Gradkowski's had a VIP opening last night and reading the comments on Facebook this morning it will be a great success. Tricia Cullop, Dave Nottke and PhotoDan all gave thumbs up.

(01-15-2013 07:57 AM)UT1 Wrote:  Gradkowski's had a VIP opening last night and reading the comments on Facebook this morning it will be a great success. Tricia Cullop, Dave Nottke and PhotoDan all gave thumbs up.

Does anyone have pictures? When is this place going to open their website?

(01-15-2013 10:23 AM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 07:57 AM)UT1 Wrote:  Gradkowski's had a VIP opening last night and reading the comments on Facebook this morning it will be a great success. Tricia Cullop, Dave Nottke and PhotoDan all gave thumbs up.

Does anyone have pictures? When is this place going to open their website?

You might be able to find a video on the CH 13 website since they did a story yesterday. Very fancy. Certainly no "college bar".

(01-15-2013 10:28 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 10:23 AM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 07:57 AM)UT1 Wrote:  Gradkowski's had a VIP opening last night and reading the comments on Facebook this morning it will be a great success. Tricia Cullop, Dave Nottke and PhotoDan all gave thumbs up.

Does anyone have pictures? When is this place going to open their website?

You might be able to find a video on the CH 13 website since they did a story yesterday. Very fancy. Certainly no "college bar".

What do you guys think about this? I had expected it to be a nice hangout bar for us college kids, but it's certainly not looking that way.

(01-15-2013 11:38 AM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 10:28 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 10:23 AM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 07:57 AM)UT1 Wrote:  Gradkowski's had a VIP opening last night and reading the comments on Facebook this morning it will be a great success. Tricia Cullop, Dave Nottke and PhotoDan all gave thumbs up.

Does anyone have pictures? When is this place going to open their website?

You might be able to find a video on the CH 13 website since they did a story yesterday. Very fancy. Certainly no "college bar".

What do you guys think about this? I had expected it to be a nice hangout bar for us college kids, but it's certainly not looking that way.

I agree. The more and more I see/read about it, the more skeptical I get. It seems like it'll be too pricey/fancy for regular college kids (but it'll be perfect for the college students who THINK they are classy/upper class). It looks like a place that if you go in jeans and a UT t-shirt, you'll be out of place.

(01-15-2013 12:00 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 11:38 AM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 10:28 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 10:23 AM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 07:57 AM)UT1 Wrote:  Gradkowski's had a VIP opening last night and reading the comments on Facebook this morning it will be a great success. Tricia Cullop, Dave Nottke and PhotoDan all gave thumbs up.

Does anyone have pictures? When is this place going to open their website?

You might be able to find a video on the CH 13 website since they did a story yesterday. Very fancy. Certainly no "college bar".

What do you guys think about this? I had expected it to be a nice hangout bar for us college kids, but it's certainly not looking that way.

I agree. The more and more I see/read about it, the more skeptical I get. It seems like it'll be too pricey/fancy for regular college kids (but it'll be perfect for the college students who THINK they are classy/upper class). It looks like a place that if you go in jeans and a UT t-shirt, you'll be out of place.

The video I saw was of the dining room only. Wood paneling, white table cloths, upscale dishes...Hopefully the bar will be more student friendly.

It appears Bruce and Co has had a dinner or two at Calvino's Westgate. I like this business plan. College students are too fickle with no money; what is popular today isn’t tomorrow. The long term sustainability of almost any business is a recurring customer base with disposable income. They haven’t been shy about reaching out to the Old Orchard/Ottawa Hills/Sylvania clientele.

Looks like a good plan to me. UT has a medical college now, so a nice place to wine and dine people in that industry would be valuable. A little more upscale place with good food will make a better impression than Jimmy Johns.

As far as "sports bars," heck, they're all over town. How long did that one last that they put in the old bowling alley several years a ago? And isn't there one down at Byrne and Dorr? It looks like Arnies is open again. Hey, you've got Route 66, too. LOL!

I'm there right now. Not at all what I expected. Really classy. Def not a college student hangout whatsoever. I unfortunatly don't see me being here regularly at all, which is sad

(01-15-2013 03:00 PM)San Giuseppe Jato Rocket Wrote:  It appears Bruce and Co has had a dinner or two at Calvino's Westgate. I like this business plan. College students are too fickle with no money; what is popular today isn’t tomorrow. The long term sustainability of almost any business is a recurring customer base with disposable income. They haven’t been shy about reaching out to the Old Orchard/Ottawa Hills/Sylvania clientele.

Calvino's is as dress down and as affordable as you can get. I'm not sure I understand the comparison? Who is being targeted by this new place?

I wouldn't call college kids fickle. College hangouts have long life-spans. I can still go back to several of the old haunts but I agree those neighborhoods not only make sense but would be very nice targets to bring back to campus.

Someone report back the bar atmosphere on Sunday (NFL) or during UT away events. I would hope that they can cater to the sports enthusiast as well...

(01-15-2013 08:49 PM)Carolina Rocket Wrote:  Someone report back the bar atmosphere on Sunday (NFL) or during UT away events. I would hope that they can cater to the sports enthusiast as well...

This Saturday UT bball plays @ Ohio on Sports Time Ohio - let's see if that is on a main screen there.

(01-15-2013 08:49 PM)Carolina Rocket Wrote:  Someone report back the bar atmosphere on Sunday (NFL) or during UT away events. I would hope that they can cater to the sports enthusiast as well...

In the main room, which also includes the bar, there are only 4 tvs

(01-15-2013 08:55 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(01-15-2013 08:49 PM)Carolina Rocket Wrote:  Someone report back the bar atmosphere on Sunday (NFL) or during UT away events. I would hope that they can cater to the sports enthusiast as well...

This Saturday UT bball plays @ Ohio on Sports Time Ohio - let's see if that is on a main screen there.

Sounds like a good chance for a Launchpad viewing party after the womens game

And don't get me wrong, gradkowskis is a fine establishment, its just not what I expected and will not be frequented by the ut student crowd.

(01-15-2013 09:07 PM)Time4Church8 Wrote:  And don't get me wrong, gradkowskis is a fine establishment, its just not what I expected and will not be frequented by the ut student crowd.

Agree, had dinner there tonight with Mrs. Ranger. Very upscale like a Mancy's Blue Water Grill or J. Alexanders if I was to compare.

Bruce stopped by and we spoke for a few minutes. Thanked him for reinvesting in Toledo.

Won't be a place for the UT Coach's Show I'm afraid.

We enjoyed the food despite a couple of opening day kinks. We'll give Bruce our business over other chain eateries in the area, especially when we are looking for a nice atmosphere.

Keep it local!

(01-15-2013 09:53 PM)NewMex RocketFan Wrote:  Keep it local!

And on/near campus. Can't remember any fine dining in the area since the Roman Gardens which became the Palladium.

I don't think I can equate tv screens with fine dining. I guess that's the rage. Maybe they should serve it in take-out boxes and have lazyboy loungers instead of bars and tables. I kind of like that idea when I say it out loud (helps me type).

(01-15-2013 11:06 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  I don't think I can equate tv screens with fine dining. I guess that's the rage. Maybe they should serve it in take-out boxes and have lazyboy loungers instead of bars and tables. I kind of like that idea when I say it out loud (helps me type).

Ate in Miami at a place where you laid in bed to eat. Great food, strange ambience. Went with a judge from Toledo but couldn't convince him that eating dinner in bed with several employees would make for a good photo op.