I took these photos in the daytime because at night both corners are pitch black at our main intersection in Coconut Grove. The former Johnny Rockets site is just rotting there in the dark and now the corner of the Engle Building is dark at night. Across from the Engle building, Coldwell Banker closes after hours and that one center triangle is totally black. The only light coming onto the area at night is from car headlights. CocoWalk sheds some light but not a lot. We need activity on these corners.
How about a Real story about Johnny Rockets? What happened to that? How come it's "better business" to keep many places like this, shut down, zero rent income, for years?
ReplyDeleteThey either have too many properties and money, or they don't know what they're doing. Last I checked, 10 dollars per month is worse than 100 but better than nothing for years.
Really? This is what passes for journalism these days? Nothing is being reported here! Tell the story about why these buildings are empty. It's because the owners are in collusion with the City of Miami to change the character of Coconut Grove and build taller buildings in these locations. It's so obvious, but everyone is afraid to talk about it. Buh-bye groovy Grove.
ReplyDeleteNo, these building are empty because the city doesn't have enough staff to issue permits. It takes 4 months and tons of red tape to do anything. Instead of blindly blaming building owners, reach out to your commissioner and ask why isn't this permitting process made easier so that business can open.
DeleteIs their a salon there? How much is the rent?
DeleteHow do human brains come to these types of conclusions? 1st there's the old Grove. 2'd, there's the now Grove. Then something about Mark Sarnoff, big money, lackeys, them vs. us, buildings are empty, property owners are stupid, greedy, etc., etc., etc. Couldn't it be the we're in transition, and maybe some of the building's will be replaced by taller ones, this and that will change, the marina has been improved and made deeper for larger vessels, the convention center is gone, new high rises are being built, roadways are improving, Metro-rail stops 4 times about the Grove and new money is coming to our community. Old Grove, new Grove, it's still our Grove and from what I see I'm looking forward to see this new Grove rise into the sky as I return to Seminole boat ramp after a pleasant peaceful day on our Bay. Jobie Steppe
ReplyDeleteOh there's that bay! Almost 20 feet of it to be seen on that ramp, take your pictures as you slowly drive by!
ReplyDelete"Oh there's that bay! Almost 20 feet of it to be seen on that ramp, take your pictures as you slowly drive by!
ReplyDelete"20 feet of it". Our Bay spans Key Biscayne, parts of S. Miami Beach, the mainland Florida down past Card Sound Road and East to Elliot Key, Sands Cut, the feather-beds and is full of lobster, stone crabs, snapper, grouper, crystal clear water to the Southeast and so much, more, more and more. And all your mind can encompass is "20 feet of it"? You poor, poor soul!
I think that one flew right over their head. Our bay is obviously big, what the commenter meant was that the views to the bay are obstructed. I don't even live in the grove and I know that
ReplyDelete@10pm... Glad you have a helicopter or a boat to see it, and a cheap map, dumbo.
ReplyDeleteguess what, Grapevine? Panther Coffee is opening next week. Shift your complaints elsewhere...
ReplyDeleteHere's an invite for ya:
https://www.facebook.com/events/561994717276202/
I would love to start seeing rational analysis of the situation. Johnny Rockets probably couldn't compete, their business all over the country isn't doing great (they were on undercover boss a year ago), that location was too small too acommodate a profitable business (though it would make a great coffee shop location if it expanded to absorb smoothie king).
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day it comes down to the following issues: some of these locations/properties made sense in the 1980s or 70s when they were built, but don't work in today's business environment. How can we expect to work a modern business with yesterday's economic structure. That corner of the engle building is going to be lit back up very soon when panther opens and harry's opens, and I'm sure they will find a better tenant than the coming/going of the bikini shop and art gallery that was in the corner location.
I just wish we had more transparency in this community. Also if everyone is so up in arms, why don't they suggest things that might work?
Johnny Rockets was rumored to have their rent jacked to an absurd amount that a place that sells cheap burgers could never meet. The other corner featured a store that sold "boutique" clothes...after taking over from a company that failed doing the same thing.
ReplyDeleteIt is no secret they want to tear down the Johnny Rockets block and build it up. Would be horrible. No secret this is a plan for a lot of the Grove. Brickell South is underway, it is why they are doing the road construction, so they can put in the proper pipes to handle these large buildings.
That is not true anonymous, I just came from lunch with someone who works at the PointeGroup. Those storefronts are empty because the businesses that were there refused to pay the new inflated rents. Period.
ReplyDeleteHow much is it the rent?
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