Laurel @ Grace Streets

BigE

BigE

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when you get back to school in the fall another eating joint will rise on that spot that has tried and tried to have a restaurant. I passed by there today and they were busy attempting to retrofit the place for a
chipotle.jpg
 
The yellow and green paint next door leads me to think a Panera is going in beside it. French Toast bagel please. But only because no one else in the city knows how to make a bagel.
 
MarcusNation said:
The yellow and green paint next door leads me to think a Panera is going in beside it. French Toast bagel please. But only because no one else in the city knows how to make a bagel.
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wouldnt be a surprise at all being that virtually every chipotle in richmond has a panera right by it
 
Nobody tell Alex about the TGIFriday's that is going on the lot that the village currently sits on.
 
xjohnx said:
Nobody tell Alex about the TGIFriday's that is going on the lot that the village currently sits on.
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If that happened, there would be picketing and riots (well, if Sometimes and I sitting outside yelling counts as a riot). I can't complain about a Panera going in, it's one of the few chains I actually like, because they do a darn good job. Chipotle sucks though.
 
I'm kinda with Sometimes on this as I remember the seedy grandeur of Grace St. But with Twisters gone, Lee Art Theatre gone, Hole in the Wall gone, Red Light Inn gone(?)....this must be progress, as long as you describe "progress" as banal gentrification. Business's like this are probably gonna raise rents and force out the African House/Exile and the like which is probably what the VCU braintrust want for the ever espanding footprint of VCU. I see their point, as this is a big $$$ business....but I will always wax nostalgic about the past.
 
come on that stretch has been a dump for years. The vacant front across from village since I came to school in 99, the strip club, twisters wasn't bad, that African place looks like a dump that in the seven years I was in Richmond I only saw three people in, ever! I would welcome some establishments that might actually survive and maintain a decent image. It would go well with the Chinese restaurant, the 7-11 esque shop, and of course Vito's and little ceasers, could finally become a respectable stretch of road.
 
I remember Dutch's, which used to be across the street from the old Village. Robert's Roost was the place that would sell you 3.2 beer if you were underage. I can honestly say I don't have any idea how I got home some nights frim the Jade Elephant. Twisters and the String Factory were places you could catch some first class entertainment. So many places on that block of Grace or near it. They've come and gone and I can't even remember the names
 
Twisters was amazing. I don't think the RVA music scene would be what it is without Twisters having existed.

The rest of it...meh. Then again, I eat like a 5 year old, so that probably explains my disinterest.
 
Twisters was a nationwide gem. Everywhere I go to play music, ask around around, and someone knows about Twisters. Richmond music scene could do a lot better if we still had that place around. The vacant place across from the Village is actually, The Village! Or it was originally anyways. I absolutely love that place. Look in the windows and you can see the potentially for a really nice shop. But, from what I understand, the little old lady that lives above it (and owns it) vowed never to rent it again after the Village left. I don't think they got along very well.
It was sort of wild to see the 800 block of Grace for awhile. The only building left on the west side of the street was the old Biograph Theatre (now Hyperlink). Everything else had been torn down. The old Burger King (now Sarhara) is the only building on the East side of the street. The 900 block is not doing much better. Plaza Art is still there, and Ipanema has a strong presence there still. In fact, Ipanema may have the only presence on that street. The Little Cesar's is there, but I liked that better when it was a nice little market (that was after Nacho Mama's was there.) Panda Veg is nice, because many of my friends are Vegetarians and like it. And Panda Garden too. Oh, and Exile is now on the 900 block, because their original place on the 800 block got torn down. Saigon Restaurant sits in what used to be the Jade Elephant (I think?). Vito's Pizza is still there.
Am I missing anything substantial?
 
Nobody complained when they tore down the Hardees on broad/shafer to make room for the new dorms/shops/parking. Sure, it's not the same thing as a local restaurant, but I defy any of you to argue that stretch of broad is not better for flushing out the old and bringing in the new.

Trani, and the construction/development that happened under his watch may have controversial, some "historic" buildings were torn down, some local businesses may have being closed, but I'd argue that the benefits FAR outweigh the cost.
 
Truth be told John, I do miss getting my sausage, egg, and cheese before class. 8-)
 
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