The problem with places like Cantina and Night Owl is they were stand alone destinations.
With how finicky college students are the bar could be at twice capacity one night and not a sole in there the next night.  
Night Owl a capacity around 100 and they pushed that, but it wasn't fun when it got to that.
When you have a few bars that can all feed off each other it helps.
Instead of ''Hey we are going to this bar'' Its becomes het we are going to this area and just see what's happening.
It also gives people options for those night you want to go crazy in club atmosphere that bar can be there for the for the nights you just want to sit down and drink and shoot the S*** with your friends that option will be there.

Also you are right FAU bars depended way to much on the 21 and under crowdand that crowd doesn't spend enough money.

I have always said the Fabric store would make a great location for a bar. Put a stage in there so ou can have live music acts in there.

I agree, you want to create a strip

Being that we don't have one, what's the minimum number of bars that have to be in one area on 20th Street for it to be successful? 4? 5? Or more?

owl2Doc said

I agree, you want to create a strip

Being that we don't have one, what's the minimum number of bars that have to be in one area on 20th Street for it to be successful? 4? 5? Or more?

Posted On: Jan 11th 2016, 5:19 PM #353672

I'm a few years past college but I still go out so I may or may not be in the know on how this should work.  I think Schnellenberger's place could work, what it would need is a good happy hour from like 4-8.  I  think it could work with 4-5 bars, and a few drunk food places.

Being raised in Boca right around the corner from there (20st east of the tracks in the neighborbood on the northeast side of 20th and Dixie) this place just does not fit in.  The bad thing about that area is the lack of an area to take a nice walk after dinner (think Atlantic, Mizner, Promenade).  Also how many students can you see dining there.  It looks like a restaurant that belongs in Boca Center.  Howard was better off trying to build a place where Whole Foods is located or near Tilted Kilt on airport road.I give it less than a year. 

Not Given said

Being raised in Boca right around the corner from there (20st east of the tracks in the neighborbood on the northeast side of 20th and Dixie) this place just does not fit in.  The bad thing about that area is the lack of an area to take a nice walk after dinner (think Atlantic, Mizner, Promenade). 

Posted On: Jan 26th 2016, 11:22 AM #354031

But isn't that the point of revitalization? To change the perception of what fits in?

For the most part, it has been a warehouse district. There is nothing on 20th currently that lends itself to taking a nice walk. A steakhouse does not fit in, but he didn't want to open a fabric store or an equipment rental store.

There are only a handful of businesses to appeal to college students on 20th so although his restaurant is not intended to appeal to college students, it beats the heck out of half the other stuff out there IMO.

fauowl said

Not Given said

Being raised in Boca right around the corner from there (20st east of the tracks in the neighborbood on the northeast side of 20th and Dixie) this place just does not fit in.  The bad thing about that area is the lack of an area to take a nice walk after dinner (think Atlantic, Mizner, Promenade). 

Posted On: Jan 26th 2016, 11:22 AM #354031

But isn't that the point of revitalization? To change the perception of what fits in?

For the most part, it has been a warehouse district. There is nothing on 20th currently that lends itself to taking a nice walk. A steakhouse does not fit in, but he didn't want to open a fabric store or an equipment rental store.

There are only a handful of businesses to appeal to college students on 20th so although his restaurant is not intended to appeal to college students, it beats the heck out of half the other stuff out there IMO.

Posted On: Jan 26th 2016, 12:52 PM #354034

I have to agree with Mark, I think that is the point with opening the restaurant, plus student housing right there. Basically try and get the warehouses and other business to move so others can come in and change the area to make it more appealing to students at FAU. Heck I even thought what it be like to open a bar/restaurant on the street. Problem is no real space except where Coach is setting up his.

fauowl said

…he didn't want to open a fabric store or an equipment rental store.

Posted On: Jan 26th 2016, 12:52 PM #354034

Or a Kava Bar!

 

Not Given said

Being raised in Boca right around the corner from there (20st east of the tracks in the neighborbood on the northeast side of 20th and Dixie) this place just does not fit in.  The bad thing about that area is the lack of an area to take a nice walk after dinner (think Atlantic, Mizner, Promenade).  Also how many students can you see dining there.  It looks like a restaurant that belongs in Boca Center.  Howard was better off trying to build a place where Whole Foods is located or near Tilted Kilt on airport road.I give it less than a year. 

Posted On: Jan 26th 2016, 11:22 AM #354031

The restaurant is in proximity to a major university with a brand.  

The difference in rent per month from that location to a place off Atlantic, Mizner or Promendade is DRASTIC.  I know most restaurant locations off Atlantic Ave are $30,000+ per month in rent.  I know the new Rocco's Tacos for instance is $52,000 a month     I wonder the cost of the place he is leasing?

Restaurant business is one of the toughest from what I have been told.  Wouldn't be suprised to see it fold in a year as I believe 70%+ do.  

walty12 said

The difference in rent per month from that location to a place off Atlantic, Mizner or Promendade is DRASTIC.  I know most restaurant locations off Atlantic Ave are $30,000+ per month in rent.  I know the new Rocco's Tacos for instance is $52,000 a month     I wonder the cost of the place he is leasing?

According to LoopNet, the prices are listed as:

$21.84 - $22.26 /SF/Year

Two spaces available are $1,600 (879 sq feet) or $2,100 (1,132 sq feet) per month with a lease term of 60 months.


…so yeah, way way less than Mizner or Atlantic Ave. But also way way less foot traffic than either of those places.

There are a lot of issues still to fix with that plaza to get people in there. First of all, there's no "anchor tenant"/big draw like a Best Buy. Schnellenberger's would probably be the top dog when it opened and even that's an unknown because it's new. There are trees obscuring signs, the entryways are narrow, etc. It's a work in progress but it has potential.

Once you have one popular traffic generator, others will want to join… rising tide lifts all boats, you know?

I'd like to see the open field space there turn into a pool hall for college students. Then in the middle of the parking lot you have a weekly/monthly food truck event - or even better, consider a permanent food truck park for that space. Bring in a GameStop, indoor bubble soccer, Jet's Pizza, stuff like that. Maybe even talk to places like Old Navy once the area builds up with more student housing. Don't wait for people to come to you. Go to them and say, "We'll help you renovate and build to suit, whatever you need."