The Walkway - (1312 West Lake Street)

[Minnekid]

I'm guessing small was meant in the "not a large chain" sense. Subways aren't exactly sizable.

You got it right on. Small wasn't by size, more like a small company or group, not a chain. Size wise, that is big, concept wise it is not.

[Minnekid]

Also, I don't think we have the density to do that. Like when you have a tiny restaurant that you have to have a lot of people walking by, since they are hard to notice when driving by. So in new york, were 70-80% of the people living there use transit and walk, you see them. A good example of a mini restaurant in Minneapolis is that crepes cafe on Nicolett [sic]. I think about 10-15 seats it has. Again being on the most popular walked street, it is possible to keep open.

[Jenny on the Block]

Piccolo anyone?

[mullen]

yes piccolo is on an intersection that could hardly be described as bustling. it's a typical south mpls corner with small business. it's quaint and excellent. the restaurant fits the neighborhood like a glove.

[Wedgeguy]

Those types of restaurants don't provide a good standard of living to the people who own them. Nobody wants to blow $200k on a build out just so you can make $20k a year working seven days a week. That is how you make tiny places work unless you are charging La Belle Vie prices or have the economies of scale that comes from being a chain.

For the amount of hassle involved in running a restaurant and the amount of money it takes to open one, it is not worth doing if you have less than 80 seats. Anything less than that and you are better off working for somebody else (in terms of work and investment vs financial return).

Thank you for your first hand insight! Your Mom and Pop's build in the neighborhoods where they live. Where the rents are reasonable. Not major commercial districts, in new developments. The high rent's and lack of return on investment is why the restaurant space at the corner of Aldrich and Lake in the Blue development has not had a bite yet. Eat street is an example of where you could have once started a Mom and Pop and done well. That too is now pricing itself out of that range in my opinion,.

[Minnekid]

Yes but a multi location concept. Or in this case, different types of restaurants for with this company, which I like. Like they have more money than a mom and pop, but its not an applebees. Its the perfect inbetween.

[mplser]

snapped this at lunch about a week ago

[aeisenberg]

Thanks for the great shot, Mplser. Is it just me, or is anyone else on this forum really not a fan of these overhangs on the roof? Like they're trying-- but not trying-- to make the building look distinctive. It's like the building is wearing a hat.

[John]

BKV does a lot of that roof detail with their apartment projects. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. In Walkway's case, I do like the way the overhangs span out over the complex on each side. Gives it a nice feeling of connecting and gesturing to the surrounding neighborhood. Also, the overhangs will be lit up at night which will look awesome.

[Nathan]

I think that they will make more sense when covered in finishing materials, so that they make that right angle shape that segments the portions of the building.

[John]

I think that they will make more sense when covered in finishing materials, so that they make that right angle shape that segments the portions of the building.

Yes, as the rendering shows:

[twincitizen]

[David Greene]

I particularly like the way the overhangs highlight the fact that the building isn't perfectly square and most of its faces are not parallel to the street. Some might think that's gimmicky but I like it.

[Chef]

I think the overhangs (cantilevered cornices) do a nice job of referncing Prairie School architecture in a contemporary way and make the building look like it belongs in Minneapolis, rather than Anycity, USA.

[John]

^^^Prairie school with the party atmosphere of Miami Beach!

[aeisenberg]

So I AM alone on this. So very, very alone....

[Chef]

If there is one thing this forum has taught me is that there are no absolutes when it comes to taste in architecture.

[John]

If there is one thing this forum has taught me is that there are no absolutes when it comes to taste in architecture.

Boy, is that the truth!

[mullen]

i find this project a little gimmicky and overdone, trying too hard. but this is uptown and perhaps a little of this is fine.

[John]

i find this project a little gimmicky and overdone, trying too hard. but this is uptown and perhaps a little of this is fine.

I don't know, once in awhile we need a building to be a little over the top in this town to shake things up. Uptown or Hennepin Ave is the perfect place for this type of structure, but I doubt I would like it anywhere else.