Damon's opens Downtown (places, market, people)

[xtant64]

Originally Posted by neurodistortion

It would've been better if they brought in a place like Dino's, which has locations in Greensburg and its hometown of Latrobe and is MUCH better than Damon's. Otherwise, I don't see what the big fuss is about.

Dino's. Good stuff. I love the Latrobe one, haven't been to the Greensburg location yet. That's what I miss most about that area. Well, I guess I miss Jioio's more, but that's a little different. My wife still drags me to Sharky's in Latrobe when we are down there. I would much rather go to Dino's though...

Never really cared for Damon's. Between them and BW3, they always seem to open up and be pretty decent, then go downhill after the first year or 2.

[BrianTH]

Is there a better national family restaurant/sports bar chain that could work Downtown? ESPNZone is pretty much dead, Dave & Busters needs arcade space . . . Fox Sports Grill, I guess, but are they really better?

[trotter_rej]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Is there a better national family restaurant/sports bar chain that could work Downtown? ESPNZone is pretty much dead, Dave & Busters needs arcade space . . . Fox Sports Grill, I guess, but are they really better?

Personally I would prefer a brew pub if it had to be a chain. Both BJ's and Rock Bottom are family and sports friendly. I like neurodistortion's idea of Dino's the best.

[neurodistortion]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Is there a better national family restaurant/sports bar chain that could work Downtown? ESPNZone is pretty much dead, Dave & Busters needs arcade space . . . Fox Sports Grill, I guess, but are they really better?

ESPN Zone and Fox Sports Grill are pretty much limited to a few locations now and might potentially close altogether in the forseeable future. Still, I think the downtown area needs some kind of an indoor entertainment facility like Dave and Busters but with a bigger emphasis on music and other forms of entertainment like bowling. Something like a Lucky Strike Lanes which had a location at Pittsburgh Mills but closed in recent years due to lack of traffic. I think that concept might work within the Arena District once the Civic Arena site is redeveloped. And speaking of other Greensburg-based restaurants, Vallozzi's is also opening a second location Downtown in one of the buildings owned by Millcraft. Another business that could do well Downtown would be Jeannette-based Delallo's, which I'd arguably choose over a place like Whole Foods or Trader Joes.

[BrianTH]

I guess I am totally indifferent between Rock Bottom and Damon's.

A local sports bar chain is unlikely to mean anything to most visitors (otherwise I would suggest Silky's).

Edit: A bowling alley Downtown would be cool.

[Copanut]

Silky's would be the type of bar I would like to see there, someone local. It's great that the space will be occupied and people will have jobs. But, when I travel the last place I want to eat at is a chain restaurant. Always want to get the local "feel".

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Copanut

But, when I travel the last place I want to eat at is a chain restaurant. Always want to get the local "feel".

Me too, but many people feel differently.

I once went on a long tour of China, mostly with older Americans. When we got to Hong Kong, a lot of them couldn't wait to go to McDonald's. I thought they were nuts, but the bottom line is that is why big chains are successful, and I do think Downtown should serve that market (among many others).

[pman]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Me too, but many people feel differently.

I once went on a long tour of China, mostly with older Americans. When we got to Hong Kong, a lot of them couldn't wait to go to McDonald's. I thought they were nuts, but the bottom line is that is why big chains are successful, and I do think Downtown should serve that market (among many others).

to be fair, pittsburgh fare is hardly as foreign as hong kong to most american's palate. some people want chains but it's far from the case for every visitor...and some may leave saying "all they had was some crappy chain called damon's"
some work, some don't. would a local sports bar chain "mean something?" I don't really think any of them mean something other than "sports bar." the impression you get is based on the quality of the establishment. "oh they had a cool sports bar called....the wings were awesome." or, like my time in charlotte, "we hung out in a sports bar there, some chain, sadly it was one of the better places downtown there."

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by neurodistortion

Another business that could do well Downtown would be Jeannette-based Delallo's, which I'd arguably choose over a place like Whole Foods or Trader Joes.

Wouldn't a DeLallo be wonderful. Authentic Italian Food > Italian Cooking, Recipes & More | DeLallo

[nuwaver88]

The thing is, I work in a major hotel Downtown very close to where Damon's is located. Guests with kids are always asking for a place to go for dinner that is not fast food, but not too expensive, and not take out but sit down. Where can I send such a family at 8pm on a Tuesday Night? People expect the same choices that are only a five to ten minute drive from their suburban home to be right Downtown and with the same hours. Downtown Pittsburgh does not function that way. Those who travel enough, namely business travelers, say Downtown Pittsburgh actually has more choices after 5pm than a lot of cities if one does not mind opening up their wallets. It is not so much the fact that is Damon's that I am happy about, but I am getting more options for families and sports fans and average joes, which Pittsburgh seems to be attracting more and more.