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Another one bites the dust

Thu, 09/28/2006 - 9:44pm — Crenshaw Sepulveda
I'm wandering around in downtown Olympia, as I often do, and notice that the Taco Del Mar across the street from Sylvester Park is closed.  Upon further inspection of their front door I notice that there is some legal document on the door demanding the rent, which was way overdue, be paid.  Not long ago the Quiznos near B&B went belly up.  Never did like Quiznos, and I never set foot in the Taco Del Mar.  I'm not really into franchise operations.  I guess many that frequent downtown share my views as the Taco Del Mar never seemed to have many diners.  I guess some will blame the closure of these two establishments on the homeless, the panhandlers, the young, the smoking ban, or some other reason.  I'm thinking that franchise operations are not a good fit for downtown Olympia.  If you want franchise food you can go to Lacey or Tumwater.  If you want food prepared by the owner, or owner's family, downtown Olympia is your bet.

A Taco Del Mar costs around a quarter of a million dollars to open.  Franchise fees, required equipment, required supplies and the like make this one expensive proposition for anyone opening one.  I feel bad for those that thought downtown Olympia was a good place for a franchise operation.  I would have told them otherwise, and it would only have cost them a cup of coffee.

Perhaps locating the Taco Del Mar closer to the capitol campus would have made it work.  The Subway there seems to be doing well, but I suspect it, too, is not long for this world.  I only hope Meconi's will find another location when their building comes down.  Which brings me to another point, why is the Meconi's building being torn down.  From my perspective it is the perfect southern anchor for downtown Olympia.  We still have a way to go in reaching that point, but now it seems pointless.  Sadly downtown seems to end, at the southern end, at the former Ramada hotel.  What an eyesore, not to mention a  building filled with transients.  Without a doubt we don't need the Ramada, or what ever it is called today.  It is one ugly building, to be sure.  It could be rehabilitated if it were turned into non-transient housing, but that is the subject of another blog for me.

Comments

Thu, 09/28/2006 - 10:00pm — Norm (not verified)

Well, I don't eat at any of

Well, I don't eat at any of the above mentioned spots, so I won't blame it on anyone downtown...if that makes you feel any better. One question though: Isn't it considered downtown right where the McDonalds is? or is that considered some other kind of space?
Thu, 09/28/2006 - 10:21pm — Crenshaw Sepulveda

hmmm, McDonalds

i'm thinking that the McDonald's in the "no-person's land".  Not quite downtown, not quite anything.  Actually I don't envision a downtown extending very close to the McDonalds.  I might be wrong in my calculations, but I look at things on a district level.  How long does it take to cross a district on foot.  I tend to measure things in how long it takes to smoke a cigarette while walking.  Something further than a cigarette away tends to be out of the bounds of what I consider a district.  I would like to see the downtown extend to the farmer's market to the north along Capitol Way, and to the Meconi's to the south.  Towards the Safeway I consider downtown, to be sure, as do I consider the 4th ave bridge and the Bayview as part of downtown. I guess I have to get out a map and draw some lines and connect things.  One thing for sure, right now our downtown is not as large as I'd envision it.

"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^
—
"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^
Thu, 09/28/2006 - 10:28pm — Norm (not verified)

I suppose I lump city hall

I suppose I lump city hall and the police station in as being part of downtown. Then again they have their own "downtown" office so maybe I shouldn't. I think those restaurants going out of business has more to do with their food types fitting in with the folks downtown. Although I hate admitting to I contribute to McD's corporate funds once in awhile, I never have contributed to the above mentioned restaurants though.

 Crap, y'know I just thought about another reason I go downtown....lemongrass...and the lil teriyaki place right next to it. The more I think about it the more I start to realize I'm downtown more than I think I am.
Thu, 09/28/2006 - 10:54pm — Crenshaw Sepulveda

how sneaky is that?

Downtown has a way of seducing you in a way no other neighborhood can.  Basically you are under a spell when you are downtown and powerless to its charms.  No question about it, you see downtown pretty much as the people that just come out and admit they love downtown just the way it is.  Sure we want it better than it is today, but we do not want the downtown envisioned by the business associations or, worse, the people that never go downtown at all.  Trust me on this, we have a great downtown.  Recognize that and it will only get better.  If you only see problems then downtown will never reach its potential. 

"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^
—
"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^
Thu, 09/28/2006 - 10:57pm — Robert Whitlock

Admitting it

If you hate admitting that you go to mickey D's, then why do you admit it? Maybe it's your pluck coming through, Norm. Do you hate contributing to mcd's, or do you just hate admitting it? If it's the former, that you "hate" going there, eating there, digesting the McD's fare, etc. - then I would like to make a suggestion. Try not eating there. It does a body (and a conscience) good.
—




Thu, 09/28/2006 - 11:02pm — Norm (not verified)

no no, giving them money. I

no no, giving them money. I allow myself to eat crap here and there, and sometimes I hanker for McD's special brand of crap. Mmmmmm, McDonalds crap *drool*
Fri, 09/29/2006 - 2:29pm — Meta Hogan

Norm, you and I are in

Norm, you and I are in perfect accord here. "Salty, salty meat" is one of the two food groups. Wait--three. I don't personally count McD's or City Hall as downtown, because there's a big ugly dead zone between the downtown core and them.
dead zones = not cool
Fri, 09/29/2006 - 3:59pm — Sarah

Dead zone

Same here, I don't count City Hall area as downtown. Because I know that if I have to walk say from the downtown transit station to City Hall, especially when it is raining, I feel as if I have walked through several different worlds. Dead zones = not cool indeed.

As for all this talk about particular type of meat, you all are better than a TV ad for making me crave.
Fri, 09/29/2006 - 4:18pm — Crenshaw Sepulveda

Venturing into the dead zone

I don't know what it is, but when I wander into the dead zone something changes for me.  Maybe it is the air, maybe it is the light.  I'm not quite certain what it is.  I know I'm compelled to get over to 4th Ave as quickly as possible and just get myself out of the area.  Seeing a Jack in the Box and McDonalds in the same picture, and near downtown is unsettling for me, but there is more at play, just can't put my finger on it.  Once I get above this area I'm fine.  Just this particular area, I guess it is the disjointed and inappropriate commercialism of the area.  I guess it can be rehabilitated.  Some housing replacing the commercial would be nice.  Some locally owned retail would be nice.  The neighborhood above this area could probably use it and maybe the downtown could thus be extended.  Satelite neighborhoods are nice, they are on the edge of well defined neighborhoods but do have their connections.  For sure the dead zones need dealing with. 

"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^
—
"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^
Fri, 09/29/2006 - 6:56pm — enpen

the Downtown zone

You can find the "official" zone here.  Beware, the link is directly to a .pdf file, and the map is on page 7 of 7.

"If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!"
—

"In principle, I am an anarchist. Kurt Vonnegut once said he was an agnostic who respects Jesus Christ. I am an anarchist who loves democracy." - Kenzaburo Oe

Fri, 09/29/2006 - 7:27pm — Crenshaw Sepulveda

thanks for the map

Interesting map.  Not certain if I'd call everything on the map as "downtown" but it gives me something to work with.  I'm thinking the map's idea of downtown is bigger than I expected, but it does include some interesting areas.  I guess the dead zones need to be filled in to unify it all. 

"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^
—
"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^
Fri, 09/29/2006 - 8:14pm — enpen

I was surprised

Until I saw that I didn't think I lived downtown; rather, I thought I lived on the cusp.  Dash my dreams they did.

"If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!"
—

"In principle, I am an anarchist. Kurt Vonnegut once said he was an agnostic who respects Jesus Christ. I am an anarchist who loves democracy." - Kenzaburo Oe

Fri, 09/29/2006 - 8:16pm — CIAGuy

Food Groups, American

Grease, sugar, salt & beer
Sat, 09/30/2006 - 9:27pm — Sarah

Yum

That actually sounds good at the moment.
Sun, 10/01/2006 - 3:42pm — Meta Hogan

My food pyramid:grease (oils

My food pyramid:
grease (oils and fats! can be added to any other group!)
strong foods (cayenne, garlic, whiskey and large vitamins)
treats (beer, cigarettes and candy)
healthy foods (kale, small vitamins, fruit and tea)