Anyone else think this section of Main St. could be more than what it is? As I was walking to the Forum for today's game , I was thinking this section of Main St. has so much potential. It has a nice foundation with Aldo's, Local, Majestic, Flight, etc. but it could be so much more IMO.
Is it still pedestrian only except for the trolleys? If so, put some fountains along it. It could be turned into those Euro-style plazas... Depending on what buildings are abandoned, if any, along it, some of them could be turned into varying-sized concert venues/bars to fill the gap from Hi Tone. Visible College has worked on one in the Pinch.
(12-16-2012 01:53 AM)kabluey Wrote: [ -> ]Is it still pedestrian only except for the trolleys? If so, put some fountains along it. It could be turned into those Euro-style plazas... Depending on what buildings are abandoned, if any, along it, some of them could be turned into varying-sized concert venues/bars to fill the gap from Hi Tone. Visible College has worked on one in the Pinch.
Yes. That is the section I'm talking about.
(12-16-2012 12:09 AM)memp600 Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone else think this section of Main St. could be more than what it is? As I was walking to the Forum for today's game , I was thinking this section of Main St. has so much potential. It has a nice foundation with Aldo's, Local, Majestic, Flight, etc. but it could be so much more IMO.
Ummm... It was.
Mid-America Mall
Didn't get supported for retail and basically has been transforming for residential for the last fifteen years.
(12-16-2012 11:30 AM)Latilleon Wrote: [ -> ] (12-16-2012 12:09 AM)memp600 Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone else think this section of Main St. could be more than what it is? As I was walking to the Forum for today's game , I was thinking this section of Main St. has so much potential. It has a nice foundation with Aldo's, Local, Majestic, Flight, etc. but it could be so much more IMO.
Ummm... It was. Mid-America Mall
Didn't get supported for retail and basically has been transforming for residential for the last fifteen years.
The area between Union and Peabody can be pretty hopping. As mentioned in the original post, there are some restaurants (Local, Aldo's and the Majestic) that anchor that stretch. I believe a new apartment buidling is also about to open on that stretch (right next to Aldo's) that will also help.
The stretch between Jeffereson and Union isn't quite as active as a whole (with the exception of Flight and Felicia Suzanne), but it is a little different too. You have four hotels (Courtyard, Sleep Inn, William Len, and Spring Hill Suites), two large office building (Brinkly Plaza and One Commerce Square) and Court Square public park taking up a lot of space.
I'm not ever sure what (if anything) is currently in the renovated Lincoln American Tower and the Lowenstein buildings.
(12-16-2012 01:28 PM)3601 Wrote: [ -> ] (12-16-2012 11:30 AM)Latilleon Wrote: [ -> ] (12-16-2012 12:09 AM)memp600 Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone else think this section of Main St. could be more than what it is? As I was walking to the Forum for today's game , I was thinking this section of Main St. has so much potential. It has a nice foundation with Aldo's, Local, Majestic, Flight, etc. but it could be so much more IMO.
Ummm... It was. Mid-America Mall
Didn't get supported for retail and basically has been transforming for residential for the last fifteen years.
The area between Union and Peabody can be pretty hopping. As mentioned in the original post, there are some restaurants (Local, Aldo's and the Majestic) that anchor that stretch. I believe a new apartment buidling is also about to open on that stretch (right next to Aldo's) that will also help.
The stretch between Jeffereson and Union isn't quite as active as a whole (with the exception of Flight and Felicia Suzanne), but it is a little different too. You have four hotels (Courtyard, Sleep Inn, William Len, and Spring Hill Suites), two large office building (Brinkly Plaza and One Commerce Square) and Court Square public park taking up a lot of space.
I'm not ever sure what (if anything) is currently in the renovated Lincoln American Tower and the Lowenstein buildings.
Court Square could be really nice if they would get rid of all the homeless that hang out there.
(12-16-2012 01:28 PM)3601 Wrote: [ -> ] (12-16-2012 11:30 AM)Latilleon Wrote: [ -> ] (12-16-2012 12:09 AM)memp600 Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone else think this section of Main St. could be more than what it is? As I was walking to the Forum for today's game , I was thinking this section of Main St. has so much potential. It has a nice foundation with Aldo's, Local, Majestic, Flight, etc. but it could be so much more IMO.
Ummm... It was. Mid-America Mall
Didn't get supported for retail and basically has been transforming for residential for the last fifteen years.
The area between Union and Peabody can be pretty hopping. As mentioned in the original post, there are some restaurants (Local, Aldo's and the Majestic) that anchor that stretch. I believe a new apartment buidling is also about to open on that stretch (right next to Aldo's) that will also help.
The stretch between Jeffereson and Union isn't quite as active as a whole (with the exception of Flight and Felicia Suzanne), but it is a little different too. You have four hotels (Courtyard, Sleep Inn, William Len, and Spring Hill Suites), two large office building (Brinkly Plaza and One Commerce Square) and Court Square public park taking up a lot of space.
I'm not ever sure what (if anything) is currently in the renovated Lincoln American Tower and the Lowenstein buildings.
Apartments, I believe.
That whole stretch, particularly toward the north end, needs to be physically cleaned of both the urine left against the buildings and the panhandlers, who are rarely homeless. It is very difficult to get up an appetite for lunch or even walking through there when you smell what you smell. I have no idea why the City or the owners of the buildings/restaurants/businesses along there don't clean the areas in front of their buildings.
I live between Main and Peabody. I don't go past Madison unless I'm taking a run or if I have a traffic ticket at 201. I make the walk south down to Central or something fairly regularly. I wish we could have something like Portland and other cities. Retail stores put in these vacant areas would be a dream come true. Put all the awesome things that worked in Peabody Place down Main. The woman that opened Life is Good has that dream. Shop Girl NY just opened next to Blind Bear. A national chain like Banana Republic, Victoria's Secret, and all of those other places women like to shop and I think you would see success.
The culture has changed. Downtown gains residents every year. People are no longer avoiding downtown and moving as far away as possible, but instead they're moving closer. Any time I am in the southern part of downtown I see new places being built. Hotel Chisca is being converted into apartments, and that'll add a lot of residents by itself. People are retiring and moving downtown, the younger generation is doing the same thing. A Downtown law school and the UT med school has helped bring grad students to the area. The combination should attract more business.
I still wonder how long The Peabody ownership is going to allow Peabody Place to sit empty. Many of the businesses didn't want to leave, and those suites they decided to replace them with still haven't been started. What's up with that?
Also, the Academy of Art graduate school is a great plus in South Main. I wish a lot of things in our city could be like Portland. lol
(12-17-2012 12:54 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote: [ -> ]Also, the Academy of Art graduate school is a great plus in South Main. I wish a lot of things in our city could be like Portland. lol
Haha. Indeed.
(12-17-2012 12:39 AM)Dak10 Wrote: [ -> ]The woman that opened Life is Good has that dream. Shop Girl NY just opened next to Blind Bear. A national chain like Banana Republic, Victoria's Secret, and all of those other places women like to shop and I think you would see success.
That was in the Peobody Place Mall and it folded. What you need is something that isn't available anywhere else to get other residents to come. Those national chains offer online shopping or shopping elsewhere within driving distance so I'm not sure it would last again downtown. Then again with all the influx of residents it could be offered for them instead of trying to bring "outsiders" in to shop there like Peabody Place tried.
It's very exciting being downtown. I love working here.
(12-17-2012 09:25 AM)JTiger Wrote: [ -> ] (12-17-2012 12:39 AM)Dak10 Wrote: [ -> ]The woman that opened Life is Good has that dream. Shop Girl NY just opened next to Blind Bear. A national chain like Banana Republic, Victoria's Secret, and all of those other places women like to shop and I think you would see success.
That was in the Peobody Place Mall and it folded. What you need is something that isn't available anywhere else to get other residents to come. Those national chains offer online shopping or shopping elsewhere within driving distance so I'm not sure it would last again downtown. Then again with all the influx of residents it could be offered for them instead of trying to bring "outsiders" in to shop there like Peabody Place tried.
It's very exciting being downtown. I love working here.
Victoria's Secret, Ann Taylor Loft, The Gap, Hot Topic, Claires, and Foot Locker were the national apparel chains that were in Peabody Place. But locals with money didn't shop at PP so only tourists and people who weren't buying stuff were there. It was really sad seeing all those stores empty all the time. PP was so nice, but I think the Belz didn't do a good job of designing it and/or finding the right leasees.
I think you are right about national chains downtown. The only national chains that would be successful downtown are the ones that don't have locations out east. But if you will only have one location in town as an upscale retailer, downtown might be the chic option, but out east makes more business sense.
Downtown needs more locally owned shops for the old timey feel, but those shops have to be marketed properly to make people in Gtown, CVille, and Desoto County willing to come downtown and shop there.
Processes like this take time to evolve. They don't happen overnight. Downtown Memphis has slowly but surely improved in the 30 odd years since the Peabody was vacant.
Just think about it. In 1979 the Pebody was closed and Beale Street looked like this...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikesmemphi...978238977/
In the late 1970's and early 1980's Downtown Memphis bascially shut down at 5:00 on Friday and didn't reopen until Monday morning. The Peobody was closed and there wasn't a single bar or restaurant on Beale Street.
There were a handful of places to go (Rendezvous, Arcade, North End, etc.), but they were few and far between.
There were probably less than 2,000 people living Downton at that time.
(12-17-2012 01:15 PM)3601 Wrote: [ -> ]In the late 1970's and early 1980's Downtown Memphis bascially shut down at 5:00 on Friday and didn't reopen until Monday morning. The Peobody was closed and there wasn't a single bar or restaurant on Beale Street.
There were a handful of places to go (Rendezvous, Arcade, North End, etc.), but they were few and far between.
There were probably less than 2,000 people living Downton at that time.
And the South End!
I have worked downtown since 1973. I always left downtown after work and headed east. It never crossed my mind to come back downtown during the weekend because there was very little downtown; Overton Square was the place to be in the '70's, and also some restaurants out east. I continued in this pattern through the '80's when I was raising children and didn't go out much, anyway.
Imagine my utter and complete surprise in 2006 when I met someone who was living downtown and suddenly "discovered" the 160 restaurants and bars in the area! And all the entertainment, museums, sports, history, et cet. You are right! Downtown is just fun, interesting, very diverse and friendly, and has the absolute best and most cohesive neighborhoods in the city. From large lots and homes, to loft, high rise, townhouse apartments and condos, there is a great variety of ways to "live" and work downtown.
(12-17-2012 09:36 AM)Latilleon Wrote: [ -> ] (12-17-2012 09:25 AM)JTiger Wrote: [ -> ] (12-17-2012 12:39 AM)Dak10 Wrote: [ -> ]The woman that opened Life is Good has that dream. Shop Girl NY just opened next to Blind Bear. A national chain like Banana Republic, Victoria's Secret, and all of those other places women like to shop and I think you would see success.
That was in the Peobody Place Mall and it folded. What you need is something that isn't available anywhere else to get other residents to come. Those national chains offer online shopping or shopping elsewhere within driving distance so I'm not sure it would last again downtown. Then again with all the influx of residents it could be offered for them instead of trying to bring "outsiders" in to shop there like Peabody Place tried.
It's very exciting being downtown. I love working here.
Victoria's Secret, Ann Taylor Loft, The Gap, Hot Topic, Claires, and Foot Locker were the national apparel chains that were in Peabody Place. But locals with money didn't shop at PP so only tourists and people who weren't buying stuff were there. It was really sad seeing all those stores empty all the time. PP was so nice, but I think the Belz didn't do a good job of designing it and/or finding the right leasees.
I think you are right about national chains downtown. The only national chains that would be successful downtown are the ones that don't have locations out east. But if you will only have one location in town as an upscale retailer, downtown might be the chic option, but out east makes more business sense.
Downtown needs more locally owned shops for the old timey feel, but those shops have to be marketed properly to make people in Gtown, CVille, and Desoto County willing to come downtown and shop there.
I opened up the Gap at PP and it was a great concept, just hard to do. One of the things that was hurting the retail down there was making people pay to park if they were going to go shopping. The summer's were great with people coming down from out east to Eat, Work, Play but winter's were a bit tough. IF they would have taken that concept and developed Main St. Mall, it probably would have been better, but you would have needed to ensure that each store had private security working and the retail hours during the week were until 6. One of the reasons that overhead for the retail stores where so high is that initially we were supposed to stay open until 10 everyday of the week, which was a drain on payroll.
In the last 30 something years Downtown Memphis has seen the following:
Shrine Building redevelopment
AutoZone Park built
Morgan Keegan Tower built
Beale Street revitalization
Central Station $24 Million Renovation
Peabody Hotel renovation and reopen
Pyramid/Bass Pro Shop
FedExForum built
Mud Island Park built
Tom Lee Park expanded
Cannon Center built
Marriott Hotel built and expanded
Gibson Guitar factory built
Custom House renovated as UofM Law School ($42 Million)
Civil Rights Musuem built and currently being renovated
South Main Historic District
AutoZone, Inc. Corporate Headquarters built
Orpheum Theatre renovation
Gayoso House renovation
Uptown development
Lincoln American Tower renovation
Lowenstein Building renovation
Downtown elementery school built
YMCA renovated
St. Jude massive expansion
Beale Street Landing is about to open.
In addittion, the Grayhound station on Union just relocated so something nice is going to end up there in the near future.
The Pinch District will soon be redeveloped.
The Chisca is about to be redeveloped.
I'm sure that I've missed some things, but this is a lot of stuff in a very small geographic area. Things will continue to get better and better down there.
(12-17-2012 05:34 PM)3601 Wrote: [ -> ]In the last 30 something years Downtown Memphis has seen the following:
Shrine Building redevelopment
AutoZone Park built
Morgan Keegan Tower built
Beale Street revitalization
Central Station $24 Million Renovation
Peabody Hotel renovation and reopen
Pyramid/Bass Pro Shop
FedExForum built
Mud Island Park built
Tom Lee Park expanded
Cannon Center built
Marriott Hotel built and expanded
Gibson Guitar factory built
Custom House renovated as UofM Law School ($42 Million)
Civil Rights Musuem built and currently being renovated
South Main Historic District
AutoZone, Inc. Corporate Headquarters built
Orpheum Theatre renovation
Gayoso House renovation
Uptown development
Lincoln American Tower renovation
Lowenstein Building renovation
Downtown elementery school built
YMCA renovated
St. Jude massive expansion
Beale Street Landing is about to open.
In addittion, the Grayhound station on Union just relocated so something nice is going to end up there in the near future.
The Pinch District will soon be redeveloped.
The Chisca is about to be redeveloped.
I'm sure that I've missed some things, but this is a lot of stuff in a very small geographic area. Things will continue to get better and better down there.
You didn't mention Harbortown, South Bluffs, Rock and Soul Museum, Fire Museum, Cotton Museum, Madison Hotel, Westin Hotel, and the new train museum at Central Station.
Besides the law school, the Visible School and the College of Art have located downtown as well. The Uptown area was developed. Bridgebuilders located their headquarters there (I think they may have the only rock climbing wall in town, at least last time I was in town, which was a couple years ago...)
Memphis Music Hall of Fame announced, too...
South Main and much of the rest of downtown was just on the cusp of phenominal growth when the Recession hit, and left so many condos sitting empty. It set the area back about 7 or 8 years, in my opinion. But the growth will pick up again. Still a good investment, I think. It is a great place to retire.