sure, just getting the list out there for the skeptics out there! 

[quote author=GRID link=topic=15456.msg384846#msg384846 date=1232043224

If you could choose anything, what would you put in that corner location?
[/quote]

I know Bristol has some oysters, but I would love to have something like Rodney's Oyster House. http://www.rodneysoysterhouse.com/index.htm
They are an experience. They have live Dungeness crabs in tanks. I have never understood why it is impossible to get live crabs in KC, when live lobster is available. If you find yourself in Toronto, go.

Otherwise, I would like to split the block up and have lots of little hole in the wall places each specializing in a different cuisine. Diversity is the spice of life.

I don't think 'little holes in the wall' type places will ever be in the P+L...at least not while Cordish controls it.  Seems like "hole in the wall" type places have to be in old buildings...would be weird to have a "hole in the wall" in shiny a new building.

Tell that to Accurso's

The P+L is quite self-contained. People will be parking and walking around on foot and aren't going to go get their car and go to these other places as you suggested. It's similar to the Plaza pharmacy argument-- telling someone to go drive to Troost doesn't really help the situation when many are on foot or don't know how to get to these other locations. It is a convenience factor to have the amenities in the District rather than some blocks away.

The P+L has the adult (21-49) places covered and it'd be nice to throw a couple bones to some other demos. I'd argue that places like Chipotle, Chefburger, Ted's, GB are already good options for families; but it'd be nice to get another recognizable brand that suburbanites are familiar with. UNO would certainly fit within that category-- Old Chicago not as much.

That corner needs to be what it was intended-- ESPN Zone. That will never happen until Sprint Center lands a pro team.

Sorry. I thought the question was what would you LIKE to see, not what do you think will happen.

Personally, I'm okay with the offerings downtown not being immediately recognizable to visiting suburbanites. I don't live in the suburbs for a reason...

Umm...so you're too good for the suburbs, but hang out in the Power and Light District? Thanks for making that distinction.

Ha, good point!

I don't really hang out in P&L, more like walk through it. I guess either way it doesn't matter to me much what goes in the space.

But the city sure needs money from Suburbanites. That we can all agree on.

Not trying to call you out, but just bringing up a point. It's a good thing that people in the city and downtown have taken some type of ownership in the P+L. They get offended/excited by the stuff that's brought in. I'm just saying that not all that stuff is aimed 100% at downtowners or urban core people. I think downtowners and urban core peoople can make/break the businesses in many ways, but the businesses must also play well to I-35/Barry in addition to 12th/Main. If you look at the places that seem the most successful down there-- they do this.

Perhaps on a temporary basis this may be true, but if catering to suburbanites at the expense of the city's own identity is a long-term strategy we're espousing around here, then we deserve no better than Famous Dave's and Applebee's.

Most of the entire KC Live + Restaurant Row area is geared towards suburbanites. It was designed as an attraction for tourists. Further, this thread is discussing the replacement of Famous Dave's-- a suburbanite destination through and through. Your comments would be more relevant circa 2005 when P+L was still in the planning stages. 

Never fear about KC's identity...it is still known to most as a dirty, dangerous, mini-Detroit with inept and often corrupt leaders. It would take more than a Famous Dave's and Lucky Strike to change that.

What!  Where do you get that from, people in Lawrence?  Actually KC isn't really know as anything 'to most,' maybe a place with good BBQ.  Others, who have been here, think of it as a pleasant little city with a 'Spanish style downtown' and some fountains.  I think you are just trying to piss people off again. 

I think TK was speaking of people from the KC suburbs...not people from other parts of the country.

Yea, KC isn't really known for anything.  It's like it doesn't even exist outside of about a 300 miles radius.

I'd Disagree there.  KC is pretty widely known and acknowledged as a nice place to live albeit not a particularly trendy or happening place.  I get nothing but positive responses when speaking with Americans from my industry that are from all over the US.

Grid, I am going to have to start calling out your inferiority complex when it shows itself...its for your own good

Well that's good.  I mean, different people in different sectors may know KC for different stuff.  Some architects know it as a hub of lots of firms, and art deco.  I think our art scene is also gaining national attention w/ some too.  I was in LA last summer and I told someone I was from KC, expecting to hear "I'm sorry" but he responded, "Oh, I hear that is/becoming a pretty cool place."  Alright!