How Bob Castellini helped The Banks get on track

[Chip R]

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/a...ank_on_it.html

[westofyou]

Modern Day Powell Crosley he is

[Tommyjohn25]

It cannot be understated how great Bob Castellini has been for the city of Cincinnati and the Reds organization. I don't know if I would choose anyone else to own this team, to be honest.

[Captain13]

I can't wait until they build the "deck". That will be the icing on the cake for Cincy's downtown.

[Caveat Emperor]

I'm glad the Banks is being developed, but I've been pretty underwhelmed with the results thus far. There's a lot of wasted space in the development, and the restaurants / bars they've brought in (with the notable exception of the Moerlein Lager House) have all been pretty uniformly mediocre.

It's a pity no one with real vision spearheaded development right from the start.

[Yachtzee]

I'm glad the Banks is being developed, but I've been pretty underwhelmed with the results thus far. There's a lot of wasted space in the development, and the restaurants / bars they've brought in (with the notable exception of the Moerlein Lager House) have all been pretty uniformly mediocre.

It's a pity no one with real vision spearheaded development right from the start.

Well, just remember that a lot of mediocre restaurants wash out in 5 years, so they'll probably be replaced with new ones.

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

Well, just remember that a lot of mediocre restaurants wash out in 5 years, so they'll probably be replaced with new ones.

Not sure I understand the criticism. Holy Grail has been open two years now and is packed almost every night - game or no game. It's easily become one of the destination spots in the city. Tin Roof is also proving highly popular on non-game nights with its live music every night. It's definitely got the post-college Banks residential crowd locked down. Moerlein Lager House speaks for itself - it's a gem for this city.

I've eaten at Crave twice and it was outstanding. As was Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Calling either of those "mediocre" is a stretch and borderline snobbish.

Toby Keith's isn't at all my style, but judging from the long lines to get in on weekends, it looks to be doing fine.

Frankly, The Banks will continue to be chain-heavy because of the crowds it attracts, and that's fine. Cities do have more tourist-friendly destinations that are popular with the chains. Look at Times Square in NYC, 16th Street Mall in Denver, Universal City in Orlando, etc.

There is literally no shortage of unique, local restaurants all throughout downtown and OTR for you to go to if that interests you more. Heck, in OTR alone, you have Kaze, Bakersfield, Senate, Pho Lang Thang, Nicola's, A Tavola, Abigail Street, Taste of Belgium, Anchor, Park + Vine, Quan Hapa, etc., with more on the way ... And there are endless local restaurants in downtown and Mount Adams also. So there is room for the type of places that are flocking to The Banks. Let it be.

[Captain13]

Not sure I understand the criticism. Holy Grail has been open two years now and is packed almost every night - game or no game. It's easily become one of the destination spots in the city. Tin Roof is also proving highly popular on non-game nights with its live music every night. It's definitely got the post-college Banks residential crowd locked down. Moerlein Lager House speaks for itself - it's a gem for this city.

I've eaten at Crave twice and it was outstanding. As was Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Calling either of those "mediocre" is a stretch and borderline snobbish.

Toby Keith's isn't at all my style, but judging from the long lines to get in on weekends, it looks to be doing fine.

Frankly, The Banks will continue to be chain-heavy because of the crowds it attracts, and that's fine. Cities do have more tourist-friendly destinations that are popular with the chains. Look at Times Square in NYC, 16th Street Mall in Denver, Universal City in Orlando, etc.

There is literally no shortage of unique, local restaurants all throughout downtown and OTR for you to go to if that interests you more. Heck, in OTR alone, you have Kaze, Bakersfield, Senate, Pho Lang Thang, Nicola's, A Tavola, Abigail Street, Taste of Belgium, Anchor, Park + Vine, Quan Hapa, etc., with more on the way ... And there are endless local restaurants in downtown and Mount Adams also. So there is room for the type of places that are flocking to The Banks. Let it be.

Great post. In Louisville we have "4th Street Live", a block of mostly chain restaurants and bars, it does remarkably well. It is crowded at lunch and dinner daily and the nightlife is hopping, yet a lot of locals complain about "downtown is scary and inconvenient", "no local flavor", "corporate blah blah blah". I don't go there often, but I do make it down a couple of times a year. I also enjoy eating at our many local establishments. In a downtown, near the hotels and convention centers a city needs a place that feels exciting and touristy, but is familiar enough for American sheeple to go to, and The Banks fits that perfectly. All it is missing is a Hard Rock Cafe and Bubba Gumps and it could be Beale Street, Bourbon Street, Duvall Street or downtown Nashville. As it grows it will get better, and maybe more local. Right now is a destination downtown and it is keeping money inside Cincinnati, and by extension Ohio, instead of Covington or Newport.

After reading that, as a Kentuckian I feel the need to say "The Banks sucks, go to Newport on the Levy. It Rocks!"

[Caveat Emperor]

I've eaten at Crave twice and it was outstanding. As was Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Calling either of those "mediocre" is a stretch and borderline snobbish.

I've been to Crave twice as well -- found it to be thoroughly mediocre. I'd put the food somewhere above your average Fridays / Applebees / Bennigans but below a, say, J. Alexanders. For the price they charge, there are better choices.

Ruth's Chris? For the price, you'd be certifiable not to go to one Ruby's places or Mortons and get better service and a better meal.

I'm glad there are some people that like what the Banks is doing. Thus far, it hasn't been my cup of tea.

[Reds Freak]

I've been to Crave twice as well -- found it to be thoroughly mediocre. I'd put the food somewhere above your average Fridays / Applebees / Bennigans but below a, say, J. Alexanders. For the price they charge, there are better choices.

Ruth's Chris? For the price, you'd be certifiable not to go to one Ruby's places or Mortons and get better service and a better meal.

I'm glad there are some people that like what the Banks is doing. Thus far, it hasn't been my cup of tea.

I love that the Banks and the new Riverfront Park have brought so much activity to the riverfront. It's not my cup of tea either, so I don't frequent the places that often. I suggest checking out the OTR restaurants Reds/Flyer suggested, there are plenty of tremendous local places scattered throughout downtown and OTR. The Banks will always cater to a suburban, chain type of crowd and I have no problem with that.

[Yachtzee]

I've been to Crave twice as well -- found it to be thoroughly mediocre. I'd put the food somewhere above your average Fridays / Applebees / Bennigans but below a, say, J. Alexanders. For the price they charge, there are better choices.

Ruth's Chris? For the price, you'd be certifiable not to go to one Ruby's places or Mortons and get better service and a better meal.

I'm glad there are some people that like what the Banks is doing. Thus far, it hasn't been my cup of tea.

Cleveland went through that phase with its downtown development where it was mostly big chains catering to the latest trends. After a while though, as local chefs started making names for themselves and downtown became an attractive location, they started opening more of their own places downtown. The chain gang will get people coming down, but as The Banks continue to develop and mature, and trends change, it will be those local chefs who move in and take over that will keep people coming.

[remdog]

Get a GREAT Sushi Bar to the Banks!

Rem

[mdccclxix]

A) The development is still ongoing with the addition of some other great restaurants.

B) The article indicates that the first phase was completed without much financial support, so it got done without much adornment. That additional stuff is likely to follow and make it all cohere better.

[mdccclxix]

I think there needs to be a really signature addition at some point in the next 5-10 years. something visually appealing and memorable on the order slightly beneath the space needle, millennium park, or stl arch, but still iconic. A major art piece that makes all the brochures and is a photo opp. I think the capping of the highway could provide the space for this, or perhaps the phase 2 area. I just don't know what kind of pride or energy would be represented, but it's got to be fun. Anyway, I'm off topic.

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

I think there needs to be a really signature addition at some point in the next 5-10 years. something visually appealing and memorable on the order slightly beneath the space needle, millennium park, or stl arch, but still iconic. A major art piece that makes all the brochures and is a photo opp. I think the capping of the highway could provide the space for this, or perhaps the phase 2 area. I just don't know what kind of pride or energy would be represented, but it's got to be fun. Anyway, I'm off topic.

I know that a large carousel will be part of The Banks, as will the sail from the USS Cincinnati, an LA-class nuclear submarine.