So, Can Church Street be Revived?
Saturday February 23, 2008
Different venues have tried to revitalize the downtown Orlando area of Church Street, once home to the world-renowned Church Street Station. Recent memory includes all the fanfare associated with Club Paris, which in my opinion seemed doomed from the start – It became evident that they were on the way down when radio ads for the club offered 3 for 1 drink specials. Perhaps there was a hidden agenda there - to help the OPD meet their monthly DUI quota?
Well, now Church Street Station founder, Bob Snow is back! This time with property owner, Cameron Kuhn, Snow has re-opened Cheyenne Saloon & Opera House. Cheyenne joins the currently open Club Bliss in the Church Street area, west of the railroad tracks.
Will this newly renovated venue bring back the traffic that once made Downtown Orlando thrive? Or, are there still too many obstacles in the area to bring locals there for the evening, including lack of parking and continuing construction?
What are your thoughts? Do you plan on visiting the new clubs that are downtown? Post your comments below.
Comments
Cameron Kuhn is like a plague and he is bankrupting downtown Orlando and Jacksonville for that matter.
I will return to Church Street if Bob Snow is back in business. He is an amazing business owner.
We need our city back!!
Theresa Johnston,
I find your lack of insight on the Church Street Station position a little innerving. Aside from Club Paris, which did tremendous business, being what it was, there were so many other business affected by what happened to Lou Pearlman. The Improv, the Pearl Steakhouse, Too Jays Deli, Absinthe Bistro and Bar, and the Global Grape all perished at the hands of Cameron Kuhn. Bob Snow is an old fashioned man with old fashioned ideas. The Cheyenne saloon is being boasted as the “anchor” for Church Street. Well, club Bliss draws more people on a Monday that they had for their entire “grand opening.” The other restaurants there – Brick and Fire Pizza and Wine Company, The Dessert Lady, Ceviche Tapas Restaurant are more of a draw than the Cheyenne. And FYI, Club Paris – Club Dolce were the same thing owned by the same guy, opened in August and closed six weeks later. If the business there are to make it, it will be up to the city to get their collective butts off the city desk and get construction, which has been ongoing for nearly four years, finished! Additionally Cameron Kuhn will most likely face foreclosure on Church Street Station as well. So, things may have been better under Lou Pearlman for the new tenants at Church Street. At least they were not burdened by huge rent and a landlord that could care less about who rents from him as long as he can turn the buildings over for a profit…
Downtown Biz Owner
Thanks for the feedback and especially the info on Club Dolce – wow closed after only six weeks! Loved your comments regarding the prior owners & landlords of the Church Street Complex. It would be great to once again have a downtown that would draw people there in the evenings for the bars and restaurants – and I agree with you, construction needs to end before that will happen.
I’m no apologist for Cameron Kuhn, but at least he’s putting some money and effort into reviving the former glory of Church Street. If someone else (that includes you, Downtown Biz Owner!)had a better plan (or more money!) they could have out-bid Kuhn in the Pearlman Bankruptcy and implemented their own vision for revitalizing Church Street. To paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt, the credit goes to those who struggle in the arena, not those who sit on the sidelines and complain!!!!
Churchstreet cannot survive because the RIO on entertainment vs. gas cost is not there. That is why we are seeing so many businesses fail, viz. restaurants, and it’s only the beginning. This is not a criticism, only reality
I spent about a year in Orlando as a sailor in 1986 and had fond memories of Church Street Station. So my wife and I decided to stay at the Grand Bohemian there for vacation in June 2007. A quick walk around, and I realized this wasn’t the place it once was. I saw all the construction, hoochies hanging outside the night clubs. I was very disappointed. Thanks to Universal studios, the trip wasn’t a total loss. Oh yeah, the hotel was pretty nice.
You are so right – downtown Orlando is not what it used to be! At least you had a nice stay at the Grand Bohemian – It is one of the nicest hotels downtown. Hopefully you were there on a night when they had some nice entertainment in the Bösendorfer Lounge.
we are going to orlando next month and i am wondering if there is anything left to see at church street…