Post Covid Boston - Restaurant and Entertainment closures (theatre, schools)

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by porterhouse

It’s like going to an expensive club in Vegas with bottle service.

Ugh hard pass

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Ugh hard pass

Yeah. They work both "Premium" and "VIP" into the first sentence describing the place. It's pretty generic, and clearly caters to that crowd. I'm happy the city's had some new venues open over the past few years and a few more are in the pipeline, but I'm worried they're all going to follow this model.

Originally Posted by MrDee12345

I'm just happy the fake Cheers is gone. To me, it was soul crushing to see how they've milked every penny out of that amazing show that went off the air 30 years ago. I hope something better is there now.

I never saw the show, but I'm not upset to see it go. I always harbored a mild case of embarrassment that this city, with so much else to offer and highlight, had a theme restaurant based on a TV show that ended nearly 30 years ago as one of the top tourist attractions. I don't mind the Beacon Hill location - it's a bit more subtle. It's basically the Boston version of Tom's on Manhattan's Upper West Side. It could just be another neighborhood restaurant. But the Faneuil Hall location was shameless.

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by MrDee12345

I'm just happy the fake Cheers is gone. To me, it was soul crushing to see how they've milked every penny out of that amazing show that went off the air 30 years ago. I hope something better is there now.

It will be hard for someone wanting to open a restaurant in this environment in Boston, (Still weakened demand, 604,500 liquor licenses, sky high rents, etc) of that size/nature/equivalent. It might sit vacant for quite some time or transition to a bank/CVS/etc... Maybe next year.

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

It will be hard for someone wanting to open a restaurant in this environment in Boston, (Still weakened demand, 604,500 liquor licenses, sky high rents, etc) of that size/nature/equivalent. It might sit vacant for quite some time or transition to a bank/CVS/etc... Maybe next year.

My hope is that through all of this maybe we can come to our senses about the ridiculous liquor licensing and give more people a chance to put their hats in the ring. but...not holding my breath.

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by GeePee

My hope is that through all of this maybe we can come to our senses about the ridiculous liquor licensing and give more people a chance to put their hats in the ring. but...not holding my breath.

im half hopeful. It can be done with a better administration and a new wave of city reps who are more competent in modern city dynamics, rather obsessed with what happened back in 1984.

[GeePee]

https://boston.eater.com/2021/6/15/2...uare-cambridge
The Cantab will be back!

[porterhouse]

Originally Posted by GeePee

https://boston.eater.com/2021/6/15/2...uare-cambridge
The Cantab will be back!

Likely with $10 Budweisers

[MrDee12345]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I never saw the show, but I'm not upset to see it go. I always harbored a mild case of embarrassment that this city, with so much else to offer and highlight, had a theme restaurant based on a TV show that ended nearly 30 years ago as one of the top tourist attractions. I don't mind the Beacon Hill location - it's a bit more subtle. It's basically the Boston version of Tom's on Manhattan's Upper West Side. It could just be another neighborhood restaurant. But the Faneuil Hall location was shameless.

I did watch the show when I could, and I felt the same embarrassment you did whenever I'd walk past the fake Cheers. I liked the original Cheers (on Beacon Hill) because it was the actual exterior they used for the show, but once you're inside it was completely different. They did build a Cheers TV show replica upstairs (is it still there) and I thought that was kind of fun, too. But Quincy Market Cheers? Nah, that's too much.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

im half hopeful. It can be done with a better administration and a new wave of city reps who are more competent in modern city dynamics, rather obsessed with what happened back in 1984.

I had to think about that for a moment..happy hour.

It was a foreign word to me until I took a trip to DC about ten years ago. Now I live in CT and right down the road they have it.

Now that we have on demand ride services and outreach to people that will actively give people rides and it adds up.

Years ago my father went out and was astonished as to how he could go out for lunch with a friend. Lunch mind you and a burger and fries and one drink for both turned into $50.

I don't think a $2 special on miller light is going to get people crazy. If 42 states still allow this I don't think the world is going to end.

Springfield has MGM springfield which technically can serve drinks until the early morning (4am). Further south in CT they still have happy hour. Bars and restaurants between the two have it hard in selling drinks. Late nights in MGM and cheap drinks in CT. NH has happy hour so it makes it harder to compete in say Lawrence and Lowell, fitchburg and haverhill.

Now I'm fully aware of what alcohol can bring but I also know what prohibition can bring. Where I went for my undergrad had a DUI fatality in '85 that led to the banishment of frat houses...but they literally moved to basements in streets downtown. They run a bus system that drastically prevents students from having to drive let alone walk back to dorms

[GeePee]

The good alternative to discounted booze was what McCormack and Schmicks did for happy hour. They had a great happy hour menu averaging $5 plates. I loved that idea. I know other places have it, but I'm surprised its not that common.