Your Perspective on Baltimore's Power Plant Entertainment Venue?

[L in sobo]

I am not a concert goer.... so I cant comment on the music scene. But I remember when the Power Plant was built and it was really popular when it first opened. I also remember thinking it was pretty cool but then I went Norfolk and they had the same exact setup as the powerplant- it had the same bars/clubs. We also went to another city- Daytona maybe?- that had the same exact setup as the powerplant- same bars/restaurants- all packed together. It was all the rage in the 90s to build those entertainment complexes. Baltimore was just one city that got stuck with one.

I think one of the main draws for developers is that you only have to get one liquor license for the entire group. Each bar operates under one umbrella license which would make sense for developers to then charge high rent to the incoming restaurateurs.

In the 80's and early 90's Fells point was packed- and I mean packed! When I came home from college it was the place everyone went to- the line to get into the Green Turtles was down the street. Then the hot spot was powerplant, then Canton Square, now Federal Hill. I remember when Parrot Island and BoeHagers were the hot clubs (they were located in Harbor East before there was Harbor East). HammerJacks (the old spot) was before my time in Baltimore but I remember hearing about it.

[KLynch10]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

I mean, if you ate and loved the pizza only in Ames, Iowa City, and Dubuque, Iowa for 6 years, you'd have no idea what you were missing in NY.

Definitely check out the 9:30! It's great.

I don't know that much about Live Music, but speaking of Pizza, did you hear the original Zella's is coming back?

Also, Hammerjacks is building a music venue by the new casino.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by KLynch10

I don't know that much about Live Music, but speaking of Pizza, did you hear the original Zella's is coming back?

Also, Hammerjacks is building a music venue by the new casino.

Whoa, great news about Zella's. loved that place but it diminished in quality.

Also great news about hammerjacks. It doesn't have to be that good to take a good deal of business from RHL.

[ffknight918]

The one place I do still like at Power Plant is Leinenkugels Beer Garden. It's nice early in the afternoon for a few beers outside. Other than that, I agree with most of the others. It actually looks pretty nice but isn't my style. I'm glad it's different than the bars in Fells or Fed. It's just a different type of place that caters to a different crowd than what I like. That's one reason why I like Baltimore. The neighborhoods offer so many different styles of bars.

[ay jayy]

Originally Posted by L in sobo

I am not a concert goer.... so I cant comment on the music scene. But I remember when the Power Plant was built and it was really popular when it first opened. I also remember thinking it was pretty cool but then I went Norfolk and they had the same exact setup as the powerplant- it had the same bars/clubs. We also went to another city- Daytona maybe?- that had the same exact setup as the powerplant- same bars/restaurants- all packed together. It was all the rage in the 90s to build those entertainment complexes. Baltimore was just one city that got stuck with one.

I think one of the main draws for developers is that you only have to get one liquor license for the entire group. Each bar operates under one umbrella license which would make sense for developers to then charge high rent to the incoming restaurateurs.

This is correct, there are identical developments(with most of the same chains) in KC, Louisville, Jacksonville, and Norfolk to name a few.

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by ffknight918

The one place I do still like at Power Plant is Leinenkugels Beer Garden. It's nice early in the afternoon for a few beers outside. Other than that, I agree with most of the others. It actually looks pretty nice but isn't my style. I'm glad it's different than the bars in Fells or Fed. It's just a different type of place that caters to a different crowd than what I like. That's one reason why I like Baltimore. The neighborhoods offer so many different styles of bars.

Love the beer garden also. Not a big drinker but the Power Plant serves it's purpose.

[ltong1009]

Joe Squared in the Power Plant is local, and closer to me than North Ave.

[P47P47]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

Definitely check out the 9:30! It's great.

The current 9:30 Club is a good venue, but did you ever go to the original at 930 E St.? That place was a really great place to see a band.

My all-time favorite was The Marble Bar.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by P47P47

The current 9:30 Club is a good venue, but did you ever go to the original at 930 E St.? That place was a really great place to see a band.

I did not, but I've heard that! It was a little before my time.

[L in sobo]

Originally Posted by ay jayy

This is correct, there are identical developments(with most of the same chains) in KC, Louisville, Jacksonville, and Norfolk to name a few.

Okay, great. My memory is not failing me- it had been over a decade since I went to the those places and I couldnt remember for sure. Jacksonville is the city I am probably thinking of... not Daytona.

Anyways- that is how we end up with those corporate projects- it was the hip thing for cities to do at the time. Cities compete and they dont want to lose tourism to the surrounding areas. They are always fighting to stay relevant and when a developer approaches with the latest trend (everyone is doing it! Look at NorfolK! ) and they want to dump money into a vacant area that no one else wants- waalaah! You have a corporate development. I am sure that something we are doing now- like the non-defunct Westport development or the casino possibly- will be looked at in 10 years as a corny corporate venture. I mean at the time those bars in the Power Plant were shiny and new and the old standbys like The Horse you rode in On and Rodos looked dated.

All of the new housing development is shiny and new now- but in 15-20 years are we going to feel the same? Possibly. I love the homes built in the 50's and 60's. Cape Cods and Craftsmans. But does eveyone love the Al Bundy split level from the 80's?
I personally dont feel that alot of the finishings in the current new homes are timeless. (Actually they are pretty trendy- because when Modern is out which it will be in the future- it becomes trendy then a slippery slope into tacky. Ever watch Wall Street and they are putting up faux brick?? Yikes. ) How is Pulte Pointe going to be perceived? I like the homes at Pulte Pointe but will I like them in the future? Or is everyone going to want an 1890 rowhouse? (Because, there is only a limited amount of rowhouses built in 1890 and they are not building anymore).