From the Globe

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

The Nightmare on Elm Street!

Comments

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Sounds like he is going to be competing with the other high end pizza place coming to Saccos. THE CURSE MIGHT LIVE.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I know I'd rather bowl while eating pizza, anyway :).

Can Sacco's serve beer and wine?

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

They can't right now, but I think the new place will have a liquor license. Ron will know off hand without looking it up. Ron? Where are you??

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I think they're trying to secure a liquor license, but I think there's room for both. There aren't a lot of "upscale" restaurants in Davis, it's most casual dining.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I think the Nightmare Place is meant to be upscale and not casual, yes? That's what I gathered from the wine bar and fancy cocktails. And Sacco's more casual?

I would call Gargoyle's a little more upscale. I really like that place.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Gargoyle's, definitely. I think the only places in the Square really gunning for "upscale" are Diva and arguably Sabur. This new restaurant is definitely going higher than, say, Mike's.

If he emphasizes the parking, that'll help.

[ron_newman]

Sagra too, perhaps?

[ron_newman]

Yes, I believe that Flatbread/Sacco's has received a liquor license. The bowling alley is supposed to reopen this Saturday, but I don't know if the restaurant part will be ready yet.

Edit 2/7/10: The bowling alley did indeed reopen yesterday, but the restaurant won't open until May, according to someone I talked to inside. Even though it's open, it feels like a construction site right now, with temporary walls dividing the 10 open lanes from the 5 now-closed lanes and the also-now-closed billiards hall.

[incandes-flower.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't call flat bread high end. I've been to the one in Portland, ME many times. It is very casual.

[arrowintwolakes.livejournal.com]

I've been to the Portland one too. I'd describe as Cosi without the fast food vibe.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

That's such an awful location for fast/convenience foods--it really doesn't get enough foot traffic. I imagine most people who live between it and porter walk to porter to commute, and the reverse when they live toward davis.

This probably stands a better chance, especially if it has a bar area :)

[ocschwar.livejournal.com]

No foot traffic to draw you in, no foot traffic to gaze at once you are in, just car traffic that mostly draws you away, and the sun beating down on you. So many decent people going there, serving good food and going belly up. Really the space should just go for offices. But, best of luck to the new people..

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I very much hope they put in a drop ceiling. The acoustics in there are what drove me out.

[ron_newman]

Back when it was Carberry's and had outdoor tables, I found it quite a pleasant place to watch folks go by in the summertime.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

This probably stands a better chance, especially if it has a bar area :)

Agreed, I'm always about another bar. Which is funny, since I always end up going to the same one.

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

From the Globe photo it looks like they are laying down carpet. Good move to help with the horrid acoustics.

That end of the Square will change a lot in the next few years as/if the various dev projects get under way. The Domino's/Wings site is another area ripe for dev. I wonder if anyone has their eye on it.

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

I was really hoping another coffee shop with free wireless would open. Not a big money-maker, but I'd probably live there.

who still has free wireless?

[cthulhia]

just curious, since true grounds recently kiboshed their free wireless, so I now need leads for such things...

Re: who still has free wireless?

[unferth.livejournal.com]

I believe they're doing a free hour, pay after that. Which seems reasonable to me, especially for a place with as little seating as True Grounds.

Re: who still has free wireless?

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

thank goodness. I can understand the appeal of free wireless for those freelancing or students... but it turns coffeehouses into offices that happen to sell coffee, and makes it almost impossible to find a seat, particularly on weekends.

Re: who still has free wireless?

[djdreilinger.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it be great if someone opened a community center/shared workspace that would offer the friendly vibe of a coffee shop with free wireless.... (http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1149346.html)

;)

Re: who still has free wireless?

[ron_newman]

Blue Shirt?

[ron_newman]

Lots and lots of comments on the Globe story -- be sure to check them out.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Interesting comments. The biggest complaint about that area seems to be about parking. Are there metered spots over there? I think so, right?

[ron_newman]

There are meters nearby in Davis, but I think Elm Street is a free 2-hour parking street.

[jennyelfenmass.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't have the recent parking changes killed this on the Somerville side of Elm?
ETA: Never mind thought they had put meters there, but it's just 2 hour parking until 2:30 am.

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

The article states that the location has it's very own parking lot. A small fact that most of the commenters have overlooked...

[ron_newman]

It's a tiny parking lot, which I didn't even know existed until somoene mentioned it at a Davis Square Task Force meeting. The entrance is nearly invisible and needs a small sign.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

There are some very effective free parking tricks on/near elm street, but I don't want to give them away lest The Man finds out.

[svilletheatre.livejournal.com]

Why are you guys bullying 187 Elm Street for? ;)

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

You win the internet, Ian!

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

i was so going to say that. :)

[micbain07.livejournal.com]

When Davis Square was a virtual ghost town in the mid-seventies Steve's Ice Cream occupied that exact location, There were long lines out the door and around the corner constantly. There was no redline,no parking and not much foot traffic. If you have a smart business owner and a product that the people like it will succeed.

[fefie.livejournal.com]

More recently, Carberry's did great business in that location for several years. (My memory might be fuzzy now but they continued to do well even when Diesel and then Starbucks moved into Davis and Someday Cafe was still around.)

[alpinepie.livejournal.com]

yes...

[feylike.livejournal.com]

before i read the article, i thought it was yet more stuff about jonmon...