Saturday, July 04, 2009

ATC hearings: Steinert's to Redmen Club, Redmen to former B & B, and Wick's not yet on the docket.

Wondering when Wick’s Pizza will be coming to the former home of the Speakeasy?

Me, too.

Taking a glance at the schedule for the next two local alcoholic beverage board hearings (July 7 and August 4), which take place for the purpose of issuing final approval on permit applications, Wick’s isn’t yet on the docket for either of them -- yet.

This implies an answer of “September at the earliest.” They'll also presumably need an Indiana resident to make it happen, which I'm assuming will be the building's owner unless another local partner has come on board.

But here’s the answer to another pressing question, also gleaned from the local board’s published agenda for August.

SMOKEY BEAT INC
RR2226083
221-3 Historic River Vessel
New
DBA: STEINERT'S GRILL & PUB
401 E MAIN ST
New Albany IN 47150

IMPROVED ORDER OF REDMEN 276
RC2203244
211-4 Fraternal Club
Transfer
DBA: REDMEN CLUB
211 E MAIN ST
New Albany IN 47150

And so the declining Redmen hastily vacate their shiny new building for the tiny former home of Ermin’s and B & B (adjoining Studio’s), while the name attached for generations to the historic Charlestown Road building destroyed by fire last year resurfaces on Main Street.

Also, to R: There appears to be no limit to the number of “riverfront” three-way permits allowable within the delineated geographical boundaries, and subject to the usual considerations of proper distance from churches, which I view as a violation of church-state separation.

Downtown's getting crowded.

Who'd have thunk it?

1 comment:

Randy said...

Considering that you are the most visible proponent of synergy and alco-tourism, I'd like to see your take on this. The more the merrier?

There's an old retailing maxim, once illustrated by the mall shoe-store dynamic. Four shoe-stores at the same "corner" of a mall will each do better than if standing alone.

But there does have to be some optimum number, right?

On balance, especially with news that Steinert's will be downtown, it simply has to expand the universe of visitors. Retailers, especially restaurants and taverns, may actually be driven out if they can't/won't respond to the changing dynamic.

Still, on July 3 (and I'd guess on most evenings this summer, even with the concert series) there didn't seem to be any supply to meet the demand...and maybe no demand for post-fireworks beverage and food service.

My bride indicated your satisfaction with the 7/3 showing at BSB. On your behalf, I was frankly disappointed...as I was about the number of readers of this blog who couldn't make it to the amphitheatre for the Mayor's show.

FYI, our collective head count included four sitting members of the city council - a mixed bag, of course, and not your usual 5-4 breakdown, either.

To forestall the questions, they were Messer, Gonder, McLaughlin, and the occupant of the 3rd District seat, who was there working as an entertainer.

I did see one declared candidate for state senate, too. But she (previously) had told me she wasn't a Republican.