or so the legislators that crafted the new partial smoking ban apparently believe. The growing prevalence of smoking bans across the nation is detailed in this Wikipedia article here. The ban specific to Pennsylvania allows for exceptions in taverns and bars where food is less than 20% of their revenue. The General Assembly is apparently not only concerned with the health of patrons of bars and restaurants being that this is the case. An element of social engineering is involved in a situation where the amount of food sold dictates whether or not smoking is permitted, creating an uneven playing field which will add to the number of smokers in these types of establishments. Not to mention ignorance of the poor economic climate.
Think about it. Smokers, in making their decision on where to go out for the evening, will collectively be directed towards establishments where they will be allowed to continue smoking. Bars in the South Side, which by and large derive little income from food, will likely see more smokers. Non-smokers and smokers alike will have to be more dodgy in order to avoid getting burned too! But more to the point, restaurants in areas with large number of bars like Nakama in the South Side and Kaya and others in the Strip District stand to potentially lose some smokers as customers.
So unfortunately, the GA has created an incentive for some restaurants that are on the borderline to downplay their food items and increase bar revenue. It's a perverse incentive though because that bar revenue will be subject to the new Onorato tax on poured drinks.
The bottom line to this issue is that well-positioned bars are going to do well. Bars / restaurants that get less than 20% of their income from food near other bars that will be subject to the ban stand to make some gains. I wish I owned one because I think their value as businesses just went up. At least until their is a repeal of the ban or a fair, total smoking ban.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Pitt Has Something to Cheer About
Even though Pitt lost face in a game against Bowling Green last Saturday, a restaurant celebrating the career of Mike Ditka, a former Pitt Panther and player for the Chicago Bears in the 1960s, is opening in Robinson. Ditka's will open in One Robinson Plaza and will be operated by the same owner as Atria's Restaurant and Tavern. There are two other Ditka's restaurants in Chicago, and Restaurant Holdings, Inc. is looking to expand the franchise in this and other markets.
Pictured below is one of the Ditka's in Chicago:
Pictured below is one of the Ditka's in Chicago:
Sunday, August 31, 2008
A Moment of Zen
A new nightclub opened on Friday, August 22nd at Station Square called Zen. The entrance is on the side of the Freight House (125 W. Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh) where the short-lived Palm Bar was previously located. The red, velvet robes, narrow entrance and bouncers at the entrance make the atmosphere seem classy, if a little imposing as you enter the door.
The configuration of the front section is similar to that of Palm Bar before it. A circular bar with multiple levels of drink racks and black-clad bartenders occupy the section immediately past the entrance. A large, open room with ornate pan-Asian themed seating and wall-coverings allows for a large area to sit and socialize, with sections of seating reserved for bottle service. It was described as a prime-porno film set. A second mezzanine level with a small bar and additional seating provides an excellent view of the seating area, bar and a separate room with a dance floor.
The dance area is what really distinguishes Zen from its predecessor. Zen has expanded from Pal Bar's original area and includes a rectangular, lower level dance floor surrounded by a short wall with faux grass around it. The grass is actually a nice touch. The dance room also has a classy atmosphere with comfortable wall seating for wallflowers and a curtain wall with small stones embedded in it.
The main disadvantage to the club is the location, which is not very visible while driving past on Station Square Drive. In addition, the entrance to the club is not highly visible when walking by, because it is tucked into the corner of the Freight House. Overall, the redesign was worth it and the concept is a great one for Pittsburgh.
The configuration of the front section is similar to that of Palm Bar before it. A circular bar with multiple levels of drink racks and black-clad bartenders occupy the section immediately past the entrance. A large, open room with ornate pan-Asian themed seating and wall-coverings allows for a large area to sit and socialize, with sections of seating reserved for bottle service. It was described as a prime-porno film set. A second mezzanine level with a small bar and additional seating provides an excellent view of the seating area, bar and a separate room with a dance floor.
The dance area is what really distinguishes Zen from its predecessor. Zen has expanded from Pal Bar's original area and includes a rectangular, lower level dance floor surrounded by a short wall with faux grass around it. The grass is actually a nice touch. The dance room also has a classy atmosphere with comfortable wall seating for wallflowers and a curtain wall with small stones embedded in it.
The main disadvantage to the club is the location, which is not very visible while driving past on Station Square Drive. In addition, the entrance to the club is not highly visible when walking by, because it is tucked into the corner of the Freight House. Overall, the redesign was worth it and the concept is a great one for Pittsburgh.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
It Really Grinds My Gears When....
Newspapers will publish oh-woe-is-us statistics from governmental bodies, but refuse to include any context for what they mean. The PPG moaned today that Pittsburgh is the 5th poorest big city, with a measly median household income of $32,363. First, they don't stop to define what a big city is. If Pittsburgh is a "larger city", is Erie also considered big? Is Morgantown? Presumably Cleveland is a big city too, and we're wealthier than them, so at least we have that going for us.
Articles like this never provide any context for this number. For example, according to CNN.com, the top 5 most expensive American cities for renters and their average re
ntal rates were:
1.) New York - $2,553
2.) San Francisco - $1,685
3.) Boston - $1,632
4.) New Haven, CT - $1,485
5.) Orange County, CA - $1,458
According to apartments.com, Pittsburgh's average 2007 rent was $662. This is about 25% of what New York pays for example. New York City is not listed as one of the highest earning places by the study the Post-Gazette cites, however. In fact, the Census bureau indicates that New York's median household income in 2004 (the latest number I could find) was $45,343. This is only 40% higher. So while New Yorker's pay over three and half times more for rent, they only make about 40% more.
Framing the article around facts such as these might have made Pittsburgher's appreciate their relatively low cost of living. But instead the Post-Gazette took it as an opportunity to make us feel poor, and that's what really grinds my gears. Oh, and here's the study.
Articles like this never provide any context for this number. For example, according to CNN.com, the top 5 most expensive American cities for renters and their average re
ntal rates were:1.) New York - $2,553
2.) San Francisco - $1,685
3.) Boston - $1,632
4.) New Haven, CT - $1,485
5.) Orange County, CA - $1,458
According to apartments.com, Pittsburgh's average 2007 rent was $662. This is about 25% of what New York pays for example. New York City is not listed as one of the highest earning places by the study the Post-Gazette cites, however. In fact, the Census bureau indicates that New York's median household income in 2004 (the latest number I could find) was $45,343. This is only 40% higher. So while New Yorker's pay over three and half times more for rent, they only make about 40% more.
Framing the article around facts such as these might have made Pittsburgher's appreciate their relatively low cost of living. But instead the Post-Gazette took it as an opportunity to make us feel poor, and that's what really grinds my gears. Oh, and here's the study.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Northern Allegheny County on a Tear
Most of the growth in Allegheny County in recent years has happened near the northern border of the county. The area benefits from the overflowing economy and excellent infrastructure of the Cranberry Township / southern Butler County region. Of course, Perry Highway and I-79 are shared resources that do not belong to either Allegheny County or Butler County, but they do serve to boost investment in new businesses and development has concentrated along these roads for years.
The center of new development in this slice of Allegheny County is Pine Township. Development there ranges from smaller freestanding buildings like the Walnut Grove restaurant, to the Village at Pine, a multi-phase townhouse development with a major retail component. The development is influenced by new urbanism, which seeks to strategically places residential, retail and office components with the same location. With the first phase of 197 townhouses nearly complete, the number could grow to as many as 500. That's approximately the number the zoning office has approved for Gigliotti Holdings, the developer. In addition, there will be a Giant Eagle and additional inline retail stores. Even a casual observer of real estate will notice the success of the area, especially the Village. There are barely any town homes available to buy!
While some of this new development has brought some problems in tow, such as a year-long controversy over the Cabana Bar in the Oxford Athletic Club, Pine Township is a great example of success in terms of population growth and new development that has really made the area vibrant. It would be great if county and state officials began to understand the ingredients for success in Pine and began to apply them elsewhere.
The center of new development in this slice of Allegheny County is Pine Township. Development there ranges from smaller freestanding buildings like the Walnut Grove restaurant, to the Village at Pine, a multi-phase townhouse development with a major retail component. The development is influenced by new urbanism, which seeks to strategically places residential, retail and office components with the same location. With the first phase of 197 townhouses nearly complete, the number could grow to as many as 500. That's approximately the number the zoning office has approved for Gigliotti Holdings, the developer. In addition, there will be a Giant Eagle and additional inline retail stores. Even a casual observer of real estate will notice the success of the area, especially the Village. There are barely any town homes available to buy!
While some of this new development has brought some problems in tow, such as a year-long controversy over the Cabana Bar in the Oxford Athletic Club, Pine Township is a great example of success in terms of population growth and new development that has really made the area vibrant. It would be great if county and state officials began to understand the ingredients for success in Pine and began to apply them elsewhere.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Hill District Benefits Agreement Signed
Today the benefits deal is done and signed by the One Hill Neighborhood Coalition. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports some of the details of the plan, which includes money towards the development of the grocery store, creation of a "master plan" and the introduction of a resource center that will somehow connect residents of the Hill District with jobs. The details in this article are pretty skimpy. In a previous post I discussed that the grocery store, which will be located at Centre Avenue and Heldman Street was narrowed down to Save-A-Lot and Kuhn's. More importantly, the Post-Gazette article leaves out the critical difference between the two. The Save-A-Lot is intended as a freestanding grocery store and the Kuhn's proposal is part of a 100,000 square foot complex! I have noticed that in general, reporting on developments in Hill District tends to be given short shrift and isn't exactly late-breaking. This isn't limited to the Post-Gazette and that paper has given the area some good attention in recent weeks as this deal neared closure. Personally though, any neighborhood that is on the verge of being re-energized deserves attention.
In this case the ne'er do wells at the Tribune Review have far superior reporting in the article they published here. It basically explains that a deal has been agreed to, but a lot of the details have yet to be fleshed out. Some highlights of the detail include:
1.) Hill residents will get first crack at some job openings at the new arena.
2.) YMCA community center for the Hill
3.) $3 million over 5 years from new casino ownership for development projects
4.) Money for a grocery store, which is TBA.
In this case the ne'er do wells at the Tribune Review have far superior reporting in the article they published here. It basically explains that a deal has been agreed to, but a lot of the details have yet to be fleshed out. Some highlights of the detail include:
1.) Hill residents will get first crack at some job openings at the new arena.
2.) YMCA community center for the Hill
3.) $3 million over 5 years from new casino ownership for development projects
4.) Money for a grocery store, which is TBA.
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