Mellow Mushroom: Working with the Avondale community

[Captain Zissou]

Something I learned from Frank as well is that his group does not look to serve the 20-somethings who want to come in and do a row of shots. The bartenders at Bluefish send this crowd down to Mojo's. There is a fear, and I can understand why, that serving late night happy hour cocktails and beers will lead to more problems on St. Johns, so Frank is right to not add to it.

BS
So hip hop night at Elevated Avondale(open until 2AM on weekends) caters to the 'wine and cheese crowd'?
What a load of crap.
Did he also tell you how 'disheartened' he is to have chased off 29 South from opening in Avondale as well?

The strongest drinks on the strip are poured at Elevated Avondale.  If you order a whiskey ginger at Mojos, Brick, and EA, you will end up with twice to three times as much whiskey at Elevated.  I think Brick is a little light on their pour, but the amount that Elevated pours is irresponsible.  As a young man on a budget, I appreciate the surplus, but Frank has no place in taking a holier that thou stance.  When Frank opens his parking lot to the public and tries to help provide bike parking for the neighborhood, I'll give him another chance.  I like his restaurant, but the food won't taste the same knowing what I do about the lies he is spreading.

[02roadking]

Ummm, what's an elevated avondale?

[Captain Zissou]

Ummm, what's an elevated avondale?

The second floor bar at Blue Fish.

[ben says]

Something I learned from Frank as well is that his group does not look to serve the 20-somethings who want to come in and do a row of shots. The bartenders at Bluefish send this crowd down to Mojo's. There is a fear, and I can understand why, that serving late night happy hour cocktails and beers will lead to more problems on St. Johns, so Frank is right to not add to it. You can have that along the King Street district, which leads to fun issues with neighbors and residents when cars are plowed into by overserved individuals.

I have a lot of new admiration for Frank, he stands up for what he believes, and I like the leadership he shows in Avondale. Love him or hate him, he has character and in this whole mess, there are a number of people on both sides who could show us all more character.

HAHHAHAH. Are you serious?!?!? The intellectual dissonance here is truly startling. Either: (a) you're a sucker (b) Frank is a great story teller or (c) combination of A and B.

Have you ever been to Elevated Avondale? Funny, because I have, a lot, and I've seen exactly what you're describing "never happens there"...20 somethings looking to get shnockered, knocking down rows of shots. That place is known to pour the heaviest drinks in the area. Go to UNF or FCSL or Lee or Bolles and ask that age group where the strongest drink in town is, they'll say "above Bluefish." I had a friend get date raped there....nuff said?

That place is everything "Frank" says he's against....sounds more like he's worried about competing business.

Mtrain, WTF happened to you? Are you getting kickbacks from We Love Avondale??? Not just me, but others on this forum, have seen your spiral into absurdity re: MM and Avondale.

[martybjaguars]

Having been at Bluefish on Saturday and spent a lot of time with Frank, who is running a great operation with the help of Richard there at Bluefish. The rub on the street is that John wanted, originally, to put in a 300+ seat facility. Many of the other restaurants were, essentially, jealous of such an increase, when they (biscottis and brick) were limited in the amount of space they could expand....

I have a lot of new admiration for Frank, he stands up for what he believes, and I like the leadership he shows in Avondale. Love him or hate him, he has character and in this whole mess, there are a number of people on both sides who could show us all more character.

300+ is an absurd estimate. it is completely unfounded and down right false. Next you will tell me that MM is going to be a 10,000 sq ft night club that doesn't even sell pizza or that they are going to have a nickel beer night on the patio??? All these statements are Preposterous!!!!

[ben says]

I must add (because I reread your post, Mtrain, and saw, again, how stupid it was)...

Do you HONESTLY believe that "The bartenders at Bluefish send this crowd down to Mojo's."....really?!?!



Person looking for a beverage: "Hi, can I have three shots for me and my two friends"

Bartender: "No, you look 20-something and we're scared of what you'll do to St. Johns....go to Mojo's"

Person looking for a beverage: "But we wanted to come here..."

Bartender: "Take it up with Frank"



I've started coming to the MM/Avondale threads not for information, but instead so I can see Mtrain act the mouthpiece for his friends BS "we love Avondale" propaganda.

[ben says]

300+ is an absurd estimate. it is completely unfounded and down right false. Next you will tell me that MM is going to be a 10,000 sq ft night club that doesn't even sell pizza or that they are going to have a nickel beer night on the patio??? All these statements are Preposterous!!!!

Preposterous as those statements are, sadly, they've become "the truth" to most....

I've personally heard an Avondale shop owner (who shall remain nameless) tell me "a nightclub is moving in...it's not Mellow Mushroom, they have you all fooled"

[birdilicious]

Does our neighborhood need another pizza place?  I love pizza as much as the next guy, but I'd rather see some variety in the area.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Does our neighborhood need another pizza place?  I love pizza as much as the next guy, but I'd rather see some variety in the area.

I checked this afternoon, just to be sure, but there isn't a pizza restaurant in avondale. 

There's Hungry Howies...

Pizza Hut in Fairfax...

Both Pele's and Carmines are on King St.

Al's & Pizza Italian (Kovas' ?) are in 5 points...

Moon River & 5Star are in Murray Hill....

And now that I've named 8 different pizza places - when you think about it, they all offer their very own atmosphere and different pies as well.  I'm thinking that MM very much believes that 'another-pizza-place' will do just fine.

Variety is fine, too.  Hopefully a Dick's Wings or BW3s  or Hooters (Preferably Hooters as they have the most $$$$ to fight that epic battle)  will open up in the Monte's space - there isn't a decent wing place anywhere nearby.   

[thelakelander]

Does our neighborhood need another pizza place?  I love pizza as much as the next guy, but I'd rather see some variety in the area.

This is something the market decides.  Not an average joe blow who isn't fronting the money for the overdue redevelopment of the site.  Like the Springfield car wash issue a few years back, if the market doesn't want a Mellow Mushroom, it will close and then you'll at least end up with a useable building suitable for easy reuse.  If the market supports it, then you'll end up with an enhanced anchor piece in the heart of the commercial district.

[Know Growth]

Does our neighborhood need another pizza place?  I love pizza as much as the next guy, but I'd rather see some variety in the area.

This is something the market decides.  Not an average joe blow who isn't fronting the money for the overdue redevelopment of the site.  Like the Springfield car wash issue a few years back, if the market doesn't want a Mellow Mushroom, it will close and then you'll at least end up with a useable building suitable for easy reuse.  If the market supports it, then you'll end up with an enhanced anchor piece in the heart of the commercial district.

Come on Lake.
it's not about 'Market',and you should know it.
Perhaps we should just forget references to 'Planner" back ground. No wonder FTU embraced you.

[Know Growth]

Today MM PUD was deferred.

I'll have another Avondale PUD Ail Ale !!!

[thelakelander]

What is it about then?  Do you think Mellow wants to open a location that will lose money?  They believe there is a market in Riverside for their product and have decided to spend their money to construct a facility to cater to that market.

[Know Growth]

What is it about then?  Do you think Mellow wants to open a location that will lose      *****money? ******      They believe there is a market          in Riverside     for their product and have decided to spend           *****their money ******      to construct a facility to cater to that market.

( ****** ******* knowgrowth highlight,or lowlight)

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$  ??!!??

Of course the site is not "Riverside",perhaps this observation could spur useless anti RAP comments.

There is money to be made in the negative impact of community. "Well Connected" legal counsel a help.
(First time I met Steve D. was  Regional Planning Council lobby,litle 'ol Freedom Commerce thang,we were,after all,Avondale neighbors and would certainly become buddy's....a few minutes later Attorney Tom Reese walked in and Steve's jaw actually dropped....I ended up winning the COJ Mayor's Mimi & Lee Adams Individual Conservation award....)

None of this $$$$$market talk relates to the Land Use & Zone legal hurdles and all things related.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

( ****** ******* knowgrowth highlight,or lowlight)

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$  ??!!??

Of course the site is not "Riverside",perhaps this observation could spur useless anti RAP comments.

There is money to be made in the negative impact of community.

None of this $$$$$market talk relates to the Land Use & Zone legal hurdles and all things related.

Bullshit, All of this  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ talk is about owning a very profitable piece of property that the local 'community' doesn't want to see used as anything other than a public parking lot.  The 'business community' (I'm talking to you Frank, Barb and Karen) is not only losing a parking lot, but gaining serious competition to their business.  Mike.  Jack.  If you would like to come clean, I'd also be happy to discuss in person.  nvite Frank, Barb, Karen or anyone else who has an extreme bad taste in thier mouth about another restaurant opening. 

Personally, I can't wait for Hooters to open up in the current Monte's space.