More downtown closures

[thelakelander]

• A few Downtown establishments have shut their doors. Lucky’s barber shop in The Carling, Bread & Butter at the corner of Laura and Adams and Mongo’s at the Landing have all recently closed.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php

[Keith-N-Jax]

Oh no I was just talking about Mongo's the other day   I liked eating there.

[blizz01]

Mongo's actually relocated to Fleming Island - I believe the owners live in the area.

[alta]

The people in Fleming Island are obese because of too many places to eat and no homeless people to scare them off from the fine dining establishments.  That sucks that Mongo closed.  Burrito Gallery is opening a restaurant in Atlantic Beach within the next year. 

[thelakelander]

• Wednesday was the last day for The Rose Agency on Laura Street. Owner Tim Rose is moving his high-end clothes shop to Atlanta and expects to open there Dec. 15.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php

[copperfiend]

With Mongo's closing, the west end of the Landing will become even more a ghost town.

[DetroitInJAX]

Glad I moved out of Downtown after 2 years!

Just a few more establishments that have fallen victim to the crushing weight of inane downtown regulation and half baked, poorly executed "urban planning", if you want to call it that.. (Both of which do more to keep customers AWAY than draw them in...... Im going to dinner at the Town Center!)

I supposed we can blame some of it on the economy.. But where in the heck is City Hall?  Why is FIXING downtown such a tall order for these people?

[copperfiend]

Does anybody know if the number of downtown workers has decreased?

[David]

Those places weren't around very long and didn't have any steady business to begin with. You've got to really try hard to keep anything open down there, ie burrito gallery, london bridge etc. Overall downtown seems busier than it was back in 2002. Before any solid residential units were in place , it was literally a ghost town after 6pm.

If it weren't for the economic downturn, we would've seen many more projects go up.  The landing's going in the right direction by turning into more of a nightlife and restuarant destination and bay street seems to be doing fine with the newer establishments. If  newer businesses continue to focus on that area I think it'll be a nice lil strip in no time.

[thelakelander]

I believe The Rose Agency was already in business on Laura Street when I came to town in 2003.  Things have seemed to stall out at the Landing.  There was definately growth there when Sleiman first came in, but after the dance with Paris Hilton more businesses have closed than opened.

[CMG22]

That sucks that Mongo closed.  Burrito Gallery is opening a restaurant in Atlantic Beach within the next year. 

YAY closer to me!  Although it seems awful close to the original...

And it does suck that Mongo's closed.  It was a good deal for all you can eat 

[Ocklawaha]

So the Landing is down to what 20 retailers and food establishments? Tear it down and super size it, With streetcar and garage!

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

I believe The Rose Agency was already in business on Laura Street when I came to town in 2003.  Things have seemed to stall out at the Landing.  There was definately growth there when Sleiman first came in, but after the dance with Paris Hilton more businesses have closed than opened.

I know its poopular to blame the City for the Landing's struggles....but the fact is Sleiman is out of his league>>>>he's used to suburban retail and the urban thing is just not his skill set....plus he has the family feud where one person owns the courtyard and outdoor bars while the other owns the retail space.

[thelakelander]

I don't think he's out of his league.  Rouse couldn't even make a go with the structure and it was their concept.  To Sleiman's credit, its still a better place then it was before he purchased it.  As for the Landing's problems, I'd say there are a mix of things that when combined, create the situation it is in today.  So blame can go all around.

There's not much of a difference between urban and suburban retail, outside of how you handle parking and walkability.  The Landing is a dated structure in need of a good bath and makeover (both interior and exterior).  In addition, it still lacks the necessary parking promised over 20 years ago.  Dated retail centers struggle not only in urban areas, but the suburbs also.  Regency, Gateway and all the centers abandoned by Walmart, K-mart and Rowe's are examples of this.  Add limited guaranteed parking to a dated structure and it will breed a place that struggles to attract and keep first class tenants (aka. The Landing).  It should be a top priority of all involved to find a way to get that place updated.  Regardless of how we personally feel about it, its downtown's most popular destination and social gathering spot. 

[jbirch82]

Dose anyone know who the tenants were both retail and food, when the Landing opened?