A little birdie told me that the now defunct/renovated Hardware Store could be occupied by several interesting tenants. The top two levels are completely leased. Apparently, the new management of the building is talking to several potential occupants regarding the mall level retail space. They are:
- An Irish Pub
- A Bank (I would guess Suntrust), and
- Some sort of outfitter/clothing store
Anyone else care to share some deets?
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Tagged as: Charlottesville, Downtown Mall, Rumors, Traditions
I don’t think Suntrust would abandon the building they own (I think I heard one of the mgrs say they own this bldg) over at High & Park to rent space on the DM, unless it’s part of a greater transaction.
And to continue the disneyification of the DM, an RW McQuarter’s or Finnegan’s is just what the doctor ordered for that space! Ugh.
Too bad the sky high rents they are asking will keep local folks from opening something there. When am I going to get my downtown Littlejohn’s?
Littlejohn’s was supposed to go where the 5 Guy’s is located, but I believe whomever owns decided a 5 Guy’s was a better opportunity.. Does Capshaw own that building?
I think a better question would be what is going on with the Starr Hill building???
I have heard a couple of theories…One being a sports bar down stairs….Turning the upstairs into an ’80s club….I’m sure there are more out there….
I will look into what is happening with the Hardware Store and report any findings though
A real Irish pub would be great news, but chances are it would be one of the many cookie-cutter, add Guinness and shake instapubs that are infesting so many places. As much as I am a fan of the institution when done right, Charlottesville simply doesn’t have the population type to sustain a real pub. Of all the places in town, oddly enough the bar at Fellini’s prbably comes closest to the vibe with Court Square Tavern not far behind.
NO, Littlejohns was supposed to go into the old A & N space. they actually signed a lease and then started the demo before seeing just how tough downtown was and heading for the hills, breaking the lease just two months into it. That must have COST some bucks!
0n that note, very few non-pricy resturants are making decent margins on the mall these days and if you do not have the owner in the joint then struggles.
The ex partner of Kikis and late of Cane Pazzo is checking out his next move, but the wife is making great jack so not much urgency.
The Nook does okay on the patio on nice days at lunch, but not much else. Java/java has LOTS of labor, often just serving a couple people. Coffee margins are high, but not sure if high enough for the note on that reno. Eppies just kind of crusies along, but with two owner/operators it is simpler to make the nut.
Salad Creatiions is undergoing a slow lingering death. The jack they spent on the fixup (told to me by the contractor) and the dearth of bodies in the joint even on a great salald day do not bode well. The staff of 5 people has been whittled down to just 2, for peak periods!
Baggbys has its 2nd location up for sale, but pretty pricey numbers for no name or concept, just the equipment and lease. Dads gonna retire and the son move back to town from Forrest lakes and run the joint.
The Bean still makes good profits as a tiny owner/operator spot, but I heard that the owner got cancer and is looking to sell.
Blue Light sucked the last time I went and is off the list until they get it right. Food bad and a waiting list of 5 couples looking at over 30 spots open. We bailed to Mono Loco.
Too much to discuss so off I go….
danpri: You win the “best comment of the week” award. And it’s only Thursday. I can add only the most meager points.
“The ex partner of Kikis and late of Cane Pazzo is checking out his next move”– right. A little bird told me the other partner of Il Cane Pazzo (occasionally discussed on the site…) is also checking out not next move but the restaurant’s. We know I like the food, but the location is more conducive to a retail vendor. I’d like to think Charlottesville could handle something like a drafthouse-arthouse as seen in big cities, but the Satellite Ballroom tried it and called it quits.
I have no idea how the Nook is making it work, and I’m not surprised to hear Salad Creations could fold. A staff member recently told me that people regularly ask why they don’t have “X” salad ingredients. It’s a franchise, so they’re stuck. If you’re going to be called Salad Creations… yeah. But I like their chipper staff…
Danpi, thanks for the insight.. as much as you hate Blue Light.. it probably brings in the most dough of all the places on the mall.
My bet goes to Zocalo, C&O, or OXO (of late): fine food, bar scene. Have I said this week that I love Zocalo and OXO’s food? Still perfect.
I can’t imagine a sports bar opening up at the old Starr Hill. There’s one right across the street!
if starr hill becomes a sportsbar, i hope they open the upstairs as a barcade. i have heard rumors about a laundromat/bar going into the space, which will be…interesting….
And suddenly I’m glad for my fancy-pants underthings again. (You guys gave me so much $@#%!) Actually, I love the idea. I would use it. Laundromat/bars are popular in a lot of cities but have fared especially well in LA. Check out the names of a few hotspots in this banking blog about coin laundries. Spoiler: “Stonewash.”
“Mid-town” is still surrounded on all sides by crappy neighborhoods, so putting a laundromat there and expecting only Charlottesville’s washer and dryerless affluent to show up to it is a little unrealistic, trendy bar or not.
Coran owns the build (Red Light is upstairs) and he owns all the Five Guys in this area.
a little late to comment…
2 things:
1. anybody know what is going to happen to Fuel?
2. how do we get a Trader Joe’s in C’ville??? I heard about a group lobbying them to come here a few years ago, but obviously they didn’t have much luck.
Sparky - We covered these two things recently. Fuel closed down cause they were losing money and Trader Joe’s is supposedly coming in the place of Whole Foods.
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[…] you recall, one of our other birdies told us in September that a clothing store was in the mix for a possible lease of the once famous restaurant. This does conflict with the rumor that the […]