Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Come here for discussion about the new downtown entertainment district.
WoodDraw
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by WoodDraw »

beautyfromashes wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 1:12 pm
WoodDraw wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 12:53 pm It has a nice grocery store, movie theater, a few fast casual places, and sports bars. A nationally used outdoor space. Nice landscaping and outdoor areas.
The grocery store was a must demand from the city to build the district. The movie theater wasn't developed by Cordish but they demanded it have a bar/ entertainment area in it when releasing it to AMC. The only fast casual place left is Chipotle.
Protein house. They could do better here though. I don’t think people realize how much but not having fast food and more casual food is missing from downtown. We know the reasons (they want drive throughs).

I think for an urban theater, having that stuff is table stakes.

I guess my concern is more west.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by FangKC »

The lack of take-out options is glaring downtown. As I've stated before, one of the reasons for this is the lack of cheap older buildings that had kitchen spaces already in them. Most of those have been demolished over the decades.

These types of restaurants don't necessarily have to be that big or have a lot of seating. They can do a decent business of takeaway and delivery. Town Topic is tiny.

I'll give an example. When they redeveloped the Graphic Arts Lofts, they took out two retail spaces for leasing offices. This was a mistake. They should have had the leasing office somewhere else in the building. Perhaps in one of the apartment spaces instead. They likely could have made more money renting out the retail spaces to small restaurant operators than they could have gotten in rent for the apartment they used for leasing.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1023231 ... 384!8i8192

And we all know what a mistake I think Cordish is making with the ground floor of the Midland Office Building conversion. Those former retail spaces should have remained affordable retail spaces. The City was dumb not to negotiate that.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0986962 ... 384!8i8192
Last edited by FangKC on Fri Apr 28, 2023 2:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by WoodDraw »

A related issue is the rise of ghost kitchens and delivery. You can have a few coworkers order cluster truck and not walk down to a food truck.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by TheLastGentleman »

This is probably a boiling-hot take, and purely vibes-based, but it seems like downtown could use more chain fast food restaurants and other chain shops just to fill in empty retail slots, or even encourage the construction of new retail slots. I know the argument is that it could push out local businesses, and I totally understand where that comes from, but I think the area can handle them without that happening. Worrying about a chain stealing from local businesses seems like such a small-town concern, along the lines of the big walmart cannibalizing the little Main Street. But I feel like the downtown of a city should be a place where you can buy anything, and that does include the 5-trillionith mcdonalds hamburger
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by KCPowercat »

TheLastGentleman wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 4:09 pm This is probably a boiling-hot take, and purely vibes-based, but it seems like downtown could use more chain fast food restaurants and other chain shops just to fill in empty retail slots, or even encourage the construction of new retail slots. I know the argument is that it could push out local businesses, and I totally understand where that comes from, but I think the area can handle them without that happening. Worrying about a chain stealing from local businesses seems like such a small-town concern, along the lines of the big walmart cannibalizing the little Main Street. But I feel like the downtown of a city should be a place where you can buy anything, and that does include the 5-trillionith mcdonalds hamburger
agree
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FangKC
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by FangKC »

Well, it's not like there are a lot of small independent restaurants downtown left to run out of business anyway--especially in the Loop.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by langosta »

TheLastGentleman wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 4:09 pm This is probably a boiling-hot take, and purely vibes-based, but it seems like downtown could use more chain fast food restaurants and other chain shops just to fill in empty retail slots, or even encourage the construction of new retail slots. I know the argument is that it could push out local businesses, and I totally understand where that comes from, but I think the area can handle them without that happening. Worrying about a chain stealing from local businesses seems like such a small-town concern, along the lines of the big walmart cannibalizing the little Main Street. But I feel like the downtown of a city should be a place where you can buy anything, and that does include the 5-trillionith mcdonalds hamburger
When visitors to downtown are in a rush they want something they recognize fast. If they can’t find it, they’ll just eat outside of downtown. Heard countless going to McDonalds outside of downtown just last night after the draft because they wanted late night food.

Downtowners know those spots but no way for visitors or even most suburbanistes to
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by shinatoo »

langosta wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 5:13 pm
TheLastGentleman wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 4:09 pm This is probably a boiling-hot take, and purely vibes-based, but it seems like downtown could use more chain fast food restaurants and other chain shops just to fill in empty retail slots, or even encourage the construction of new retail slots. I know the argument is that it could push out local businesses, and I totally understand where that comes from, but I think the area can handle them without that happening. Worrying about a chain stealing from local businesses seems like such a small-town concern, along the lines of the big walmart cannibalizing the little Main Street. But I feel like the downtown of a city should be a place where you can buy anything, and that does include the 5-trillionith mcdonalds hamburger
When visitors to downtown are in a rush they want something they recognize fast. If they can’t find it, they’ll just eat outside of downtown. Heard countless going to McDonalds outside of downtown just last night after the draft because they wanted late night food.

Downtowners know those spots but no way for visitors or even most suburbanistes to
Yes, because there are no apps you can open and type in "restaurants open now near me" or "Late night food". And if there was there is no way to know other people's opinions about them or how busy they are.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by Cratedigger »

shinatoo wrote: Sat Apr 29, 2023 10:21 am
langosta wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 5:13 pm
TheLastGentleman wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 4:09 pm This is probably a boiling-hot take, and purely vibes-based, but it seems like downtown could use more chain fast food restaurants and other chain shops just to fill in empty retail slots, or even encourage the construction of new retail slots. I know the argument is that it could push out local businesses, and I totally understand where that comes from, but I think the area can handle them without that happening. Worrying about a chain stealing from local businesses seems like such a small-town concern, along the lines of the big walmart cannibalizing the little Main Street. But I feel like the downtown of a city should be a place where you can buy anything, and that does include the 5-trillionith mcdonalds hamburger
When visitors to downtown are in a rush they want something they recognize fast. If they can’t find it, they’ll just eat outside of downtown. Heard countless going to McDonalds outside of downtown just last night after the draft because they wanted late night food.

Downtowners know those spots but no way for visitors or even most suburbanistes to
Yes, because there are no apps you can open and type in "restaurants open now near me" or "Late night food". And if there was there is no way to know other people's opinions about them or how busy they are.
Literally did this last night with friends from out of town. You had Pizza Shuttle and Town Topic.

Which… great late night eats but a few more downtown would be a good thing
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by im2kull »

shinatoo wrote: Sat Apr 29, 2023 10:21 am
langosta wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 5:13 pm
TheLastGentleman wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 4:09 pm This is probably a boiling-hot take, and purely vibes-based, but it seems like downtown could use more chain fast food restaurants and other chain shops just to fill in empty retail slots, or even encourage the construction of new retail slots. I know the argument is that it could push out local businesses, and I totally understand where that comes from, but I think the area can handle them without that happening. Worrying about a chain stealing from local businesses seems like such a small-town concern, along the lines of the big walmart cannibalizing the little Main Street. But I feel like the downtown of a city should be a place where you can buy anything, and that does include the 5-trillionith mcdonalds hamburger
When visitors to downtown are in a rush they want something they recognize fast. If they can’t find it, they’ll just eat outside of downtown. Heard countless going to McDonalds outside of downtown just last night after the draft because they wanted late night food.

Downtowners know those spots but no way for visitors or even most suburbanistes to
Yes, because there are no apps you can open and type in "restaurants open now near me" or "Late night food". And if there was there is no way to know other people's opinions about them or how busy they are.
This is exactly why you can't plan around the lowest denominator... Something that's been occuring more and more often. Absurdity.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by KCPowercat »

Cratedigger wrote: Sat Apr 29, 2023 10:30 am
shinatoo wrote: Sat Apr 29, 2023 10:21 am
langosta wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 5:13 pm

When visitors to downtown are in a rush they want something they recognize fast. If they can’t find it, they’ll just eat outside of downtown. Heard countless going to McDonalds outside of downtown just last night after the draft because they wanted late night food.

Downtowners know those spots but no way for visitors or even most suburbanistes to
Yes, because there are no apps you can open and type in "restaurants open now near me" or "Late night food". And if there was there is no way to know other people's opinions about them or how busy they are.
Literally did this last night with friends from out of town. You had Pizza Shuttle and Town Topic.

Which… great late night eats but a few more downtown would be a good thing
Hard to trust google to tell you places like bars serving though. A few others off the top of my head that serve late (not sure when you were looking) - Quaff, Harrys, El Publieto, Corvino, Caddy Shack.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by WoodDraw »

I had some workers at my place and they asked where to go for lunch. I rattled off a few places and they were like we were thinking more taco bell...

Not everyone downtown can go to Milwaukee deli for lunch. They just wanted to grab something quick and sit in their car instead of my apartment.

Cosentinos is probably the best for this, minus the car part:
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by smh »

I think chains are an indicator species, they follow the market. The absence of a Taco Bell (or whatever) is an indication that the market can't support a Taco Bell. That could be because the market isn't large enough, or its makeup just isn't that of a market which would support a Taco Bell (or whatever). In downtown, I still feel like there just isn't a large enough market yet to support fast food chains. They require significant volume and outside of events the volume just isn't there.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by JohnKCMO »

I feel the downtown area expects a higher quality food experience. If you can afford to live downtown, stay in the hotels downtown, or even come out for an overpriced concert, then you probably want something different. Soon the streetcar will be able to take us farther south to all the midtown fast food restaurants.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by KCPowercat »

We all like a nice cheap taco bell taco sometime. Even us yuppies.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by JohnKCMO »

KCPowercat wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 11:38 am We all like a nice cheap taco bell taco sometime. Even us yuppies.
Isn't the one on Linwood and Main, still there?
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by Cratedigger »

JohnKCMO wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 2:00 pm
KCPowercat wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 11:38 am We all like a nice cheap taco bell taco sometime. Even us yuppies.
Isn't the one on Linwood and Main, still there?
I would just like to walk/streetcar to something late at night

You're right though, that will be money once the streetcar extension opens.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by smh »

JohnKCMO wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 2:00 pm
KCPowercat wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 11:38 am We all like a nice cheap taco bell taco sometime. Even us yuppies.
Isn't the one on Linwood and Main, still there?
A long way to go for someone downtown, but yeah.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by FlippantCitizen »

More people living DT and the loop in particular. The market for more services including late night eats will become undeniable at some point. The retail stall issue is also a factor but primarily we just need more people. Clearly the market is not at "undeniable" status right now.
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Re: Power and Light District Official Tenant List

Post by Highlander »

FlippantCitizen wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 2:27 pm More people living DT and the loop in particular. The market for more services including late night eats will become undeniable at some point. The retail stall issue is also a factor but primarily we just need more people. Clearly the market is not at "undeniable" status right now.
Funny how our CBD has the fast food signature of a town of around 2500 people. Subway and Pizza Hut (minus the Dairy Queen). I was wondering how unique this was and noticed Cincinnati only has a couple of Subway's in their CBD too. No Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, McDonald's, Wendy's (although there is a Wahlburger). St Louis lacks a McDonald's DT too although there is one much closer to DT than KC. Have to wonder if this is a trend for the CBD's of many midwestern cities? I kind of suspect it's because CBD's do not accommodate drive-thru's all that well and the corporations must not believe there is enough foot traffic to keep a franchise going.
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