ignatius wrote:
Westport has been catering more to the local residents and is specifically not wanting to be a 20-something party zone to the metro anymore. Martini Corner is also mostly serving its immediate neighborhood, which is growing - and midtowners/downtowners. As long as the retail can cater to the 10-20 block radius, they'll do fine.
Westport/Martini Corner will benefit more by serving midtown residents and becoming neighborhood retailers than being metro party zones.
If you think that Westport and Martini Corner are two local, neighborhood districts you must be going to places that I've never been. Sure, there are local establishments that attract older crowds, but by an large, the biggest crowds are made up of people in their 20s. While many of these people do in fact live within 20 blocks of WP and MC, I think that this point is irrelevant. This population goes to WP because it's a change from the Plaza. That, or they want cheap drinks and a younger, undergrad, crowd (see Harpos or Kelly's). This same population goes to MC because they want the new, cool, hipster scene (see Sol, Velvet Dog, Empire Room). I think you're trying to give the impression that these districts are fueled by older locals who won't be attracted to a new, fresh entertainment scene. In my experience in both places, this is not the case at all.
ignatius wrote:
BTW, when is the last time there was a 2am shooting in Westport? And which trashy/cheap bars are you referring to? I'll take One80, Harry's, Kelly's, Korma Sutra, Broadway Cafe over anything going into P&L. There are a few party places that could go though. I tried McFaddens Saturday, was the worst food I've had in a long time and is very generic looking. Food at McCoys is light years better for B&G food.
May 21st. The last of many shootings in and around Westport. Don't tell me I'm being naiive. Westport is one of the more dangerous places to be walking around at 3am on a weekend. See the following link, does a pretty good job making my point for me:
http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2007/05/ ... oting.html.
Trashy bars = America's Pub, Beaumont Club, The Hurricane, Buzzard Beach (out of business), etc. Don't think the bars in MC are trashy. I like that area, for the most part. And, not here to defend McFaddens or Vinino, but I didn't see much generic about MFs. Didn't have the food.
ignatius wrote:
P&L will attract those who want sanitized manufactured culture - which is fine. Westport will do well because of those who can't stand the kind of fabricated experience P&L will offer. But I am glad P&L is happening downtown as it should have something for everyone, and lots of people love manufactured culture of Vegas and Orlando. And P&L is only one personality of many districts downtown.
I don't believe in sanitized, manufactured culture. Culture is simply a creation of the people. Over time, this district will create its own history and develop its own culture. The fact that it is brand new is irrelevant. Sure, it's a new bar, but so are countless establishments in the metro. In due time, P&L will not only be the place to be socially, it will be the place to live and work. Westport and Martini Corner will take a direct hit because of that reality. They will not disapear. They won't fail. But, they will change. IMO, Martini Corner will change less because there only four bars there to begin with. Westport, however, will change into the very neighborhood drinking hole that you attempted to describe above. Some bars will close and it will be left as a a shell of its former self attracting locals and neighborhood residents. The younger crowds will migrate to P&L. Who knows, maybe this will never happen. I just think that many more 20-somethings frequent WP and MC than you recognize. And those people are going to be more attracted to P&L than you might think.
