(05-27-2015 09:04 AM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  Went there on Memorial Day and was overwhelmed by the crowds. As an avid outdoorsman, this place is Disney world. I was also amazed by the license plates. I saw more cars from Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, all counties in Mississippi, and a whole lot from Shelby county. I really hope this is the game changer for downtown like many have projected

The one in Grapevine TX near DFW Airport is crowded every weekend. We go there about four of five times a year. Same thing with the license plates.

(05-28-2015 10:58 AM)tigergreen Wrote:  

(05-27-2015 09:04 AM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  Went there on Memorial Day and was overwhelmed by the crowds.

We went last Sunday and the crowds were insane...we're not the target market for Bass Pro (we don't hunt, fish, or camp), but the observation deck & bar/restaurant up there are worth the trip. The line seemed impossibly long when we got in it, but it moved fast.

They had free tea & lemonade when you arrived up there, and you could hang out at the bar or the tables & have an adult beverage or two if you wanted. There was no rush to leave; you could hang out up there as long as you liked. I have no idea if that will change once the restaurant actually is up & running, but I hope not.

As for the retail, I seriously couldn't imagine actually buying anything in there at this point....navigating a shopping basket through the crowds & along the little bridges/walkways is next to impossible. I saw an outdoor fish fry kit for a good deal & considered buying it, but then I thought about carrying that box all around & schlepping it out to where we parked (about halfway back in the lot) and decided against it.

It's a matter of preference, but I have purchased a lot of Tommy Bahama and Bob Timberlake clothes at Bass Pro. They are starting to carry a lot of Under Armour too.

Still think it needed rides.

Redevelopment of Pinch along with .a.land bridge for connectivity is a must. Trolley line back up and running as well.

(05-28-2015 02:26 PM)Tiger46 Wrote:  

(05-27-2015 09:04 AM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  Went there on Memorial Day and was overwhelmed by the crowds. As an avid outdoorsman, this place is Disney world. I was also amazed by the license plates. I saw more cars from Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, all counties in Mississippi, and a whole lot from Shelby county. I really hope this is the game changer for downtown like many have projected

The one in Grapevine TX near DFW Airport is crowded every weekend. We go there about four of five times a year. Same thing with the license plates.

Hey! Thanks for the GV shoutout! #76051

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Thank you Robert Lipscomb! Half in million people in less than a month. I am impressed.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/des.../28477061/

(06-05-2015 03:06 PM)UofMark Wrote:  Thank you Robert Lipscomb! Half in million people in less than a month. I am impressed.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/des.../28477061/

I saw that article. 500,000 through the gate in the first 27 days is amazing. When it first opened, I thought it would be a success but nothing like that.

That's a pretty awesome column. It's easy to complain about our home, but it's certainly come a long way in the last 10-15 years.

(06-06-2015 11:22 AM)memp600 Wrote:  

(06-05-2015 03:06 PM)UofMark Wrote:  Thank you Robert Lipscomb! Half in million people in less than a month. I am impressed.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/des.../28477061/

I saw that article. 500,000 through the gate in the first 27 days is amazing. When it first opened, I thought it would be a success but nothing like that.

That's great to hear. I admit (perhaps too readily) that I have been skeptical, and despite this success, a dwindling part of me still yearns for something ... different. And although it's still in the "kiss the bride" phase, I am encouraged by these results. I am interested to see revenue not just from BPS but from downtown year-to-year (although those numbers can be played with, to an extent, in both directions).

All positive press is good press, though. So far, it's a blockbuster. Uhh... hopefully it doesn't end up like that though...

(06-06-2015 02:28 PM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  That's a pretty awesome column. It's easy to complain about our home, but it's certainly come a long way in the last 10-15 years.

Change and improve what we can and support others who do the same. I think the civic pride is the most important part so far that's been leveraged.

What's important though, is the improvements must not merely continue, but must accelerate. And most integral to that imo is starting and keeping small businesses that can produce exponential results. I think to the extent that we lack achieving our potential in that regard is something endemic to the region, our relative lack of self-promotion. And perhaps where attracting transplants without psychological inhibitions will help unleash us. But I see unrealized potential of so much more than the impressive changes we have seen so far. But it can't continue to be this unattainable hope.

U of M's entrepreneurial and IP translational programs (as well as other local universities') could be transformational to our future if we continue attracting funding, generating groundbreaking research, develop technologies, and convert them into businesses. We have a long way to go to match private universities' abilities, but many Memphians have contributed to some of the great corporate success stories at Stanford, UVA, etc. Let's continue increasing our share of similar intellectual talent @ U of M and in the Memphis region as a whole.

(05-29-2015 08:59 AM)WaywardMemphian Wrote:  Still think it needed rides.

Redevelopment of Pinch along with .a.land bridge for connectivity is a must. Trolley line back up and running as well.

Had lunch there today. Food was really good, service was slow. On a Tuesday we waited an hour for a table, but there were tables empty. Apparently, they are having trouble finding enough help that can pass the required background checks. However, the place was highly entertaining and very impressive. The city should really put some signs up directing traffic how to get there, however.