Reply With QuoteInteresting video about downtown retail (and what's going into the Merc space):
http://www.youplusdallas.com/stories...owntown-dallas
So today i keep reading that H&M is definitely coming to dallas and most likely headed to north park. The frustrating part is that that would've been such a huge draw had it gone to downtown. Oh well, I guess we can try for a downtown Uniqlo.
Interesting video about downtown retail (and what's going into the Merc space):
http://www.youplusdallas.com/stories...owntown-dallas
Pretty cool video. How old is it? I hadn't heard of that site before.
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
Signage is up on the McDonald's at West End Station. Workers were in there late last night and you could really see inside. The interior is really nice, and I'm curious if this will be a 24 hour location. I noticed a walk up window, and intercom system. The yogurt place down the street has been open for a while. I've been in a few times and it's mediocre at best. The yogurt isn't the really smooth kind I like, and it never seems really busy. But that's not a very visible corner, and some better signage would be a big help. Hopefully the McDonald's will be a boost for the yogurt shop. The owners are extremely nice andfriendly, so I hope they can make it there.
Last edited by vman; 12 September 2010 at 02:02 PM.
How about some pictures of that new McD?
The McDonald's open next week (Weds. the 22nd @ 6am). It's one of the nicest McD's I've seen. Hopefully it stays that way.
The 7-11 at Citywalk@Akard is now open. It's a new concept store, with cafe seating + wifi at the front.
haha sweet, what's the seating like? Starbucks-light?
Times weighs down on you like an old, ambiguous dream. You keep on moving, trying to slip through it. But even if you go to the ends of the earth, you won't be able to escape it.
Haruki Murakami
The McDonald's @ West End station opened this morning. I went in before work around 6:30. The decor is very urbanish wtih granite-like tops on the tables, cool looking booth and window seating as well as good paint color on walls, and modern artwork. You can tell the owners really tried to give the place a really urban vibe. It looks really good...hope it stays that way.
I also checked out the Akard 7-11 twice. Nice looking, very clean store. The area with the tables seems a little sparse and cold, but besides that, the place is pretty cool and the staff is friendly.
Pics anyone? For those of us that don't live or work DT would be nice to see pics of the changes...Originally Posted by vman
+1
I need my DTD construction pics fix
Hopefully McDonald's will enforce a strict anti-loitering policy.
Tighten the female dog!
Hard to believe, but it looks like the Main Street Garden 7-Eleven (2008 Commerce) is just days from opening. From this evening:
Looks great! Thanks for the pics.
My roomate and I walked to this McDonald's on Thursday evening last week and were surprised with all the drama that we were met with. Their policies state that you must purchase something to use the restroom and that customers are only allowed one refill with a receipt and this was infuriating people who just werent having it. We saw shouting matches, people being escorted out, and we were hit up for money as we ate our meal. The 2 girls that were working security that night were doing their best to calm and get the hoodrats out. My buddy and I were amused with it all and even ordered dessert to enjoy the show.
I will admit that I was uncomfortable at the beginning because I'm not used to ghetto behavior like that and the place being so small wasn't helping much either.
I've been to the new McDonalds a few times. I think the policies they have are there to discourage people from loitering, and West End Station is prime loitering territory. So I think these poliices are a good thing...at this location anyway. I was actually surprised at the amount of seating the place has. I remember a McDonalds in San Francisco when I was kid, that had about 6 stools against the window and that was it. The atmosphere was very "get you fffing food and leave". Not a bad idea, imo, at a transit staion.My roomate and I walked to this McDonald's on Thursday evening last week and were surprised with all the drama that we were met with. Their policies state that you must purchase something to use the restroom and that customers are only allowed one refill with a receipt and this was infuriating people who just werent having it. We saw shouting matches, people being escorted out, and we were hit up for money as we ate our meal. The 2 girls that were working security that night were doing their best to calm and get the hoodrats out. My buddy and I were amused with it all and even ordered dessert to enjoy the show.
I will admit that I was uncomfortable at the beginning because I'm not used to ghetto behavior like that and the place being so small wasn't helping much either.
So you became more comfortable with the "ghetto behavior" after you further indulged in your empty calories? I'm amazed at your blatant expression of elitism. Hey buddy- you're at a McDonalds. Go hold your nose up higher somewhere else or show some respect.My roomate and I walked to this McDonald's on Thursday evening last week and were surprised with all the drama that we were met with. Their policies state that you must purchase something to use the restroom and that customers are only allowed one refill with a receipt and this was infuriating people who just werent having it. We saw shouting matches, people being escorted out, and we were hit up for money as we ate our meal. The 2 girls that were working security that night were doing their best to calm and get the hoodrats out. My buddy and I were amused with it all and even ordered dessert to enjoy the show.
I will admit that I was uncomfortable at the beginning because I'm not used to ghetto behavior like that and the place being so small wasn't helping much either.
I don't know that I would characterize his post as a "blatant expression of elitism". He was calling it like he saw it. I grew up in the Grove and I have seen the type of scene that was described and it was nothing short of ghetto. Besides, for better or worse, "ghetto" has a totally different meaning today than it has in the past. Maybe he should have said it was "hood". Would that be more acceptable?
He did call it like he saw it.. I lived downtown for 3 years and there were many "Ghetto" moments.. but i never feel elitist for pointing that out.. take chill pill.. before you jump all over someone for "not showing respect" for idiots making a scene in a McDonalds..
Pictures speak for themselves. I took these last week during lunchtime. I think reasonable minds can determine whether the McDonalds patrons are "ghetto," or "hood."
A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something. - Plato
Looks sharp to me.
DAGNABBIT!
I dont care what you think and will ignore you.
Thank you HunterWadle and KSig121 for your support. I've been living at the Metropolitan for a month now and couldn't be happier. I love living downtown and enjoy for all that it is... including the ghetto scenes that just make laugh because they can be so outrageous. The McDonald's is nice and has contemporary vibe...the place is doing very well as they're always busy and it makes one wonder, "what took so long for something like this to open?" We need other chains to step up and open shop here.
Did you buy one of those auctioned units?
Black people love Mickey D's. There are a lot of black people around West End Station. Sounds like a winning combo to me!!
Thanks! Great set of pics.
This is what I'm excited about seeing in DTD, residential over (leased, not for lease) retail in action.
No, just leasing. I may consider buying a condo here later though. I feel more relaxed than what I did living at the ashton. The only negative here is that there is no guest parking
Me too... I have yet to try out the frozen yogurt place out there though. Well at least you get a taste of it in Lubbock on University Ave... good ol' University Lofts and the Centre.Thanks! Great set of pics.
This is what I'm excited about seeing in DTD, residential over (leased, not for lease) retail in action.
The person that franchised it likely went into debt for several $100K to open it. I stopped in for a minute and saw very active crowd control. If it became a hang out for the same people that hang out at the transit center, that investment is gone. Expeditiously come in, make your order, get served per national standards, eat if desired, and move yourself from the premises. Nothing wrong with that process.
PS anyone who eats at Taco Borracho in the Mosaic, please ask them why they still display the 'Open 24 Hours' sign when they are NOT OPEN 24 HOURS. I went twice in September when they were closed. Once at 2am (which I was sortof fine with because it was Labor Day) and then again last Friday night at 3am.
Crestfallen doesn't begin to explain the feeling you feel when you realize your only alternative at 3am downtown is McDonald's...
Isn't the sushi place on Ross open 24 hours?
You're drunk. Even bologna seems amazing.
Tighten the female dog!
we don't share the same drunk cravings apparently.
Last edited by stangmrb; 30 September 2010 at 01:28 PM.
I just ate @ Taco Borracho Friday evening. They're only open late now on weekends...bummer. It bugs me that there's no outside entrance to this place. The shop was open, but the front door to the Mosaic was locked and could only be opened by residents with a card. I had to wait by the door until someone came out..it was only like 6:30pm!! But FYI, a friend told me Dr. Bell's BBQ serves really good bbq tacos into the early mornings on Fridays and Saturdays.
Last edited by vman; 30 September 2010 at 03:43 PM.
When they built the Taco place in the Mosaic they built a walk up window, so I guess they decided not to use it. Y'all are just gonna have to realize that Taco stand was built for residents of the Mosaic. Considering the fact that the Mosaic is the largest single Apartment building in Downtown Dallas, or so I'm told. Residents complained that none of the restaurants in the building were open late so a guy in the building initially tried to open a cheap taco operation for mostly residents.
I don't see the wise business decision of operating a taco stand wtih the idea that the bulk of your business is going to come from the residents of an apartment building that's stays around 70% -75% leased. I chalk it up to the continued poor decisions made with the retail in this building. They've yet to find anything that works. They couldn't t even make the doucebag lounge thing work....and that seems to be the surest "retail" bet in downtown.
Last edited by vman; 30 September 2010 at 03:52 PM.
Do you have a suggestion as to how they can manage retail space? Is there another Apartment building in Dallas that has mixed space and is thriving? If so, does the retail space also open to elevators/entrances to hallways and units? I can see why TB is pretty much there for the residents, but I don't think it will work as far as making a profit. Security needs to be in place in that area.
Here is the problem with that 'perceived' security:
For AM/PM and prior to that Scene, there are no bathrooms,
The bathrooms that were/are used are the main bathrooms for the building Lobby,
Which means that upto late at night, you have non-resdents in the Lobby.
What they needed there was a 'Katz' diner similar to Houston or even Buzz Brews which would have worked great, I know this has been mentioned many times before.
As for Security, there needs to be a door at the enterance to the elevator area past the Lobby/ The bathrooms and Pulse or whatever is going to be in its place.
That door has to be secured at all times so that only residents have access to it.
* A good start would be cleaning up the base of the building. I see some tables have been added, but how about some plants, awnings or something. The base of the building looks lousy.
* How about stop leasing to restaurants that look like nightclubs?? They don't work (at least not here)!
That building needs a national or locally known restuarant in that space, like Katz, Buzzbrews, or Cafe Brazil. Hell, I would welcome a Chili's here. The Mosaic is somewhat on an island. There's little around it to attract people. Something recognizable could do that. Then, like that big sign that screams "Mosaic", have good, visable, signage alerting people to what's there. Sticking signs in the parking garage is just stupid.
* Then as dbadger mentioned, recongfigure the base to make retail and bathrooms accessible. Retail usually fails when people can't get to it and/or have no idea it's there.
And you're right, I can't think of any residential building that's bustling with retail downtown. But I do know why...they all continue to make the same mistakes. Tucking retail into buildings, no signage, no advertising, poor hours, poor visablility, and just poor choices of who they lease to.
It's amazing one of the few retailers that has really added life and activity to a downtown Dallas corner as of late is McDonalds.
Last edited by vman; 30 September 2010 at 05:31 PM.
That's cos McDonald's does not mess around. McDonald's takes itself seriously when it comes to making money.
Tighten the female dog!
Chili's will probably come soon. If you just look at the pattern of the several new 7-Eleven's opening, a second McDonald's, DTD is looking safer for investment from companies that make their bread and butter from the so-called middle-class, and that DTD is not just a place to invest "flash-in-pan" ideas. I know for some its not soon enough, but it is getting there.
Tighten the female dog!
Yes, totally agree with your point about Scene/AM/PM...and so on, not having their own bathrooms. I used to live at Mosaic and it bothered me that there was basically free access to residential floors.
I love the Mosaic building. I hope they can work out these problems.
And I also agree that we need to have a familiar restaurant name in that building.
I don't know who posted this...something about Mosaic being an island.....but, yeah, it does appear that way. A very large welcome mat needs to be set and it should be something familiar. The corner spot with the brown paper on the windows would be ideal, for starters.
I agree buzz Brews would have done great in that spot!
Just drove by here and it is now open
I just googled buzz Brews and that looks cool!
One can no go into debt to open a mcdonalds franchise. One has to show assets to cover costs and operations in order to open a franchise.
Then there is more at risk. It's not OPM (other people's money). It's TPM (this person's money).
Independent franchisees do have to prove net worth and have a general financial health review to become a franchise partner but most of them absolutely are taking on debt to open a store. If they are using liquidity its normally to support continuing operations when they open.
Dante's Italian has opened in the West End in the same building as Chipotle. I only saw the interior from the street and it looks very nice.I would have tried it last night, but I had already eaten. I may check it out this weekend. The entire north side of the shop is solid glass and overlooks the DART rail stop, so it should make for prime people watching.
^And as you leave Dante's/Chipotle, you can see how McDonald's painted their sign West End-style:
Very cool! Thanks for the pics.
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