Comment by Hunter on April 11, 2011 at 9:24am

So five new restaurants.  Everything you need to know about Downtown is that an "Italian hot dog stand" is a restaurant.  (If you remove the wheels from a cart vendor, is it a restaurant?)  Where does the patronage for these new eateries come from if not from existing businesses?  The Arts District has been kicking around for ten years or more, but it always comes down to the same thing.  Artists need low rents.  Will Downtown propery owners oblige?

Comment by once banned twice shy on April 11, 2011 at 9:28am

That KOB story got Dennis's name wrong.  It's Gromelski.  Not Gromeski.  Whatever.  I like the idea of a jazz oyster restaurant, though.  It's been a long time since I've seen an oyster wail on a sax...

Comment by John on April 11, 2011 at 12:10pm

Five new restaurants? I'm not sure that's an economic recovery, that sounds more like the natural flow of a downtown economy. Small restaurants are by their nature tricky businesses to start up: some open and some close, some open and some close, back and forth, over and over again. Given the number of places that have closed downtown in recent years, a few new restaurants sounds more like status quo than a "recovery" (and status quo isn't necessarily a bad thing here).

Comment by jeff on April 11, 2011 at 12:44pm

talked to some peeps down in the zoning department last week; they said they're seeing a significant increase in PRT meetings, which are, for those who don't know, an informal preliminary city review of potential projects.

as good an indicator as any.

what the hell is an italian hot dog anyway?

Comment by urbanABQ on April 11, 2011 at 12:58pm

What's notable about these new restaurants is that they are filling some new spaces that have been vacant since they came on the market. Downtowns should be dynamic and never static. These signs of recovery are a good indication in a city where we prefer our strip malls...

Comment by Another Mike on April 11, 2011 at 2:25pm

RE:  Downtown

 

Dennis and Chris is/were working with UNM's School of Architecture and Planning...I'm sure the exhibit is still up over at 100 Gold.  Here's the Announcement.  There were a number of things proposed...right near the door step of the City Planning Department. 

 

All kinds of interesting things were proposed.

Comment by ABQDWELL on April 11, 2011 at 5:26pm

I agree that restaurants tend to come and go but as urbanABQ pointed out it is encouraging that some are taking over never before leased space (high end burger place below One Up). I think it is also encouraging that a jazz club is taking shape at Gold and Second (Jazzbah, not sure of spelling).

Comment by ABQDWELL on April 11, 2011 at 5:28pm

Also, a year round farmer's market is set to be housed downtown shortly.

Comment by Hunter on April 11, 2011 at 6:41pm

Year round farmer's market, 15 years in the making.  When I first moved here "Central Market" was supposed to occupy what eventually became that billiards monstrosity.  Well, better late than never.

Comment by Barelas Babe on April 12, 2011 at 5:51am

@Hunter - I had completely forgotten about the Central Market that never was! And I'm still mourning the loss of Carey Smoot's little grocery shop downtown. I keep thinking that maybe downtown will get a grocery store by the time I'm a little old lady whose driver's license has been pulled by the state...

 

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