has been made on SkyHouse Apartments- A sign states they are now pre-leasing. How soon before they begin leasing new tenants. That's what I'm most intrigued by--- Whether or not viable tentants to bring traffic to this area are going to take the gamble. It's in a great location, really.
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Yea if you are at Michigan and Orange, why would you take a train to downtown aside from the cool factor?
Between the 3, 8, 11, 18 and 40 you can pretty much stand at Orange outside the Starbucks at Crystal Lake and catch a bus within 8-10 minutes. That's a pretty awesome situation to be in in any city, let alone one as young as Orlando!
The 11 is a very underutilized line. I have a car and live in Thornton Park (Eola Square) and walk to Orange to take the 11 to the airport. Once the E/W Lymmo begins services, I'm hoping more downtown dwellers realize the use of Lynx without the stigma.
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Michigan needs a stop.
At least SoDo anyway!!!!
ORMC is way too far to walk & the traffic on Orange is too clogged for a trolley or whatever.
That is frustrating, but this is commuter rail and is designed to work with intermodal transport options. Being that there is no connectivity other than LYNX or taxi, I see your point. I would encourage you to push for the N/S Lymmo extension. There are viable options to connect ORMC Station with Michigan if you consider repurposing the industrial areas in between.
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so Hue is closing....what happended? what is going there?
Are they closing, or renovating and rebranding? To my knowledge, they're doing renovations the first week of June... I know the Scott Joseph article says it's "closing," but SJ has lost journalistic integrity IMO.
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This turned out to be a decent gateway building for the Uptown district:
If only it had ground floor retail, like a Trader Joe's, to insure destination traffic...
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Any updates on the "Phase II" funding? Looking at the construction every day, the exterior just looks odd (imbalanced) by not building the full front façade. Is there a structural reason they couldn't just build the full façade and begin the multi-form music hall later?
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Has anyone tried Marsh Hammock BBQ on Orange yet? I'm interested to hear reviews.
Also, Avenue Gastrobar opens next week in the old Senso Supperclub. Hopefully it'll be a balance between Gastro and Bar.
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I still don't understand why there's not a Chipotle downtown. Either Chipotle has great real estate planners or people just find their way. Either or both reasons would lend well to a downtown location and could strategically bring traffic to an area.
I agree, the restaurant scene downtown is "meh." I think a Whitewood-like concept would lend itself well to the Thornton Park area. IZA tapas seems seems to be cursed by the same problem as the former tenant of that location, Aroma--- odd and inconsistent hours.
In my opinion, downtown needs good, solid full service restaurants. What? I'm not sure. We do have great spaces housing restaurants of mediocre caliber at best in Spice (horrible service, teriffic location and poor layout), Prickly Pear and Nick's Italian Kitchen (I'll pair these both together because I'm amazed they're both still in business. Overpriced, poor service and underwhelming food).
Why have local restauranteurs such as the owners of Ravenous Pig and Cask & Larder not developed a concept downtown? If costs for a downtown location are too high, I would hope management companies would reconsider their $ sq' to bring in vibrant businesses to the area.
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I have an eerie feeling that parking lot is going to look very similar in 2014.
I'm curious, how many of UP'ers plan on using SunRail once it's up and running? I would ride the North/South Lymmo on a daily basis, but I don't have a use for SunRail.
I would definitely use SunRail from downtown to Park Avenue. I hope plans to keep it running later and on the weekends is considered. Park Avenue is a great place to visit on Saturday mornings, however, I don't go because once I'm home (Thornton Park) I rarely ever get into my car.
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It's the closest one to downtown--- a draw, I'm sure.
I was there at 5:30 the Thursday before Easter and the place was packed as well. They had about 20 people waiting to get in when I left. Who would have guessed the place would be such a draw. It is a smart design with how flexible they can be with the space allowing for open air seating or by lowering the windows it can be kept warm in colder weather.
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Does anyone know if there's still an attempt to salvage and repurpose the brise-soleil from the round building?
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A Starbucks would be fantastic as would a Yard House, especially now that Darden has acquired them. I also vote for an integrated modern green space lined by dining venues a la Lincoln Road Mall.
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No! Not an Edison in Orlando... It wouldn't be the same outside of the boiler room of an historic building.
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Thanks for the post, @thehyppo. I'm glad to see buildout going on in your shop and look forward to walking over to try one of your treats. I've heard great things from friends who went to Flagler.
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Thank you for correcting me, and pointing me in the right direction!
The spacious diagonal sidewalks leading from Church and Pine Streets into the complex are a great idea... (for whomever out there in the design process reading this...)
SunRail
in Orlando
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Agreed. Whereas I love the juxtaposed look of modern glass facades with traditional, historic architecture, there's just not enough in the core to move forward with a modern platform.