The defunct Torches Restaurant from Bonura Hospitality Group has now been re-conceptualized in a new restaurant set to open this Spring, Blu Pointe. Their website doesn’t have the full menu up yet, but from what I gather it’ll be focused on seafood and their stock of 3,200 bottles of wine. For more information, go to their website.
A new 650,000 sq ft shopping center is coming to the Town of Newburgh at the corner of I-87 and I-84, just across the street from the foreclosed Newburgh Mall. It’s called The LOOP-Hudson Valley, and it is being developed by the Wilder Companies who have also done projects in the North East. According to their website, their major tenants are “Field & Stream, Dick’s Sporting Goods, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Michaels, ShopRite, a multi-screen theater, home goods, fitness, lifestyle retailers, and contemporary dining experiences.”
There are a few interesting aspects regarding this project. One of the most striking is the name. Nowhere on their website do they call this shopping center by the municipality it is located in, Newburgh. It’s almost as if they are hiding it. Even the official address of their webpage says, “I-84 & I-87, In the heart of the Hudson Valley, NY, 12550.” Why can’t they say Newburgh as they have done for The LOOP in Garden City Center, Milford, or Settlers Ridge? It is disappointing that they are not interested in uplifting the general image and perception of Newburgh to the international clientele they hope to attract according to a recent TWC article.
The article says they also want to give the mall a “Saratoga” feel, and to make it a place where you can bring your kids and walk down the “street”. It sounds like they are trying to recreate the downtown feel like the City of Newburgh, just no actual “street” to walk on. Looking at the map, these stores are vastly divided by large parking lots. The downtown model plans for foot traffic to attract consumers. The LOOP is counting on the 100,000 cars that will pass their site each day and the proposed casino. However, are drivers compelled to pull over and check out a new shopping complex as a pedestrian would be to window shop? With malls closing country-wide, you have to wonder, is this the right way to look for economic development, trying to recreate something that already exists? DeadMalls.com is a website dedicated to documenting this piece of retail history. Why will The LOOP fare much better than the Newburgh Mall? They are essentially the same thing, just that one is outdoors and one is indoors.
Although this project is located in the Town of Newburgh, there will surely be multiplier effects for the City of Newburgh and the rest of the region. What are your thoughts about the economic impact? Is this model sustainable to last another 20-30 years with the rise of online shopping?
-Photos via http://www.wilderco.com
2 Alices Coffee Lounge just announced on Facebook that they will be open tomorrow at 7am! They are located next to the Ritz Theater at 117 Broadway.
This Saturday is not only Newburgh Last Saturdays, it is also Small Business Saturday, an initiative to shop your local small shops to support your community. There couldn’t be a better time to boost efforts to bring shopping back to the City of Newburgh. Meters will also be suspended on Saturdays during the holiday season from November 29 to December 27. There will be art showings, demonstrations, and longer businesses hours across the city. For a full list of events go to the Newburgh Last Saturdays Fan Page.
Next Friday and Saturday, make your own candy at Commodore Chocolatier on Broadway! For more details see their Facebook page. Commodore’s is one of Newburgh’s oldest businesses dating back to 1935. It is a beautiful shop if you never have had the chance to visit.
A few tips:
– Plan on arriving early! Historically, this is a well attended event.
– Dress warmly! We grant admission on a first-come first-served basis. Waiting in line this time of year can be a chilly proposition
– Dress in layers! Our kitchen is warm. You may want to remove some extra clothing once you’re inside.We have had inquiries about the acceptable age range of attendees for this event. Naturally, this event is for KIDS OF ALL AGES!!! We hope to see you there, and please spread the word!!!
The local bar, Terrace Tavern, was closed last month. It has been a site of tension in recent years as the location of a hate crime, shootings, and loud patrons keeping neighbors up all hours of the night. Yet, at the recent city council meeting [2:42:00 and 2:56:22 and 2:59:00] many stood up for the tavern, even stating that the owner maintains his sidewalk and even sweeps the storefronts of his neighbors. It is unclear whether their will be hope for the tavern to open again. It was nice in the past when they opened up the Fair Weather Café during the summers.
Does anybody else know the fate of the bar or what immediate neighbors felt about it? Have you ever been there and do you want it to stay open? It is in a prime location, right across the street from Washington’s HQ and around the corner from the East Parmenter neighborhood.
