Jan 9, 2007 Tenant Announcement

[WoodDraw]

The district is going to have tenant turnover.  If you don't like the chain, don't eat there.  Everything will fall into place from there.  People forget the role Cordish is playing here.  There job isn't to hunt down unique KC restaurants and stores; we should be able to handle that on our own.  They are bringing in a national presence to downtown.  Love it or hate it, these places are in downtowns across the US.  There will be some misses as we go from having nothing to several blocks worth all at once.  If places like Jos. A. Banks are succesful than that will only influence the bigger boys to come in.  Until than, we'll have to deal with what we can get.

[Beermo]

Let's also not forget that there's already an awesome local barbecue place(Little Jake's) already there.

i drive by there everyday on the way to work. it hasn't been open for at least 2 weeks.

[AllThingsKC]

The district is going to have tenant turnover.  If you don't like the chain, don't eat there.  Everything will fall into place from there.  People forget the role Cordish is playing here.  There job isn't to hunt down unique KC restaurants and stores; we should be able to handle that on our own.  They are bringing in a national presence to downtown.  Love it or hate it, these places are in downtowns across the US.  There will be some misses as we go from having nothing to several blocks worth all at once.  If places like Jos. A. Banks are succesful than that will only influence the bigger boys to come in.  Until than, we'll have to deal with what we can get.

Well said.

[shinatoo]

Could have swore I ate at a Gordon Biersch Brewery in Colorado Springs last week.

I've been sick so I could have hallucinated it.

[im2kull]

wonder when they'll announce some more?

[tat2kc]

I don't see the problem with Famous Dave's at all.  Its not like they deliberately excluded local bbq joints.  You can't convince me that Gates or Jack Stack did not have the resources to locate in the district. They chose not to. Lets get the bodies downtown first. Then, if people want some local flair, recommend some crossroads places, or midtown, or even the plaza. 

[beautyfromashes]

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansa ... st=b_ln_hl

The article says, "Famous Dave's Barbecue, will occupy 6,300 square feet on the south side of 14th between Walnut and Grand Boulevard."

From the Master Thread Locator this seems to be where the Sprint store was going.  Have they changed where that will be or am I looking in the wrong place?

[macnw]

I think everyone is going overboard way too early. We are back to idea of something is better than nothing. I'm not sure why many people think that businesses will spend mucho bucks in an untested market. Downtown KC has a reputation of being a ghost town for the last 20 years. Would you dump a whole bunch of money into something where there is not a good track record? Things could very well be different in a few years, time will tell. I think we should be happy that any business is willing to take the chance on downtown KC. We have to start somewhere and this is a good start

[bahua]

I think it's great that Famous Dave's is coming. People like it. Why not humor them? As LenexatoKCMO said, the people that want local flavor will ask their concierge where to get a real half slab, and do what they need, to get there. I think Fiorella's does just fine, and will continue to do just fine in its freighthouse location.

[nota]

Wow, is "The Hill" really short for "Dago Hill"???? That's awful!

I lived in STL. I have many many STL friends. I eat on the Hill every time I go there. I shop at the Italian grocers there. I've never heard that term-sounds pretty nasty to me.

[mean]

I'll try Famous Dave's at least once.

[bahua]

I think that name for the Hill is probably a colloquialism.

[Highlander]

So I take it that they have not announced everybody that is signed up so far? 

I noticed in the Star that the development will encompass 450,000 sq. feet and it's 85% leased.  That still leaves about 67,000 sq ft. available (or room for about another 8 Gordon Biersch's).  So, between what has not been announced (if anything?) and what remains to be filled, there is still potentially a world of possibility with respect to who is going to be making an appearance as a tenant in the District. 

[DaveKCMO]

there's a famous dave's at village west (or west village?) if anyone is REALLY interested... wait for it... wait for it... ok, didn't think so.

[tat2kc]

Famous Dave's at VW is their top grossing location.

The 450,000 sq. ft is just for the entertainment district itself, the food and retail section. I don't think they are close to disclosing all the tenants

[LenexatoKCMO]

there's a famous dave's at village west (or west village?) if anyone is REALLY interested... wait for it... wait for it... ok, didn't think so.

In Smith's article this morning,, the Famous Dave's guy was qouted as saying that the VW location was their highest volume in the country. 

[im2kull]

I'm going to be pissed if there isnt a hard rock...

[TheBigChuckbowski]

I'm going to be pissed if there isnt a hard rock...

Can someone explain this excitement over Hard Rock? Granted, it's better than Famous Dave's, but c'mon. Hard Rock was cool and exciting, what? 10 years ago? When the Seminoles bought it, The Daily Show made fun of the buying because no one goes there anymore. I can understand being excited for ESPNZone, but Hard Rock?

[NDTeve]

I'm excited for the Beer Garden outside the Brewery...

[QueSi2Opie]

Okay, I haven't chimed in for quite a while because I've been extremely busy with work and life.  

I seriously believed that KC Masterpiece closed their only Kansas City, Missouri location on the Plaza because they were saving up cash to open a location in the P&L District.  Guess I was completely wrong.  While KC Masterpiece isn't that good, it's better than Famous Dave's IMO...plus it's a local brand they've heard of in Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans, etc.  

Another explanation for Famous Dave's doing so well in Village West is probably because these hicks from Topeka, Salina, Hays, Hutchinson, and Great Bend truely believe it's local.  In addition to that, the restaurant atmosphere is an eye-pleaser for the average joe dirt that doesn't get out much.

As far as the negative Hard Rock comment, I still think the place is hip.  The rock stars and movie stars frequent their casinos, make appearances at their restaurants, plus the chain keeps expanding worldwide every year with a single restaurant or hotel in most major cities.  With our music history, KC needed a HRC a long time ago.