Renaissance on Commodore Plaza?
While I feel The Bookstore is the center of town, I see a shift back to Commodore Plaza as the center of activity. With new restaurants opening on Commodore Plaza and the uniqueness of businesses, I see more people gravitating there.Greenstreet is crowded any time of day and night. Mr. Moe's always has a crowd and Christabelle's Quarter has its following. Somoto and Al Fresco are popular and Cita's and George's in the Grove are both opening this month, more and more people are going to Commodore Plaza to eat and shop.
I'm not sure, but I think Commodore Plaza has more restaurants than any area of the Grove now and they are all local restaurants -- not chains.
All the businesses on Commodore Plaza are unique, in fact. There are art galleries, a flower shop, jewelry stores, ice cream shops and many one-of-a-kind stores and shops, even the second hand store (This 'n That) fits right into the funky mix. The tree canopy and brick-lined streets, valet parking on weekends and quaintness are bringing people back.
The plantings from last summer are adding a lot of greenery to the area, too. The only two problems are the old empty Firkin and Friar place, which needs to be rented out and the post office at the end of the street, which needs a lot of attention.
posted by Tom Falco at 7:46 AM
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18 Comments:
You nailed it. Commodore is the pulse of the Grove... but there's still a lot of room for improvement.
Again I call for a Chinese restaurant, Topical Chinese Restaurant could open up in the old Freakin Friar's on Commodore Plaza, the coolest street in downtown Grove.
The post office needs to get its act together, no stamp machine anymore, no sign of the new Automated Postal Center machine and an ugly volcanic mountain rising in the old parking lot, what a disaster.
That State Farm office needs some work also - it always looks messy.
And the flower shop has moved....
that is a shame - that was one of the Groviest storefronts.
Bookstore is the center of town? Come on, your love affair with that place is a bit much...
The bookstore actually can be considered as the center of town since so many people meet there randomly or planned.
It's a great place for meetings and just a quick cup of coffee and catching up with friends.
The location may not be the exact center of town, but it does seem to draw everyone more than any other business.
And I don't have a love affair with the place. I just love the concept. If I could, I would open a bookstore/coffee shop, I think a lot of people feel the same.
if the bookstore is the center of town, it's the only one like so in s florida, a wasteland if ever there was one.
i can recall when the commodore plaza area actually did have a pulse back in the 80s, not like today when it still seems a bit hollow. really, all people are doing there is drinking.
anon 9:03----the flower shop just moved directly across the street. 3137 Commodore-I think next to Moe's on the left side.
It turns out that the flower shop's "new" location at 3137 Commodore Plaza was actually its original location when it first opened in 1944. Talk about long-term faith in the street.
While I am glad that the Bookstore has an enormous fan in you Grape, I certainly don't consider it the center of town...and if your wish comes true and you open up a bookstore coffee shop of your own, please make sure that you have a better selection of books. Personally, I wouldn't dare compete with Books & Books not only because of their selection, knowhow, events and restaurant/coffee shop on the premises but because its too close for comfort if you know what I mean.
I also feel that you plug the bookstore every chance you get so if its not a love affair, I hope you're getting free coffees and donuts!
Tropical Chinese is not a chain. It is a family run Hong Kong Chinese restaurant.
The real deal. Chances they would open a sister restaurant is slim to non - however wishful we could be. It is a great restaurant, and perhaps another authentic family run place can open in the Frick-n-Friar space whose foundation lies on an ancient sacred Calusa Indian burial ground.
Another place of interest in Commodore-- Steven Anton Rehage's eponymous (ok, I hate using that word, especially now that I have been branded an elitist snob by a blog reade-- surely I risk being oh so Vanity Fair-- but what other word is there for "store with the same name as the owner?") jewelry store across from Christabelle's. It has really fantastic jewelry, all designed by Rage, and the Peace sign jewelry is way cool. --Lili
The Bookstore is a great concept that came together by two Grove residents. Wny would you diss it? Ask them for what you are looking for, they will order it for you. Ask for anything else you think they are lacking and they will do their best to accommodate. The cafe is neat, the WiFi is neat, the computer repair is original, it is a warm and friendly place to meet your friends and hang out. When you have people willing to put their money and heart in the Grove, why would you put it down? We should be supporting it to the fullest. We complained when we lost Borders - let's not lose this bookstore.
I dont think anyone was "dissing" the Bookstore. One person said Grape had a love affair, another agreed later on in the comments and said that they didnt care for the book selection. I think a simple response of, "The people at the Bookstore are really great and they will order you any book that you would like if they do not have it in stock.", wouldve done the trick.
When I visited the Bookstore, they didnt have the book I wanted so they ordered it for me and I picked it up later. Worked for me... The place is a nice addition to the neighborhood. I would agree that its not the center of the Grove though.
Like Blind Mind says, nobody is dissing anything here. At the same time, here's three people who didn't find a book they wanted and while yes, they (just like every other bookstore in town) will get it for you, you can also get it yourself online and it will be delivered to your mailbox...cheaper to boot. So, my personal answer was to Grape who seems to believe that its the "center of town" and it is a loverly store of course and plugs it every chance he gets. These are businesses we are talking about here. We all have different experiences with them and they are all valid.
I'll make my plug now. I like Maya Hacha on Grand across from Jaguar (I hope I spelled it right)a clothing store that has been in the Grove forever and nobody seems to mention. Let's support the ones who have been here throughout all the madness. They also give the Grove discounts.
I totally agree with Elena!!!!
I think Blind Mind has a not so secret crush on Grape. It's cute!
I have to say that my 2 little girls and myself love the Bookstore...and everyone that works there is very nice. I am glad that the Grove has the Bookstore, we need it!!!
NIce stuff, good and interesting post.
Thanks
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