Clifton landmark Christy's / Lenhardt's closed, for sale (Cincinnati, Findlay: appointed, co-op)

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by t45209

Last I checked, Hofbrauhaus was doing ok, and Mecklenburg Gardens seems to be holding its own after about 155 years in business. Oh, and for those that say college kids don't eat this kind of food, tell that to the Miami grads who for nearly 20 years have been keeping the lights on at the Stein Keller in Oxford.

The problem is, there's nothing wrong with German cooking, it's just that no one does it well. The slop Lenhardt's was slinging gives German cuisine an undeserved bad name. I'm surprised that Lenhardt's lasted as long as it did. The last time I ate there was 5 years ago. The food was poorly prepared and presented, the atmosphere was dismal, the service less than attentive. Don't blame the cuisine for bad restaurant management.

Yes, it is not the German cuisine. It is the restauants making a mess out of it.

[Zen_master]

Originally Posted by CinciFan

There was speculation a couple days ago on Urban Ohio that Towne Properties will be demolishing both buildings and putting in a parking lot. Looks like it might be happening.

Do you happen to have a link? I wasn't able to find it under 'Cincinnati', 'Clifton Heights', or 'U-Square' threads.

Thanks in advance.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

How many restaurants last 50+ years and survive a change in generations? Few, if any. Given that nearly any German restaurant that was open when Lenhardt's opened is long since gone, they did pretty darned well.

There is just not that much demand for German cooking these days.

Explain that to Mecklenburg Gardens, who has been open since 1865 and is regularly packed. Also, The Hofbrauhaus is jammed with people who like to stand on the benches in the beer hall to do the chicken dance. So that covers surviving generations and demand for German food.

I know several people who have inside knowledge on how Christies was run, and it was run poorly. And the entire staff lost their jobs unexpectedly right before Christmas. Meanwhile, they were told that Christys would close for a short vacation and reopen. The owners knew they were closing all along. It was a raw deal and their staff were royally screwed over.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by goyguy

Given Cincinnati's long-standing and ongoing tradition of urban removal my money's on its being leveled. The demo contractors have already had a field day all through there. Most recently it was the Friars Club (replaced by a drab block of student-priced, that is to say overpriced, apartments) at the southeast corner of McMillan and Ohio Ave. Before then most of the entire strip between Calhoun and McMillan bit the dust and still sits incongruously vacant. And the north side of Calhoun St is now an ugly elongated brick box with chain stores at ground level and more student-priced apartments above.

That strip between Calhoun and McMillan is now Usquare at the Loop, as you should know. UC will continue to drive demand for student housing and amenities in the area and I think it's a good thing. That college brings an entire economy to uptown Cincinnati. And I fail to see how all the new development in the area was better than all the fast food restaurants that used to be there. I have heard it was rather unremarkable.

Originally Posted by goyguy

Lenhardt's had already seen its glory days go by.

I agree. Except, Christy's had a very faithful group of regulars who drank there. Then add in all the college kids who would go there and something is amiss with how it was closed and why. I never had their food because, frankly, the menu really did not seem that enticing with Mecklenburg Gardens just down the street. But there is still a demand for old world cuisine. Amber Rose in Dayton is a shining example. It's in Old North Dayton and was usually packed whenever I was there. Other restaurants have already been mentioned. I would agree that old world cuisine is not trendy at the moment. But there is demand.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by TomJones123

Explain that to Mecklenburg Gardens, who has been open since 1865 and is regularly packed. Also, The Hofbrauhaus is jammed with people who like to stand on the benches in the beer hall to do the chicken dance. So that covers surviving generations and demand for German food.

Actually, the original Mecklenburg Gardens closed on New Year's Eve of 1982 and at that time was a Mobil 4* fine dining restaurant. It remained closed for about fifteen years.

[t45209]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

Actually, the original Mecklenburg Gardens closed on New Year's Eve of 1982 and at that time was a Mobil 4* fine dining restaurant. It remained closed for about fifteen years.

Oh, sorry, then only 140 years in business...my bad.

[t45209]

Originally Posted by TomJones123

But there is still a demand for old world cuisine. Amber Rose in Dayton is a shining example. It's in Old North Dayton and was usually packed whenever I was there. Other restaurants have already been mentioned. I would agree that old world cuisine is not trendy at the moment. But there is demand.

Have you ever been to Schmidt's up in German Village in Columbus? The place is jammed every time I've been. It can be hard to get a seat in that place.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

Actually, the original Mecklenburg Gardens closed on New Year's Eve of 1982 and at that time was a Mobil 4* fine dining restaurant. It remained closed for about fifteen years.

They state as much on their website. And, so what? The place is packed several nights of the week and they have awesome food and do a great business in Corryville, where you wouldn't expect a restaurant to be standing.

Either way, there is a market for German food and we have a German restaurant in business for around 140 years. Of course there would be changes but that's not the point.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by t45209

Have you ever been to Schmidt's up in German Village in Columbus? The place is jammed every time I've been. It can be hard to get a seat in that place.

Yes I have! Love that place. I used to do day trips to Columbus and would usually goto German Village and mill around. Usually landing at The Book Loft. But Schmidt's is the bomb.

[Zen_master]

Originally Posted by t45209

Have you ever been to Schmidt's up in German Village in Columbus? The place is jammed every time I've been. It can be hard to get a seat in that place.

Yep. One of Columbus's gems. Better yet is getting a sack of their Bahama Mamas and sauerkraut to go and grilling them out for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day festivities. Much better than waiting in the crowded fourier for a table to open up. Word to the wise, get the buns elsewhere. Schmidt's uses Nickle's buns and they are way too small to handle the sausage and toppings.