Brick City Goes... For Lease?
UPDATE
It’s the cafe space that’s for Lease.
We’ve openly avoided the local merchant / resident versus Brick City debate because… well, the sides were pretty well known and I didn’t see it being a particularly civil discussion. For those that are following it, check out the sign in the window:
Details are not known beyond what you see in the window.
Be nice.
Confirmation and cell phone pic by Erik B. Thank you.
Filed under: General
19 comments
J Jason Hulen April 24, 2007
This is a little surprising. I know the debates on both sides and I’ll tell you the concerns are real and I understand them from an inside perspective as well. If it is for lease, it’s too bad.
P plubia April 24, 2007
regardless of how you feel about it, we can e sure that a very promonent element is now gone from that area and a lot of room has been made for the hoped for new development that can turn the strip of Pacific between 9th and 7th into a real entertainment district.
T Tacoma (A)roma April 24, 2007
Im pretty new to the site, what is this ongoing debate? I searched the site & forum and found nothing.
K kris April 24, 2007
I have said it from the very beginning: what Brick City provided for youth in their space, was their business. Personally, I challenge the approach of using hip-hop to reach these at risk kids, but that is not the issue. The distruptive behaviors OUTSIDE the building before and after the shows were our neighborhood issues. There was a definite lack of accountability. Also, the Theater District where pubs and bars are popping up everywhere is not a good place to entertain at risk youth. If they are leaving, I wish them luck and hope they can find a suitable location in the community where their efforts are welcomed and truly appreciated.
J Jimeee April 24, 2007
Tacoma needs a good Hip-Hop dance club for the over 21 crowd. That is one thing missing from the entertainment district.
M Matt April 24, 2007
My personal favorite for that location was Roof & Doof’s… great cajun food.. blues & zydeco music. Something to jazz up the neighborhood. It was another case of the right concept at the wrong time. Hopefully, something like that can be reborn there.
M michael g. April 24, 2007
I’d love a quality music venue for almost any genre in the theater district, but indie rock or alt-country would top my list. It would be nice not to have to drive to Seattle to see good music — the Broadway Center’s been making some small strides in that department, but Tacoma needs its version of Seattle’s Tractor or Crocodile.
M molly April 24, 2007
there’s a curse on all-ages venues/clubs in the city; without fail, they’ll always close, (and personally, i hope they don’t try for a third revival of club impact, RIP) i honestly think what tacoma needs is some sort of 18+ bar-with-ID dance club with different theme nights, similar to what seattle’s doing with things like club pop, or an all-ages version of the war room. get the kids hyped so their not shooting eachother. but really, if we’re going for a true downtown renaissance, everything needs to stop closing so early. (late night diner? coffee shop? anything?)
J jamie from thriceallamerican April 24, 2007
I almost mentioned that myself, I was afraid it would be off topic. Glad someone else remembers the place with fondness.
M michael g. April 24, 2007
Laura H., some popular Northwest hip hop bands like Common Market and the Blue Scholars don’t fall into your overgeneralization about hip-hop culture. Both are socially aware and progressive.
L Laura H. April 24, 2007
Michael g. – I appreciate your comment and information.
I wonder if the multi-million dollar music industry built around the hip hop culture is courting Common Market and the Blue Scholars…..
For an interesting discussion of hip hop culture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bling-bling
R RR Anderson April 24, 2007
What this city needs is a new Pizza and Pipes. PSP could have had a pipe-organ … but nooooo. They had to go all all “sports bar” As far as im concerned the only thing a video screen in a pizza place is good for is playing silent Charlie Chaplin films.
Anyway my question is what is the brick city debate?
J Jason Hulen April 24, 2007
They are looking for a tenant for the Cafe portion. Hip-Hop can be used to reach out to kids as long as it is done in a positive way like Club Friday or Fab5 www.fab-5.org
D Droid16 April 24, 2007
I believe it was Shakey’s that coined the silent films during dinner approach. At least in 1979 Lakewood. Maybe not. I just want to second the call for a Crocodile Cafe like venue. I will forever remember the double bill of The Tarantulas and Those Darn Accordians rocking the house one of the evenings I spent there.
T tom waits April 24, 2007
Erik B’s cell phone camera works way better than mine.
I would hope at some point that the sweet little storefronts along 9th and Pacific Avenue will be unbricked—there used to be nice display windows with overhead transoms.
Right now the building is a big brick box, and not many people are in love with it.
2 253pride April 24, 2007
Brick CITY is not gone, they’re leasing out the cafe space; and it’s a good thing. How could anybody actually root AGAINST helping at risk youth?? Or not welcome or appreciate their efforts? Regarding their accountability, please provide me the name of a club in Tacoma that’s done more for ensuring security. From the letter they sent out when they re-opened, they have the BIA officers, off-duty TPD officers, security cameras, a patron database, ID requirements, etc…I can’t think of a club that’s HARDER to get into.
2 253pride April 24, 2007
oops…forgot to mention the private security company they hired that man’s the front of the building with metal detectors and checks ID the first of two times.
K kris April 25, 2007
Nobody is AGAINST youth at risk. That is not the point. Where you provide services for youth at risk is. This neighborhood caters to adults. Sure they provide security for the club, but AGAIN what do they do that ADDS to the the strength of the Theater District? Yes, they sent a out a letter about their re-opening (I did not get it from them, it was forwarded to me from someone else and I am directly impacted). They need to take responsibilty for the activity OUTSIDE the club. Also, threatening other business neighbors with lawsuits (which World Vision did) because we will not tolerate disruptive behaviors, is an embaressment to their organization.
2 253pride April 25, 2007
Where does it say the neighborhood has to cater only to adults? Helping at-risk youth betters not only the youth but the community in which they reside. THAT strengthens the Theatre District. How many businesses in that area have tried to reach out to any of those kids? How can we expect them to improve their lifestyles when their own community tries to push them away? Maybe…some local businesses only care about “certain” feet on the street?
On another note:
Were you the recipient of the lawsuit? What would warrant an action like that? It had to have been something serious. I don’t imagine World Vision, a charitable organization, is in the business of frivolous lawsuits.