Fill This Space! St. Helens Edition?
So a question has been posed to us by several different people… what should go in the space below the Hub and right next door to Doyle’s? You know the space. It has that huge kitchen. Is a restaurant the right thing? Or, do we need something else there that complements the restaurants around it? What do you think? What would make the neighborhood?
Filed under: General
37 comments
I intacoma May 1, 2008
hiphop venue
V Vidiot May 1, 2008
A Video Store?
N NSHDscott May 1, 2008
Restaurant that maximizes the big kitchen by doing catering and deliveries to the nearby condos and homes.
Maybe A Grand Affair Catering would be interested in moving their cooking operation across the street from their facility at Suite One Hundred and having an eating area a little more appealing to the young(er) and hip(per).
K kc May 1, 2008
Farrells ice cream parlor or something like one.
F fontaine May 1, 2008
An Ethiopian restaurant. We ain’t got one in Tacoma.
C Christy May 2, 2008
A foosball/air hockey arena with multi tables for tournaments. 21 and over please, with a full bar and good snacks.
J jdub May 2, 2008
If someone had the $$ to stick it out for a few years (not likely in this recession) its perfect for an artesian bakery. But they’d have to get some kind of footing in the gorceries to keep the costs down for walk ins. Otherwise Tacomans wont buy a $4.00 crusty loaf. But the size is perfect and the ‘hood is right. St. Helens is the walking ave for foot traffic to downtown because of the grade.
Throw in some cheese, a lot of great cheese, and a wall of wine, well, there you go.
D Donovan May 2, 2008
I like the bakery idea. I would like to see a family friendly restaurant/cafe like the Antique Sandwich Co. in Pt. Defiance.
A altered chords May 2, 2008
Since Antique Sandwich has been mentioned it made me think.
Like Antique Sandwich, have a good piano. Unlike Antique sandwich, allow people to actually play the piano during the day.
I love the ideas of wine, bakery, sandwiches, cheeses.
The only thing that concerns me is the vastness of the space.
But that specific location has become a restaurant location because of Doyles and the Harmon Hub. Seems logical to have food and entertainment.
A altered chords May 2, 2008
Grocery store with deli/hot cooked food to go – with wine/beer bar?
P precast May 2, 2008
A real tapas bar and Jazz Club
A altered chords May 2, 2008
precast @ 11.
This town desparately needs a venue w/ a quality piano.
In addition, your tapas idea is making me hungy.
The venue is pretty big so I think that a jazz club could make it if they mixed in smooth jazz, blues, latin jazz and indie pop with the high quality straight ahead/modern jazz.
We are blessed in Puget Sound with high quality musicians. Tacoma is not blessed because these cats are playing venues in Seattle and Olympia (like Jessica Williams at the Art House) and not in Tacoma. Ryan Burns (piano) told me that it’s because there are no venues w/ a good piano.
D dk May 4, 2008
I really like the thought of an ice cream parlor…a place that kids can go that’s a nice hangout, a place that the after church crowd can go to, and the occasional “I need a hot fudge sundae after my beer at Doyles” types…But seriously, I know the Stadium kids would love it, and not to mention the neighborhood folks… what a great idea!
J Jim C May 5, 2008
I would love to see a real bakery in that spot, where I could get a good loaf of italian bread or some decent pizza dough. The good bakeries don’t stretch their product lines, they stick to loaves, baguettes, dough, and then maybe donuts and cakes. I think that some sort of bakery could do a good business there, as a counterpoint to Thriftway whose baked goods have never impressed me very much (in addition to being very expensive.)
S skyracer May 5, 2008
dk took the words right off my keyboard! A place to buy good, premium, non-junk-filled ice cream and gelati is sorely missing in Tacoma.
R Rob Collins May 5, 2008
Well, what an oppurtunity for a new business to “hit the ground running!” Why do I say that? Well, most people know about Engine House #9 on Sixth Ave and then Primo Grill, Masa, and Asado. Steve Peoples helped to make that the “cool” college nightlife hot spot. Now, as manager of Doyle’s the same can be said. Also, we have the cool, hip, and swanky HUB. Here is the cool part, Sixth has Jazzbones, Chopstix, Turnable Treasures, Ballroom Dancing Studio, Hi-Voltage Records, Hells Kitchen, and many many other musical destinations. What if instead of focusing on HipHop, Jazz, or Dance Club, Stadium helped to establish a classical spot. Urban Orchestral Forum. Instrumentals, live and unplugged so to speak. Booze can be served but all ages might be a great chance to get talent from Stadium High School, or UPS or PLU, or local musicans to just sit down and jam. Go over to the HUB for a great beer, come back and play another set. What would it take to make music in Stadium too?
V Vidiot May 6, 2008
WOW. Sound’s like eveybody is bored and hungry.
What about outside of the food or entertainment realm. What other goods or services might do well there or near by?
Men’s clothing
Bicycle Shop (under the Hub!)
Computer sales / repair
Furniture
Toys
Florist
Art gallery
Hobby Store
Book Store
Antique Store.
J jdub May 6, 2008
Food retail is what’s needed in that space because its the easiest pedestrian/bike route to downtown from the north end. like the French, you walk by on the way home and buy your loaf for dinner, throw in a little cheese, maybe the partner has invited someone for over, ok, a bottle of red.
Maybe someone could throw that fellow on Vashon with the that incredible sourdough loaf a few million to convince him to go full on here in town.
E Erik B. May 6, 2008
Despite SB closing, the right restaurant here would certainly make it big time. People can’t seem to get enough of Doyle’s. There are a ton of people within walking distance and more coming in.
A altered chords May 6, 2008
So Doyles is right for that location but SB was not.
What are some of the thoughts out there comparing and contrasting SB and Doyles.
I’ve eaten at SB and only ate at Doyes 2 days after it opened.
My thougths:
Doyles – informal. SB – formal.
Doyles – inviting. SB – ?
Doyles – food = ?. SB – food great.
Doyles – beer = good. SB – beer = ?
Doyles – wine = ?. SB – wine = Good.
Doyles – looks busy. SB – looked empty.
Doyles – live music. SB – live music.
Doyles – mid sized. SB – very large.
So, needs to be informal, inviting, have great beer and hard drinks – great wine, great food – irrelevant.
Both venues had/have live music but I don’t know the frequency.
Whoever takes over can change most items except the size.
Who has insight or thoughts regarding the ingredients of success for this specific location?
Rob Collins: hip-hop and dance go together. Jazz and classical go together. No reason why it wouldn’t support authentic chamber music and authentic straight ahead jazz. The Urban Orchestra would be perfect. It could be a venue for acoustic only music. NEEDS A REAL PIANO.
Maybe all of us bloggers who keep writing just need to put together a business plan and make it happen.
Meet at Doyles to discuss?
J jamie from thriceallamerican May 7, 2008
Yikes. Business plan by committee. Sounds scary to me.
E Erik B. May 7, 2008
Yikes. Business plan by committee. Sounds scary to me.
Yep. And sticks, glue, and duct tape when needed to overcome the atrophy.
Let’s see, a spot with established demographics and a huge built in kitchen and a liquor license already. The possibilities.
A altered chords May 7, 2008
Scary – right. Don’t know who will show up.
Was just a good excuse to drink beer at Doyles.
I have not driven by the Harmon Hub in the evening. Is it packing them in?
M morgan May 7, 2008
Another coffee shop for Tacoma:
I just stopped by – they are working on building out a small coffee shop in the front corner of the building. They also say there has been quite a bit of interest in the former SB space.
A altered chords May 7, 2008
Morgan – by front corner do you mean the space righ next to Harmon Hub or do you mean the front corner of the former SB space?
D Derek staff May 7, 2008
Here’s my simple hope – whatever goes into this space stays open late to benefit both its business and the businesses around it.
S Steeno253 May 8, 2008
I think that a laundry mat would be perfect in that space. I used to live down the way from SB and Doing laudry was always a burden for me. It would be perfect. While doing laundry one could go next door to Doyles and have a pint and some snacks. Bullet proof.
Speaking of which, Doyles added cushions to all of their bar stools. I think that was a great idea because it totally warmed up the place. I found it to be rather cold until I had a few pints in me :)
Brian is an AWESOME Bartender. That bar is my “Cheers”. Everyone knows my name and what I’m going to drink… I even have the Doyles T shirt, St. Patricks edition.
Yay for Doyles!
M morgan May 8, 2008
Steeno253: How about a laundry mat lounge?
Altered chords: As you face the SB building from St. Helens the coffee shop space is on the right side (nearest the small vacant lot). It will have a walk up window and 3 seats. That’s it. I don’t see them staying open late, but you never know.
C crenshaw sepulveda May 8, 2008
The Eastside Club Tavern in Downtown Olympia has a laundromat in the back. Very civilized, I must say.
www.theeastsideclub.com
I ain’t saying Olympia is better, but they do know how to do things right down there.
A altered chords May 8, 2008
It has been my dream since grade school to play jazz in a laundrymat.
J jamie from thriceallamerican May 8, 2008
The old Sit’n‘Spin in Seattle was, I believe, laundromat+cafe+nightclub.
C crenshaw sepulveda May 8, 2008
I’ve always enjoyed doing my laundry while Martinizing my liver at the same time. I’m sure the acoustics in a laundry are splendid.
J Jesse May 8, 2008
When the bistro closed I told my GF that there needs to be a Tapas bar there. The Hub and Doyle’s are sorta guy oriented and I think a Tapas bar would be good for the ladies and romantic couples. Have you been to Colosso is Portland? Like that. How about that gravel area next-door. That’d make a nice patio with overhanging lights and a gated area with plants and tables. Make it romantic with local art on the walls and intimate space. Bring the ceiling down a bit with black or dark maroon cloth and seperate out the booths inside. Froofy drinks and small plates!!!
M Mofo from the Hood May 9, 2008
I won’t take my laundry to that place unless they make the atmosphere like what I’m used to. I want a combo laundromat and strip club.
A altered chords May 9, 2008
@36. You wear all your dirty clothes and take them all off and throw them in the washer?
That concept won’t work without live jazz and liver martinizing.
Maybe ice cream, tapas and bakery as well.
Z zentricity May 10, 2008
Lots of interesting ideas.
Why did they close?
Would there be enough business to keep any venue alive there?
S Steeno253 May 10, 2008
i see a laundry Mat with a spa and cafe. That space is big enough to make it happen. Psh, i’d totally do laundry with girl friends there. I devote one day out of my week to laundry which consumes majority of my one day off. It would be nice if that one day could be leisurely and relaxing…Get a pedicure and wash clothes all in one stop. Love it.