How Bob Castellini helped The Banks get on track

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by Chip R

It's not just here that they are having problems.

http://www.yuckthisbarandgrill.org/l...E2%80%94oh-my/

Looks like in this case the issue is really more of a landlord-tenant dispute than an issue of the bar being financially unsound:

An attorney for Toby Keith's said the company has placed rent in escrow because the landlord violated a lease clause promising it would not recruit competing venues to the Cincinnati riverfront.

“We have exclusive language in our lease that clearly states no other country-music themed bar will be in the project over 5,000 square feet,” said attorney Gregory McClure. “They leased space behind us called Tin Roof, which became a direct competitor. They advertise on the same radio station. They book the same bands. As soon as they remedy the situation, they’ll get every penny they’re owed.”

McClure said the bar is "financially viable" but it will shut down if the issue is not resolved.

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/money/busine...#ixzz2KnU7lDsm

I can completely understand them being not happy about this situation (though, they probably should have had a more specific contract written -- I don't know that Tin Roof qualifies as "Country Themed").

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

Once again, the misinformation rumor mill spun by the irresponsible local Cincinnati media lead everyone to jump to conclusions about TK's, and The Banks in general, before knowing any facts.

Here's what TK's said on its Facebook page last night:

We learned earlier today that our landlord initiated litigation alleging that CRGE Cincinnati, LLC dba Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill (“Toby Keith’s”) had breached its rental obligation by failing to pay rent in a timely manner. There has been some concern raised by the local media and others that Toby Keith’s failure to pay rent under the Lease is just a sign that Toby Keith’s is in financial trouble and will be closing its doors. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is simply a contract dispute between the Landlord and the Tenant. While Toby Keith’s has withheld rent from the Landlord, it is in response to what Toby Keith’s believes to be a violation of protections it is provided under its lease agreement with the Landlord. Specifically, Toby Keith’s believes that its exclusive to operate as a country music themed restaurant providing live music is being infringed upon by another Tenant with Landlord’s approval. Toby Keith’s has placed the Landlord on notice that it believes a violation has occurred and the Landlord has failed to cure the violation. Landlord feels otherwise. Unfortunately, at this stage, this issue must play itself out in the courts before a resolution can be reached.

[Sea Ray]

Originally Posted by Chip R

It's not just here that they are having problems.

http://www.yuckthisbarandgrill.org/l...E2%80%94oh-my/

That's very interesting to see. It seems to me that they're just very poorly run. I've only tried to go there once and here's what happened...My Dad and I sat for 15 mins in a booth and got no attention whatsoever from servers. At that point I said to him, wwe're not putting up with this any longer. I'll go get the car and meet you out front.

I'm not a big country music fan (but I do really like the song this bar is named for) so I probably wouldn't frequent it very often but it's nuts for the hostess to seat you and then for waiter after waiter to pass by you without asking if you'd been "helped". It's a lack of training and I've gotten to the point where I have very little patience for places with poor service

[Yachtzee]

Personally, I don't see a long-term future in celebrity-oriented bars and restaurants. They had an Alice Cooperstown right across the street from The Jake/Progressive Field in Cleveland. Once the novelty wore off, it closed and became something else. The only Alice Cooperstown left is in Phoenix, where Alice Cooper lives. Plus there's the fact that the "theme" of the bar really only appeals to a certain subset of the population, those being country music fans in general and Toby Keith fans in particular. As neither a fan of country music nor Toby Keith, I have no desire to go there. I'd rather head to the Moerlein Lager House.

[joshua]

If they want to open music themed restaurant on the banks, then screw Toby Keith. I want an adult oriented Showbiz Pizza with metal music blaring out of animatronic animals...and plenty of liquor.

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by joshua

If they want to open music themed restaurant on the banks, then screw Toby Keith. I want an adult oriented Showbiz Pizza with metal music blaring out of animatronic animals...and plenty of liquor.

I once, while somewhat intoxicated, came up with the idea for something similar -- "Charles Edward Cheese's" was going to be the name.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

That's very interesting to see. It seems to me that they're just very poorly run. I've only tried to go there once and here's what happened...My Dad and I sat for 15 mins in a booth and got no attention whatsoever from servers. At that point I said to him, wwe're not putting up with this any longer. I'll go get the car and meet you out front.

I'm not a big country music fan (but I do really like the song this bar is named for) so I probably wouldn't frequent it very often but it's nuts for the hostess to seat you and then for waiter after waiter to pass by you without asking if you'd been "helped". It's a lack of training and I've gotten to the point where I have very little patience for places with poor service

That happened to a friend and I at a Hooters in West Des Moines, IA. We just wanted a few beers and some food and we must have been there a half hour at our table without anyone noticing we were there. After that we decided to leave and not go there anymore.

[Yachtzee]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

I once, while somewhat intoxicated, came up with the idea for something similar -- "Charles Edward Cheese's" was going to be the name.

I had the same idea. Great minds think alike.

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

Originally Posted by Yachtzee

Personally, I don't see a long-term future in celebrity-oriented bars and restaurants. They had an Alice Cooperstown right across the street from The Jake/Progressive Field in Cleveland. Once the novelty wore off, it closed and became something else. The only Alice Cooperstown left is in Phoenix, where Alice Cooper lives. Plus there's the fact that the "theme" of the bar really only appeals to a certain subset of the population, those being country music fans in general and Toby Keith fans in particular. As neither a fan of country music nor Toby Keith, I have no desire to go there. I'd rather head to the Moerlein Lager House.

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, which opens at the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati on March 4, does very well. It's far more of a destination than Toby Keith's though. I can easily see travelers stopping at Margaritaville on their way though the city, or people making trips downtown specifically for it.

[Caveat Emperor]

Somewhat tangentially related -- hasta la vista to free nighttime parking in downtown Cincinnati:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...108/302190090/

If City Council's plan goes through, meters will run until 9pm and will increase in cost 3% per year (in .25 increments, so roughly a quarter per 4 years or so).

[Roy Tucker]

Originally Posted by Chip R

That happened to a friend and I at a Hooters in West Des Moines, IA. We just wanted a few beers and some food and we must have been there a half hour at our table without anyone noticing we were there. After that we decided to leave and not go there anymore.

Yep. I go out to have a good time. I don't go to a restaurant to be their quality control and hassle and beg for service and send my food back. Give me good service and good food and I'm smiling and generous with a tip and just a big tabby cat. If you don't, I get cranky and I vote with my dollars and I *never* *ever* go back. There are plenty of good places around that will give me what I want.

[SweetLou1990]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

That's very interesting to see. It seems to me that they're just very poorly run. I've only tried to go there once and here's what happened...My Dad and I sat for 15 mins in a booth and got no attention whatsoever from servers. At that point I said to him, wwe're not putting up with this any longer. I'll go get the car and meet you out front.

I'm not a big country music fan (but I do really like the song this bar is named for) so I probably wouldn't frequent it very often but it's nuts for the hostess to seat you and then for waiter after waiter to pass by you without asking if you'd been "helped". It's a lack of training and I've gotten to the point where I have very little patience for places with poor service

Same thing happened to me after a reds game, the place was relatively empty and got no service, while the music was so loud u couldn't talk. Not a fan

[Caveat Emperor]

The Horseshoe Casino opens in Cincinnati tonight.

I walk by the construction site a lot -- it's pretty impressive looking building for what used to be a vacant lot.

[RBA]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

The Horseshoe Casino opens in Cincinnati tonight.

I walk by the construction site a lot -- it's pretty impressive looking building for what used to be a vacant lot.

Will Pete Rose be there?

[mdccclxix]

I hated the casino idea. I thought the building would look horrible, but it does not. Will it in 5-10 sun soaked years? Probably. Either way, I thought they did a neat job of making the building interesting to look at without being this huge pulsating distraction. I probably will go one time, get depressed at the scene, and then never come back.

I thought there was supposed to be an octagon or fight ring in there, is that happening?