I've followed this thread for a few weeks, pondering and musing on what might be. You can close your eyes and imagine with me what I think River Market could be like (just kidding of course-this is my dream.) Many of the thoughts expressed on this thread are included in some capacity. My ideas are going to take up a little space by the way...
kc-vino wrote:
Does anybody have any old pictures of the River Market pre 1980's River Quay days? I've heard stories of the bars that lined the streets on Walnut and Delaware but have never really seen older pictures of this. Even in the "Then and Now" series on this city you never really see any images.
I remember River Market when it was the River Quay and before when it was just old. Back in the day there was Victoria Station, a prime rib chain that you had to have reservations for every day of the week. It was great, and now a memory. There's room for new great restaurants. I would like to see Delaware experience infill. Ebenezer's in October 1972 was the scene of a political appearance by Maria Shriver's dad when he was McGovern's running mate. It was a mob scene on Delaware. Maria's mother Eunice signed a campaign hat for me, Charlie Wheeler was there, his 12 year old daughter couldn't see above the crowd so I picked her up by the arm pits so she could see until my strength gave out. The River Quay was a really fun place in the summer of 1973, like Westport at it's busiest, and I'm not exaggerating. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures, it's all a memory now. The mob war stopped River Quay in its tracks.
But back to my dream and hope for the future....
What great news to hear about the KCS development-this is key. I'd love to see a few condo towers that overlook the market and the Missouri River and its confluence with the Kaw and Wheeler Airport and North Kansas City-what a view for the lucky few.
Ever been to Seattle? Most people will rave about the Pike Street Fish Market. It IS that cool. How much better than our City Market(?)-a fair question. It runs for about 4-5 blocks and has lots of shops, art, food, trinkets, souvenirs and so on. It's built on several levels and has parking, but our City Market more than half as long if you stretched it out and compared it Pike Street. New York City's South Street Seaport appears to have about the same mix as Pike Street. My dream is that our City Market become a twenty-hour open activity, seven days a week. It should become the River Market neighborhood grocery, convenience store, night life center, tourist for those lucky few who live north of the north loop, and a tourist attraction.
Critical mass: It seems to me that River Market is just short of the critical mass needed. 2nd Street development has so much potential, with shops and merchants and restaurants.
Nearby: The Grand Avenue bridge to Berkely River Front Park and the rumored residential development in those bottoms are very exciting, potentially bringing an urban middle-class population in the near vicinity. The people there would likely pass through and patronize the River Market Neighborhood in noticeable numbers. What a quick connection to the Casino and vice-versa. Investment in the roads, with an eye towards the pedestrian, the jogger, the cyclist and light-rail are part of my dream.
But the City Market is key to this vision. It should serve the neighborhood at all hours.
Steamboat Arabia has considered moving. What a great place for a grocery store to complement the fresh food. If only there were a McGonigles class meat market to complement and promote one of the signature things that KC is known for: Beef and Packing. Isn't this the Heartland equivalent of Seattle's Pike Street Fish Market?
Also nearby: I can't shake the idea of a West Bottoms neighborhood that uses that connection under I-70 (Woodswether viaduct and Beardsley Road to complement River Market from the West. There's only one River Market, and one City Market and these are in the heart of Old Kansas City.