The New Retail Thread

It seems that cities (American, at least) seem to like having some kind of tourist ghetto (e.g. Times Sq, Fisherman's Wharf, Navy Pier, etc), so I've always written QM/FH off as that. Keeps them out of our hair.
 
I tend to agree about QM/FH being a tourist zone, but once every two years when I find myself down there is still an enriching urban experience. Cities need these places, and our is a pretty good one.

cca
 
paperless paul said:
I've just returned from New York where, for a variety of reasons, I visited Chelsea Market 3 separate times. I think this is a great space to emulate.

The food options showcase regional output, they are far more interesting than Faneuil Hall. It's mixed use with offices above. It serves both tourists and locals. It's got group programmable space. It has an indoor space for colder months. It seems to be busy most of the time.

Cons - It is probably at a higher price point than appropriate to replace FH.

Perhaps it is one of those 'only in New York things' that requires much higher and wealthier population base.

And perhaps it's better suited for the new Farmer's Market on the Greenway Bldg, or redeveloped Landmark Center or the SoWa 'parking garage', or somewhere else.

But I would be thrilled to have something similar here.
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Peperless-- you sure its not BRAINLESS? -- no one is replacing Quincy Market or Faneuil Hall 's buildings -- NYC would die and go to heaven for those --- what this part of this thread is about is the temporary programming that will occupy the outside plaza area during the appropriate time of the year

My point is that Boston invented most of what NYC has -- why are we looking there for inspiration
 
whighlander said:
Peperless-- you sure its not BRAINLESS? -- no one is replacing Quincy Market or Faneuil Hall 's buildings -- NYC would die and go to heaven for those --- what this part of this thread is about is the temporary programming that will occupy the outside plaza area during the appropriate time of the year

My point is that Boston invented most of what NYC has -- why are we looking there for inspiration
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No doubt I’m not as clever at punnery as you are.

However, I read this part of the article: “The outdoor programming … is part of [the new owner’s] larger revitalization plans for the center, which also include building alterations and improvements, and bringing in new retailers” and further recalled the more detailed Globe article of December 6, 2013.

And so I voiced my opinion on the ‘larger revitalization plans’, with some relevant detail that suggests we might do well to copy New York. I also suggested there might be other venues where it would work as well. This comment led to a quick thoughtful debate including some who disagreed.

We can adopt the peevish attitude of an over-looked little brother in rivalry with our larger regional sibling, like I might have when I was 12 and the Sox hadn’t won for 70 years. Or we can discuss interesting, creative ideas for improving the city we live in and use this forum to engage a broader set of voices than we might otherwise. I am confident that NYers, in general, are not looking to trade their infrastructure for ours.
 
paperless paul said:
No doubt I’m not as clever at punnery as you are.

However, I read this part of the article: “The outdoor programming … is part of [the new owner’s] larger revitalization plans for the center, which also include building alterations and improvements, and bringing in new retailers” and further recalled the more detailed Globe article of December 6, 2013.

And so I voiced my opinion on the ‘larger revitalization plans’, with some relevant detail that suggests we might do well to copy New York. I also suggested there might be other venues where it would work as well. This comment led to a quick thoughtful debate including some who disagreed.

We can adopt the peevish attitude of an over-looked little brother in rivalry with our larger regional sibling, like I might have when I was 12 and the Sox hadn’t won for 70 years. Or we can discuss interesting, creative ideas for improving the city we live in and use this forum to engage a broader set of voices than we might otherwise. I am confident that NYers, in general, are not looking to trade their infrastructure for ours.
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Paperless -- they already stole it .... or perhaps its ... "the sincerest form of flattery ..." .... "But we ll know that and 15 minutes can ..."

NYC is NOT the model city that it was just after WWII until about 1960 -- when the rest of the world was decimated and NYC was the global capital

Today for urban examples we can look back at Europe which originally pioneered many urban things in the past --- and is once again at the cutting edge [e.g. London, Berlin, Warsaw, etc.]

And we can look to Asia [e.g. Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, etc.] and the middle east [e.g. Dubai, Kuwait, etc.] which first copied the West in the immediate post WWII and has now has made some improvements
 
whighlander said:
Paperless -- they already stole it .... or perhaps its ... "the sincerest form of flattery ..." .... "But we ll know that and 15 minutes can ..."

NYC is NOT the model city that it was just after WWII until about 1960 -- when the rest of the world was decimated and NYC was the global capital

Today for urban examples we can look back at Europe which originally pioneered many urban things in the past --- and is once again at the cutting edge [e.g. London, Berlin, Warsaw, etc.]

And we can look to Asia [e.g. Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, etc.] and the middle east [e.g. Dubai, Kuwait, etc.] which first copied the West in the immediate post WWII and has now has made some improvements
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I think you are moving off topic. We can agree that there are lots of places to draw inspiration from.

I respectfully suggest you offer a suggestion for what to do with FH/QM, the inspiration you are drawing from (if appropriate), and the reasons you think it's a good idea.
 
Back to the thread -- for a snack

Say Bonjour to PAUL

PAUL, a French bakery-café chain that now has almost 600 locations around the world, is coming to Boston this summer. The bread invasion will begin with a 6,000-square-foot flagship, complete with mezzanine and outdoor patio, at One Boston Place in Downtown Crossing. By 2016, the chain expects to have more than a dozen offshoots in the Boston area. Last week, Mayor Menino joined the PAUL team to break ground on the flagship location, and he was presented with "a personalized bread masterpiece" in his honor. (See above to glimpse the masterpiece in all its glory.)

Since 1889 and through five generations, PAUL has been honing 120 recipes to produce breads, pastries, and baked goods. The bakery-café will also serve sandwiches, soups, and such. Hopefully the 'Surprise' Loaf will make an appearance, because what could be better than a loaf of bread stuffed with hidden sandwiches?
Click to expand...
Paul%20-%20Eater-thumb.jpeg

· PAUL [Official Site]
http://www.paul-usa.com/
 
paperless paul said:
I think you are moving off topic. We can agree that there are lots of places to draw inspiration from.

I respectfully suggest you offer a suggestion for what to do with FH/QM, the inspiration you are drawing from (if appropriate), and the reasons you think it's a good idea.
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PaperlessP -- FH/QM has always been a market location -- dating from the first settlements in the area in the late 17th C

In the early 19th C -- Mayor Quincy decided to consolidate the wholesale food distributions there and commissioned Alexander Paris to design it 1820 - 1830 North and South Market buildings followed shortly after

In mid 20th C -- Mayor Kevin White -- re-planned the area with Ben Thompson and Rouse Co, to make it into a Tourist venue as it's directly across the Greenway from the New England Aquarium

With the Haymarket and new Boston Public Markets to the North and sitting where it does on the Greenway -- it should be a Tourist Venue -- but one that attracts tourists from all over Greater Boston

So like Copley Place and the Pru which supply the je ne sais quoi for the upscale goers to the Hynes -- but also have shops of interest to people who are in the neighborhood for an hour or so or may even live or work in the Back Bay -- the FH / QM complex should include a mix of:

1) Pure Tourist - related to and tuned to the interests of the historically motivated on the Freedom Trail --e.g. Pewter Shoppe
2) Mostly Tourist -- for the Greater Bostonian in-town for a Saturday afternoon with kids, Aquarium-goers, etc. -- e.g. food court
3) Evening Entertainment activities and places to eat, drink, socialize -- some sports aspects such as Red's Bench
4) Support for those walking along the Greenway, Harborwalk
5) Stuff for everyone who needs je ne sais quoi
6) UNIQUE Public Venue for things such as Christmas Tree, Harbor Festival, etc.

The key is how to orchestrate and organize the mix between the above -- I'd rather have some local inputs or if the gentleman from NYC wants to participate he needs to spend a few hundred hours over the course of the next year observing and interacting
 
We were in NYC overnight this weekend. Visited the Chelsea Market for my 2nd time, and Terry's first. He seemed to like the shops for not being ordinary, although if I'm not mistaken there's an American Apparel or American Eagle in there. We didn't buy anything but that doesn't mean anything since we weren't looking to get anything to eat or to carry around with us all afternoon. I was surprised to see people eating whole lobsters (well, not the shell) in there - not really the right atmosphere, in my opinion. Very busy (long weekend for some), lots of commotion, and few places to sit.

I can't imagine it could have long-term appeal only because of its success which I would think will lead to higher rents ... and then more-established stores.

I'm not into the whole $8 tomatoes thing so my lack of interest in what they're selling is perhaps clouding my opinion.

The point of this post was to tell every one of you to go there so you can head downstairs to Tipplers, a hidden bar two stories under ground in a place they say the public hasn't seen for over a hundred years. Dark, but in a good way. A little too self-aware, but that's okay. Lots of craft beers and specialty drinks, but I didn't find it annoying or offensive. I asked the bartender how he was doing and he replied, "Chillin', man, chillin'." He was out of central casting for a Brooklyn hipster.

Actually, I'm making it sound like a place you'd never want to visit. It's fun though. We were there mid-afternoon and it started to fill up. I think the crowd is probably 25-40 (ahem), more white than not, and probably more than 50% tourist, but those are just guesses.
 
coleslaw said:
I'm pretty sure it is a picture from a roof of a mickey d's sign in the trash.
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Bingo. Here's an up close one... a construction worker yelled at me during the daytime when I tried taking a photo earlier.

7e3F1mL.jpg


Reminded me of this photo from the Fenway a few years back. Personally, I think this was the single best metaphor of the ongoing transformation of Boston's neglected neighborhoods.

yO6Uxx6.jpg
 
Globe article on construction of the new Boston Public Food Market at 136 Blackstone St. although it apparently won't open until early 2015.
 
Lot of infrastructure behind this farmers market huh?! Ten years of subsidized empty space later we may finally have a place for overpriced food downtown. Shame this has sat for so long
 
This is the best quote in the article from a farmer from western Mass.: "But getting things done in Boston — everything starts with, ‘No,’ and, ‘What’s in it for me?’”
 
I'm fairly certain if a took someone from a rural part of any state and asked them about the folks in the largest city in that state, the answer would be similar.
 
Here's some new retail for ya, the state medical marijuana dispensary license winners were announced today.

Cambridge, Newton, Quincy, and Brookline each get one, while Boston itself gets two. There's a statewide map in the link below with proposed locations, but I can't find exact addresses. It looks like Cambridge's is somewhere in East Cambridge, Newton is in Newton Corner, Quincy's is west of their highway, and Brookline's is located right in Coolidge Corner. Boston appears to have one in the Back Bay near Boylston and Arlington and another on the South End/Newmarket border.

Story: http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/24...-of-mass-medical-marijuana-licenses-announced
 
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