QuoteThe nightclub Rush Street is going to open in the Jacksonville Landing. It’ll be the third location for the partner of Chicago Pizza, and the fourth new tenant at the Landing in recent months.
It’s moving into the 7,500-square-foot space on the courtyard last occupied by Twisted Martini.
Rush Street is owned by the same group that owns Chicago Pizza. In Jacksonville Beach and Fleming Island, they’re attached. A Chicago Pizza opened in the Landing in 2009, but it’s not next door.
Jimmy DeMarco, manager of the Chicago Pizza/Rush Street operation in Florida, said the club will still offer a menu very similar to Chicago Pizza.
It will be patterned after the real Rush Street in Chicago with a dance floor made to look like a blacktop road and each bar with a different feel.Opening is planned for Florida-Georgia weekend, Oct. 28-29. DeMarco said work began two weeks ago.
full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-10-03/story/landing-lands-chicago-style-night-club
humm... I may have to check this out...
Think I'd want to open a weekend BEFORE Fla/Ga weekend ... to get the kinks out before hoards of drunks descend on the place.
yeah...you'd think...but nothing new here....in the case of Chicago Pizza @ the Landing, they opened the Thursday night before the game.
Hmmm... interesting. I'll check it out at least. I've been to the one at the beaches a few times.
Rush Street in Chicago:
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Learning-From/Outdoor-Dining-Chicago/i-DNDt6fX/0/M/DSC0072-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Learning-From/Outdoor-Dining-Chicago/i-LHQDcch/0/M/DSC0075-M.jpg)
Hmmm, I don't know what you can do with a space at the Landing to make it look like the real Rush Street.....
Let's hope servers and bartenders are allowed to keep their tips.
If the business model isn't right, don't try to milk profits from the help.
(Just a friendly reminder)
Be sure to check your bill for automated tips!
Of course, closing is schedule for November 4/5th.
I don't like the idea behind this. First off, they're going to cannibalize their own restaurant 100 yards away by serving the same type of food?? Second, I doubt they'll really be able to pull off what they want with their theme. It will end up looking half a$$ed and cheap. I hope I am wrong, but this sounds like they bit off much more than they could chew.
Does this remind anyone else of Doug and Steve Boutabi's idea for a bar in Night at the Roxbury??
Captain that last sentence was funny as hell. I instantly had the soundtrack to that movie running through my head! haha
Quote from: RiversideLoki on October 04, 2011, 08:38:20 AM
Of course, closing is schedule for November 4/5th.
you beat me to it!
QuoteFirst off, they're going to cannibalize their own restaurant 100 yards away by serving the same type of food??
No, it will be like the Rush Street location at the beach... which is very successful and is a dance club/bar.
Two of the major entertainment parcels at the Landing are now filled by businesspeople who operate successful venues in other parts of the city.
How exactly is this news that everyone should be negative about?
Quote from: danno on October 04, 2011, 09:12:56 AM
Quote from: RiversideLoki on October 04, 2011, 08:38:20 AM
Of course, closing is schedule for November 4/5th.
you beat me to it!
Again with the negativity. This is not a temporary space.
Some of these comments look like they came from the TU's comment section.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 04, 2011, 07:01:01 AM
Hmmm, I don't know what you can do with a space at the Landing to make it look like the real Rush Street.....
This is easy for Jacksonville. First you have a plan, then you blow up the building, then you quit and walk away.
Can you say, "Surface parking lot?"
OCKLAWAHA
I don't see this cannibalizing any of their food sales. Judging from the Rush Street location at the beaches, food service will not be what people are there for. The location there serves as a standard dance club that happens to have access to a restaurant. I don't think people are eating in the Rush Street location, or that people are deciding between the two. People want to sit down and eat or people want to "club it".
Though I like the idea of Fionn McCool's and Rush Street opening at the Landing, the real issue will be how many people you can convince to come out to the Landing on Friday and Saturday nights to patronize the establishments. You can have the best idea in the world but if no one comes out to support it, it will ultimately fail. Also, no one wants to spend their Friday and Saturday nights at a club/bar that's dead. All that said, I hope they are successful.
Quote from: Lucasjj on October 04, 2011, 09:36:53 AM
I don't see this cannibalizing any of their food sales. Judging from the Rush Street location at the beaches, food service will not be what people are there for. The location there serves as a standard dance club that happens to have access to a restaurant. I don't think people are eating in the Rush Street location, or that people are deciding between the two. People want to sit down and eat or people want to "club it".
It would be nice if Chicago Pizza was connect to Rush Street like it is at the Beach. Lord knows Fuddruckers will not be opening in that empty spot next to the Rush Street location. But I guess you can't beat the riverfront view that the current Chicago Pizza location has.
^ Agreed Lucas. One location is calm and quiet with a beer over dinner. The second location is hoppin with activity and allows finger food with your cocktail next to a dance floor.
Besides, both are under the same owner. How is that canibalizing?
I have never tried to eat at Rush Street at the beach, but when I see a sentence that reads like this:
QuoteJimmy DeMarco, manager of the Chicago Pizza/Rush Street operation in Florida, said the club will still offer a menu very similar to Chicago Pizza.
It makes me wonder why two places would have the same menu 100 yards apart....
I'm excited that the Landing is getting another tenant, but this just doesn't sound like an idea that can/will be executed well.
IMO, the only thing they're cannabalizing will be FL/GA attendees.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on October 04, 2011, 08:50:46 AM
It will end up looking half a$$ed and cheap.
Alright! I am there, baby! Sounds like my kinda place.
Quote from: comncense on October 04, 2011, 09:40:01 AM
Though I like the idea of Fionn McCool's and Rush Street opening at the Landing, the real issue will be how many people you can convince to come out to the Landing on Friday and Saturday nights to patronize the establishments. You can have the best idea in the world but if no one comes out to support it, it will ultimately fail. Also, no one wants to spend their Friday and Saturday nights at a club/bar that's dead. All that said, I hope they are successful.
Hopefully that path beside the Ocean Street ramp that the city has been working on will help get people moving between the Landing and Bay Street.
QuoteIt makes me wonder why two places would have the same menu 100 yards apart....
I'm excited that the Landing is getting another tenant, but this just doesn't sound like an idea that can/will be executed well.
Rush Street Jax Beach, you can order things like apps during happy hour.
This is actually the same thing Twisted Martini did(the kitchen is already there, so why not)... you have food during dinner hours and then full on club when things get heated up during club-conducive hours. I can see Rush Street being a decent happy hour spot downtown.
There is a reason Chicago Pizza sold out of pizza at the old Twisted spot during our Pub Crawls. People drinking tend to want to eat quick appetizer-style food and pizza ;)
No different then going to Dos Gatos on a Friday night happy hour and getting served pizza there. So, it's not a real hard concept to wrap your head around.
Quote from: fieldafm on October 04, 2011, 10:22:44 AM
No different then going to Dos Gatos on a Friday night happy hour and getting served pizza there. So, it's not a real hard concept to wrap your head around.
are you sure? Maybe we need step-by-step directions
Field, I honestly think they could open a Captain D's at the Landing and you'd defend it to high heaven, because you for some reason love all things Landing. I do not feel that way, so I can see this for what it is. A gimmick.
Maybe I should have been more clear. The 'concept' that I think will fail is the designing a bar to look like a whole street by making the dance floor a black top. What's the point? Why not just deliver a quality product that speaks for itself instead of some cheap imitation. Rush street (the real one) probably didn't become the way it is today by trying to copy something else.
I think until the Landing fixes parking, visibility of tenants, reputation, and access they will have a few more sacrificial lambs take one for the team. Hopefully this one will push us closer to turning the center around.
Quote from: tufsu1 on October 04, 2011, 10:32:16 AM
are you sure? Maybe we need step-by-step directions
1.) Find location
2.) Move extra pizza equipment from storage
3.) Paint White Stripes on already black foor to resemble asphalt
4.) Tell some employees that they're working over there
5.) Collect insane amount of money for 3-4 days
6.) Move extra pizza equipment back to storage
Quote from: Captain Zissou on October 04, 2011, 10:51:24 AM
Maybe I should have been more clear. The 'concept' that I think will fail is the designing a bar to look like a whole street by making the dance floor a black top. What's the point? Why not just deliver a quality product that speaks for itself instead of some cheap imitation. Rush street (the real one) probably didn't become the way it is today by trying to copy something else.
considering they already have 2 successful Rush St. location in the metro area, maybe the concept is ok
Quote from: tufsu1 on October 04, 2011, 11:10:58 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on October 04, 2011, 10:51:24 AM
Maybe I should have been more clear. The 'concept' that I think will fail is the designing a bar to look like a whole street by making the dance floor a black top. What's the point? Why not just deliver a quality product that speaks for itself instead of some cheap imitation. Rush street (the real one) probably didn't become the way it is today by trying to copy something else.
considering they already have 2 successful Rush St. location in the metro area, maybe the concept is ok
Do the other 2 have the pointless theme?? Also, this is the Landing. Not right across from The Ritz and Fionn Macool's that both have huge lines of people waiting to get in. Don't equate the 2 Fionn Macool's either. So far I am the only person I know (outside of the forum) who is even aware that this is happening. Where is the second Rush street?
It may just be my taste, but I don't like bars that imitate other better places that I've been to and where I would much rather be. Don't throw a purple beaded necklace around my neck and tell me I'm on Bourbon Street. Don't dress my server up in boots and a vest and tell me I'm in Nashville. Similarly, don't make me dance on asphalt and tell me I'm in Chicago. It's dumb and it rarely comes across as intended. I'd rather have that proposed "jungle themed" place that fell through. Maybe their dance floor would be made of grass. That would be a whole lot better than this parking lot.
I would say Dos Gatos is more similar to rush street than this will be. Why? Because they are both tastefully done and well executed.
So... I wish the Butabi brothers well, but I just don't like the concept.
Seems very interesting. I hope the last long and bring more action to the Northbank. Southbank should try to get some nite action on their side of the river...but I guess you have to crawl before you walk lol.
QuoteWhere is the second Rush street?
Fleming Island
QuoteDo the other 2 have the pointless theme??
Yes
And by that logic, Lit... which I think is by far the coolest space architecturally in downtown should be as popular as any place in America.
QuoteField, I honestly think they could open a Captain D's at the Landing and you'd defend it to high heaven, because you for some reason love all things Landing. I do not feel that way, so I can see this for what it is. A gimmick.
I think you are well aware how much I also criticize certain things about the Landing.
That being said, it IS indeed the centerpiece downtown and still gets BY FAR the most people downtown than the Jags/Suns/Jazz Festival/and all of the bars of The Core combined... so I see it for what it is and what it can be, rather than what its not like most everyone else here.
Quote from: fieldafm on October 04, 2011, 09:15:41 AM
QuoteFirst off, they're going to cannibalize their own restaurant 100 yards away by serving the same type of food??
No, it will be like the Rush Street location at the beach... which is very successful and is a dance club/bar.
Two of the major entertainment parcels at the Landing are now filled by businesspeople who operate successful venues in other parts of the city.
How exactly is this news that everyone should be negative about?
Quote from: danno on October 04, 2011, 09:12:56 AM
Quote from: RiversideLoki on October 04, 2011, 08:38:20 AM
Of course, closing is schedule for November 4/5th.
you beat me to it!
Again with the negativity. This is not a temporary space.
Around 2005 2006 there was a nice club on the upper level of the Landing, facing the river. I cant remember the name of the club only went there twice. but it was a nice place and the view of the river from the club was cool.
That was Club Paris.
Quote from: Coolyfett on October 04, 2011, 11:31:32 AM
Seems very interesting. I hope the last long and bring more action to the Northbank. Southbank should try to get some nite action on their side of the river...but I guess you have to crawl before you walk lol.
Yeah, like Sherwood's isn't nite action. :)
Quote from: fieldafm on October 04, 2011, 09:15:41 AM
QuoteFirst off, they're going to cannibalize their own restaurant 100 yards away by serving the same type of food??
No, it will be like the Rush Street location at the beach... which is very successful and is a dance club/bar.
Two of the major entertainment parcels at the Landing are now filled by businesspeople who operate successful venues in other parts of the city.
How exactly is this news that everyone should be negative about?
Quote from: danno on October 04, 2011, 09:12:56 AM
Quote from: RiversideLoki on October 04, 2011, 08:38:20 AM
Of course, closing is schedule for November 4/5th.
you beat me to it!
Again with the negativity. This is not a temporary space.
I don't think it's a slam dunk, but I'm certainly optimistic about these new spaces. If nothing else, it will be a definitive new test for what ails the Landing. Can proven, successful entertainment destinations bring their business models to the Landing and replicate even a portion of that success? Or is it the locations that allow those businesses to be successful where they are?
Quote from: Jason on October 04, 2011, 09:41:58 AM
^ Agreed Lucas. One location is calm and quiet with a beer over dinner. The second location is hoppin with activity and allows finger food with your cocktail next to a dance floor.
Besides, both are under the same owner. How is that canibalizing?
Cannibalization is generally a reference used for a single business eating into its own revenue. Or a non-profit organization eating into its own donor base. http://www.answers.com/topic/cannibalization
QuoteGale Encyclopedia of Small Business:
Cannibalization
Cannibalization is a phenomenon that results when a firm develops a new product or service that steals business or market share from one or more of its existing products and services. Thus one product may take sales from another offering in a product line. Although the idea of cannibalization may seem primarily negative, it also has some positive implications. In the evolving world of E-commerce, some companies are intentionally choosing to cannibalize their retail sales through bargain-priced online offerings.
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/cannibalization#ixzz1ZpXxV1pH
Max, exactly. The same ownership group opening two similar venues in an area with scant attendance is textbook cannibalism. The question is does Rush Street help to draw in a broader audience to benefit both Chicago Pizza and Rush Street, or does Rush just steal business from Chicago Pizza? I am of the opinion (which is confirmed by the article) that the two will just split the customer base in half based on preference, rather than grow the customer base beyond what is already there.
This is not like the beach where they are just taking a larger percentage of a very large population. Other than Fl/GA, there is never a night where the crowd is large enough at the Landing that both venues could fill up without stealing customers from each other.
But yet, Scott is a genious for opening three bars within a 100 feet of each other because his customer base is so much more diverse?
Chicago Pizza=restaurant/bar on the water
Rush Street=bar/dance club on the courtyard
How is that any different?
QuoteI don't think it's a slam dunk, but I'm certainly optimistic about these new spaces.
That to me is a reasonable response. Remember when everyone said 'gee, Jim Bailey's approach to hitting a bunch of base hits downtown sounds reasonable'? Well, isn't a Landing that is slowly filling up with new tenants not a base hit?
Some positive news downtown, and people just throw up their hands and say 'it will never work' without the business even opening yet. No wonder downtown is dead.
Im starting to notice soon as anyone says the word "landing" metrojacksonville goes crazy! Its like no matter what it is, if it has to do with the Landing, its always a huge debate. Can someone explain this to me??
I have some observations. The Landing becomes crowded many nights not just Florida Georgia weekend. I also trust the owner of the new business knows what he is doing better than Captain. If theres one thing apparent from reading Metrojacksonville is that everyone thinks theyre an expert. Field, downtown is not dead. There are a lot of places to and venues to visit compared to most of the city. Residents are only missing sort of like just add water.
The cost of the space is also important to consider. It may be very cheap who knows.
...heh
QuoteThe Landing becomes crowded many nights not just Florida Georgia weekend.
You are absolutely right about that, but people around these parts only complain without actually going and seeing with their own eyes. Hell, The Landing was packed this weekend.
This is actually a great time to open a business downtown... rents are in line with the market for probably the first time in decades. That's usually when you start to see the normal cycling process start the upward trend.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 04, 2011, 02:03:07 PM
Im starting to notice soon as anyone says the word "landing" metrojacksonville goes crazy! Its like no matter what it is, if it has to do with the Landing, its always a huge debate. Can someone explain this to me??
My observation is because it's owned by Sleiman. If it were owned by Ben Carter, Ed Burr, GL National, St. Joe, Regency, etc. most of the negativity would have went away a long time ago.
Quote from: fieldafm on October 04, 2011, 02:22:11 PM
Hell, The Landing was packed this weekend.
I was there on Sunday when they had their reggae thing going. It was a pretty decent crowd.
Pre-Jags game was good, all day Saturday was full with the Filipino-pride event (I ate way too much lumpia) and Fri/Sat nights had good crowds(big Jags travel game).
QuoteMy observation is because it's owned by Sleiman.
Bingo
I think Downtown is finally starting to come around. A lot of new places have opened in the last few months. I just hope they all last.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 04, 2011, 02:47:20 PM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 04, 2011, 02:03:07 PM
Im starting to notice soon as anyone says the word "landing" metrojacksonville goes crazy! Its like no matter what it is, if it has to do with the Landing, its always a huge debate. Can someone explain this to me??
My observation is because it's owned by Sleiman. If it were owned by Ben Carter, Ed Burr, GL National, St. Joe, Regency, etc. most of the negativity would have went away a long time ago.
^^ This, anybody wanting to open anything in that place they call DT jax should be commended!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: thelakelander on October 04, 2011, 02:48:55 PM
Quote from: fieldafm on October 04, 2011, 02:22:11 PM
Hell, The Landing was packed this weekend.
I was there on Sunday when they had their reggae thing going. It was a pretty decent crowd.
I think the people who say the landing is dead haven't been in the past 2 years. It's not crazy packed, but it stays consistently busy. It's not a huge pain to get a drink which is nice.
Also, Mavericks has been there for many years now and is quite successful.
More on topic, I'm very happy this location is being filled, though it's not on the waterfront, it's a prime location opening up to the courtyard.
Hopefully they treat their employees fair.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 04, 2011, 02:48:55 PM
Quote from: fieldafm on October 04, 2011, 02:22:11 PM
Hell, The Landing was packed this weekend.
I was there on Sunday when they had their reggae thing going. It was a pretty decent crowd.
yeah...and that was at 7pm on a Sunday night!
Quote from: fieldafm on October 04, 2011, 09:15:41 AM
QuoteFirst off, they're going to cannibalize their own restaurant 100 yards away by serving the same type of food??
No, it will be like the Rush Street location at the beach... which is very successful and is a dance club/bar.
Two of the major entertainment parcels at the Landing are now filled by businesspeople who operate successful venues in other parts of the city.
How exactly is this news that everyone should be negative about?
Quote from: danno on October 04, 2011, 09:12:56 AM
Quote from: RiversideLoki on October 04, 2011, 08:38:20 AM
Of course, closing is schedule for November 4/5th.
you beat me to it!
Again with the negativity. This is not a temporary space.
Damn... It was just a joke......
I blame FBC.
Anyone been to Rush Street, aka "Seizure City", aka "You want 400 tvs? We got 400 tvs", aka "Singlehandedly keeping JEA in business", aka "Waste of $100,000" lately????
I don't understand why any establishment outside of a stadium or shopping mall would want that many tvs.... I walked past it on the way to Field's birthday bash and was literally in disbelief. Seriously, just WHY??
I thought it was a Best Buy for a minute...I almost bought a tv, until I was told they weren't for sale...
Quote from: Captain Zissou on January 18, 2012, 05:03:58 PM
Anyone been to Rush Street, aka "Seizure City", aka "You want 400 tvs? We got 400 tvs", aka "Singlehandedly keeping JEA in business", aka "Waste of $100,000" lately????
I don't understand why any establishment outside of a stadium or shopping mall would want that many tvs.... I walked past it on the way to Field's birthday bash and was literally in disbelief. Seriously, just WHY??
hey...no need to go overboard...they have less than 100 TVs :)
as for going there, its not really my crowd...let's leave it at that
..... Even though I don't go to Rush Street, I don't understand the concern with what the next person is doing with a venue that they are occupying. If it's meeting their needs and desires, good luck to them. It definitely is better than having an empty unused space there. God knows no one was lining up to rent that space out. I'm sure Tony doesn't give a damn how many TV's / monitors the club owner chooses to hang up in there.
@Comn - I don't think the comment was out of "concern" and we all certainly wish anybody who opens anything at the Landing luck. That being said, it is an outlandish amount of televisions. Having never been to Chicago or the real Rush St., is that typical?
I walked down Rush Street in October. One end was lively the other boring. There were a number of bars, restaurants and a number sports bars not particularly flashy.
Has anyone actually been there? I would love to here an honest review of the place.
Quote from: Dapperdan on January 19, 2012, 08:55:31 AM
Has anyone actually been there? I would love to here an honest review of the place.
I went once on the week of Thanksgiving, on a Wednesday night. I wasn't impressed, especially with the 10 dollar cover, but I knew how it would be. To my knowledge (and correct me if I'm wrong), earlier in this thread it was said that the place was opened up by the owners of Chicago Pizza. As far as I know, they aren't the primary owners anymore. The place is operated by a DJ that is from Jax but is a pretty big East Coast DJ. He DJ's there every night that I know of and he always has a big following no matter where he DJ's in town. So from what I hear business has been relatively good. To me it's the same setup as Twisted Martini. Yeah, there might be more TV's in there now, but that spot was always set up to be a video DJ venue. Though it may be tacky, over the top... whatever you wanna term it as, I'm sure there's plenty of people that hated the design of Club Paris, Mavericks and many other places around Jacksonville. However if they have enough money to sustain their business, to each their own.