Plan Baton Rouge

[itsjustme3]

I can't imagine how much they will lose on weekends and after 6pm on week nights.

[garrett_225]

They'll do a brisk business some nights when people are finished drinking. If they are opened late on party nights like the one on Highland and State Street. Tuesday nights they'll get hungry runners who've finished the Happy's 5k and thus don't feel as guilty shoveling fried chicken fingers into their mouths. And maybe even a little crowd when Live after Five is ending. 

 

Maybe they figure the lunch rush will be brisk enough to make it profitable despite the long lulls in business?

[itsjustme3]

They'll do a brisk business some nights when people are finished drinking. If they are opened late on party nights like the one on Highland and State Street. Tuesday nights they'll get hungry runners who've finished the Happy's 5k and thus don't feel as guilty shoveling fried chicken fingers into their mouths. And maybe even a little crowd when Live after Five is ending.

That's not NEARLY enough to keep a franchise open downtown.

[garrett_225]

That's not NEARLY enough to keep a franchise open downtown.

 

We shall see. We shall see. 

 

Jimmy Johns I think closes at 5 M-Th, but stays open till 10 on F and Sat. At least that's what it was when they opened earlier this year, it I could have changed. I've no reason to think Cane's wouldn't be opened at least that often. 

Edited March 10, 2013 by garrett_225

[byrde]

I would expect they will modify their hours downtown around events. Close at 5 or 6 Sunday through Wed or Thursday. Late hours on Fri and Sat. Being a block or two away from 3 hotels may help generate business to 8 or 9 during the week. Nothing says they have to stay open to 10pm like their other restaurants.

[Antrell Williams]

I'm confident they will do well. Cane's is very popular here and they will probably do most business on weekend nights.

[richyb83]

Do you guys think Canes is the best for that location?

That's a good question....guessing only time will tell..could .a Dave & Buster's type place work?? I can only remember the building as a night-club...Third Street already has enough bars IMO...Do they really need more?? Some type of mini-theatre had been in talks as a northern-anchor for Third Street.

 

Once the Commerce bldg on the next block is finally redeveloped+ the other nearby residential projects...things could be different; then Pharmacy/Grocery store(s), etc then pop-up.

 

This will be the only Cane's w/o a drive-thru....

[itsjustme3]

I'm confident they will do well. Cane's is very popular here and they will probably do most business on weekend nights.

Pay for a lease downtown to only sell food mostly on Friday and Saturday nights = disaster

[Antrell Williams]

That's a good question....guessing only time will tell..could .a Dave & Buster's type place work?? I can only remember the building as a night-club...Third Street already has enough bars IMO...Do they really need more?? Some type of mini-theatre had been in talks as a northern-anchor for Third Street.

 

Once the Commerce bldg on the next block is finally redeveloped+ the other nearby residential projects...things could be different; then Pharmacy/Grocery store(s), etc then pop-up.

 

This will be the only Cane's w/o a drive-thru....

 

A place like Dave and Busters would be great there.

The current bars are packed on weekends, mostly all of them are. Bars will continue to open as demand increases. As more residential projects are completed it will create a snowball effect. Exactly what the investment downtown was for.

Pay for a lease downtown to only sell food mostly on Friday and Saturday nights = disaster

They will do well during lunch as well.

[jefften10]

I've done a lot of research and traffic counts on locations downtown for my own business and have come to this conclusion. 3rd street is NOT an ideal place for restaurants to be open for lunch. Most of the  foot traffic during the day occurs around Main St and North St, and North BLVD. People do not venture too far in the middle during the daytime. Florida and 3rd is better since Florida is a main e/w street, but if you look at where most of the daily foot traffic occurs, I would reccommend staying away from 3rd.

 

Just my personal observations in the last month.

[itsjustme3]

I've done a lot of research and traffic counts on locations downtown for my own business and have come to this conclusion. 3rd street is NOT an ideal place for restaurants to be open for lunch. Most of the foot traffic during the day occurs around Main St and North St, and North BLVD. People do not venture too far in the middle during the daytime. Florida and 3rd is better since Florida is a main e/w street, but if you look at where most of the daily foot traffic occurs, I would reccommend staying away from 3rd.

Just my personal observations in the last month.

Well said.

[cajun]

Do you guys think Canes is the best for that location?

Honestly....no.

But they'll do well there.

[richyb83]

Agreed Cajun...

 

Pharmacy, hotel, café and park soon opening downtown

Filling prescriptions during the workday is about to get easier for residents and workers in downtown Baton Rouge. The new Prescriptions to Geaux, a downtown pharmacy located on the corner of Third and Florida streets, will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, DDD Executive Director Davis Rhorer told the commission this morning. Rhorer says the pharmacy, which is located two doors down from the Our Lady of the Lake walk-in clinic, will deliver to any downtown business or resident. The pharmacy is one of several upcoming openings downtown. Others include the Hampton Inn, which is scheduled to open in late April; Repentance Park, which will hold its own ribbon cutting April 2; and The Lobby Cafe, a Florida Street soup, salad and sandwich shop slated to open April 4. Also at the DDD meeting today, the developers behind the planned renovation of the Commerce Building provided an update on the project. Michael Lang of New Orleans-based 5thFloor Co. says the renovation is set to start by the end of this year, with a goal of being completed by the fourth quarter of 2014. The redesigned Commerce Building will have 92 residential lofts, a rooftop swimming pool, and a first-floor commercial space that 5thFloor hopes will be occupied by a grocery store. Plans also include parking spaces to accommodate up to 127 vehicles

Read more from Business Report here: http://www.businessreport.com/section/daily-reportPM#ixzz2NNsOX7X6

[steve3n8]

Red Six Media graduating from LSU tech center, moving downtown

Advertising agency Red Six Media is graduating from LSU's Louisiana Business & Technology Center after more than three years in business and is taking the company's offices downtown. "It's a very exciting time for us. When we started in 2009, we didn't know the first thing about running a business; but with a lot of late nights, hard work, and the help and guidance of the advisers and staff of the LBTC, we were able to start a company in one of the worst economic years on record," says Joe Martin, one of three principals of the firm, along with Matt Dardenne and Kristen Morrison—all LSU graduates. The firm will move its offices to 315 Third St. Since entering the LSU Student Incubator at the LBTC in 2009, Red Six Media has "grown into a reputable agency generating more than a half million dollars in revenue in 2012," says Jennifer Fowler, director of the LSU Student Incubator at the LBTC.

Read more from Business Report here: http://businessreport.com/section/daily-reportAM#ixzz2NR0CuL94

[richyb83]

This was today

 

[richyb83]

 

 

[richyb83]

BR showcases Repentance Park upgrades.......Downtown transitioning into destination

 

The newly renovated downtown Repentance Park was unveiled Tuesday, displaying a $3.9 million facelift with 2 acres of green space and modern water fountains.

 

The park, wedged between Baton Rouge City Hall and the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, will serve as the temporary venue for the popular Live after Five spring concert series that is typically hosted in the adjacent Galvez Plaza.

 

The Galvez Plaza stage is unavailable for concert use because the architectural stage cover is behind schedule. The final piece of the $900,000 stainless steel statue was sent back to the manufacturers for resizing a second time because it did not fit, said Davis Rhorer, director of the Downtown Development District. The 35-foot-tall statue, which is being called “The Crest” and resembles a curved oval, will be finished by the end of May. It was initially projected to be completed in February.

 

Live after Five kicks off Friday featuring the New Orleans band Phunky Monkeys. The series ends May 24.

 

The park is the latest of several downtown projects, including the North Boulevard Town Square and Galvez Plaza improvements, that were funded through the state sales tax rebates dedicated to Riverfront projects.

 

Rhorer also announced that later this month, bids will open for the next downtown project — providing improved pedestrian and bike access to the Riverfront from Florida Street.

 

*rest of article

http://theadvocate.com/home/5600482-125/br-showcases-repentance-park-renovations

[Antrell Williams]

I've never quite liked the "upgrades" to the park. But I'll have to see in person to make a full judgement.

[buckett5425]

I've never quite liked the "upgrades" to the park. But I'll have to see in person to make a full judgement.

 

 I agree, however this new park is a much more functional  design. 

[Antrell Williams]

I passed right by there today and didn't even take a look..

[richyb83]

Until I see it in person.... will have to reserve judgement too. They are touting this new redesign as BR's "Living Room".....Live After Five will open there...

 

 

 

DDD Commission Meeting
Tuesday, April 9, 2013, 8:00 a.m.
North Boulevard Town Square - Town Lawn

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Declare Quorum

3. Approve Agenda

4. Approve March 12th, 2013 Minutes

5. Board Action

6. Update from Previous Board Meeting

a. Governmental Issues

b. Development Initiatives

• Repentance Park Update
• IBM
• Richoux Building Acquisition
• Commerce Building Update
• Downtown Greenway
  o Expressway Park
• Hampton Inn Update
• Downtown Residential Checklist
• Events
  o Blues Festival - April 13
  o FUMC Cambodia Craft Sale - April 14
  o Floral Design Class - April 18
  o Marco Photography Art Exhibit - April 19
  o Color Run - April 20
  o Earth Day - April 21
  o National Crime Victim's Rights - April 25
  o Belle of Baton Rouge Concerts -April 26
  o March for Babies - April 27
  o Live After Five - April 12,19,26, May 3, 10,17,24
  o Sunday in the Park - April 14,21,28, May 5,12
  o Run to Win Louisiana / Spanish Town Walking Tour - May 4
  o B. R. Arts Market - May 10
  o Greek Festival / Roll for Great Possibilities - May 11
  o Foundation for Historical Louisiana/Old Governor's Mansion
  o Manship Theatre Events / LSU MOA
  o River Center Events
  o LASM

7. Strategic Plan

a. Plan Baton Rouge II

8. Ongoing Projects

• Construction Updates
• CPEX
• BREADA

9. Correspondence

10. Public Comment

[richyb83]

[dan326]

Wow! I remember the last time I drove down there I saw some people looking through the window and was wondering why. I guess this is the reason. Did they have an article while this was being planned?

[richyb83]

DDD Commission Meeting
Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 8:00 a.m.
Capitol Park Museum, 660 N. 4th St.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Declare Quorum

3. Approve Agenda

4. Approve April 9, 2013 Minutes

5. Board Action

6. Update from Previous Board Meeting

a. Governmental Issues

• Legislation items status

b. Development Initiatives

• Hampton Inn
• Commerce Building Update
• Downtown Greenway Update
• Florida Street Levee Access/River Road Path
• Downtown Grocery
• Convention Street Park Sculpture
• Downtown Residential Checklist
• Literary Committee
• North Boulevard Town Square Anniversary
• Events
  o Spring Fitness Series
  o Storybook Ball - May 18
  o Belle of Baton Rouge Concerts - May 24, June 7,14,21
  o Live After Five - May 17, 24
  o AIDS Candlelight Memorial - May 19
  o City Year Graduation - May 23
  o Run for the Children Walk / Run - May 25
  o USS Kidd Memorial Day Memorial Service - May 27
  o FUMC Movie Night - May 29
  o McMains 5K /WHYR Fundraiser - June 1
  o B.R. Arts Market / Night at the Louisiana State Museum - June 8
  o FUMC Cambodia Craft Sale - June 9
  o Foundation for Historical Louisiana/Old Governor's Mansion
  o Manship Theatre Events / LSU MOA
  o River Center Events
  o LASM

7. Strategic Plan

a. Plan Baton Rouge II

8. Ongoing Projects

• CPEX
• BREADA

9. Correspondence

10. Public Comment

[richyb83]

New fundraising effort for Lincoln Theater restoration begins

 

 

 

Photo By: Chenevert Architects

 

http://businessreport.com/real-estate-weekly/5212013/New_fundraising_effort_for_Lincoln_Theater_restoration_begins

Edited May 24, 2013 by richyb83