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| One of the oldest restaurants downtown, Arby’s abruptly announced its closing, December 2010 |
After featuring some changes happening in the Old City yesterday, it seems only right to follow up a bit with what’s happening up the hill. In the previous post I mentioned the fact that Nama is moving to the spot beside the Regal Cinemas and that’s probably the biggest news on Gay Street. The other news in the last few weeks was of a more negative nature: Arby’s closed. I’ll confess to never having eaten there and apparently I’m not alone. Still, it was the only old-fashioned fast food downtown and it seemed to have its place. I suspect if I worked downtown, rather than living here, I would appreciate a place to snag a fast and cheap meal at lunchtime. It’s getting harder to do that downtown. It occupied a prime location at the corner of Union and Gay and I imagine someone will grab it in short order.
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| Ice Skating Rink dematerializes, Market Square, January 2011 |
There are a few other projects percolating in the area that seem to warrant an update. Even as the ice skating rink is being dismantled, plans are being made for new businesses.
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| Just Ripe seems a long way from ripening, Daylight Building, January 2010 |
The new year should bring openings of Blue Coast Burrito on the northwest corner of Market Square and Just Ripe in the Daylight building. Both seem to be moving very slowly. While the exterior of the building appears ready to go at 37 Market Square, the interior still has a gravel floor. It seems a long way from opening. Just Ripe seems closer, but still a long way from having shelves stocked. It seems to have slowed so much that the hoped-for December opening, which turned to a possible January opening, may become a February opening. I was hoping it would help take the sting out of the seasonal loss of the farmer’s market, but it appears it may open as anticipation is building for this spring’s market.
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| Hotel Saint Oliver, January 2011 |