Feb

19

Transitions on 39th

February 19, 2007 |

39th Street WestThe Restaurant Row on West 39th Street is undergoing a big transition period this year. Cafe Rumi, Macaluso’s, Qdoba, and Nichols Lunch have all closed recentlly, and there is talk that Addis Adaba and Circe aren’t far behind. Newer places like Thomas, Friends, Pangea, and Zaki’s seem to be thriving, and at least one new place called Miami Ice is under construction. Meanwhile, the new Community Improvement District now has a security service in place and is working on streetscape improvents and marketing.

There is much speculation about the fate of the building at Southwest Trafficway. After Nichol’s Lunch closed the landlord put the building up for sale, and there is much talk about possible redevelopment. The consequences for Missie B’s are not yet known. Hopefully whatever project comes about won’t repeat the mistakes of the terrible cinder block strip mall that went up across the street last year. The neighborhood also needs improved transit access, especially better east/west service to the MAX line.  Such improvement would help with the parking shortage that crushes the neighborhood during peak periods.

Restuarants come and go all the time, especially independents. So far it seems that the changes on 39th are part of this natural process, but vigilance is still necessary to ensure the health of the region’s top dining destination.


Comments

6 Comments so far

  1. heidi on February 19, 2007 10:56 pm

    Someone just told me that Addis Ababa closed on Valentine’s Day. Dammit. I loved that place.

  2. Screeching Monkey on February 20, 2007 10:52 am

    Too bad, I like Rumi and Addis Abba. It would help if KU Med would assist in making the are more friendly and pedestrian centered. Instead it stands as a foreboding monolith and once you cross State Line, you enter the sprawl of Kansas. I understand a hospital has to be somewhat auto-centric, but it doesn’t seem like they make much of an effort to facilitate pedestrian activity. For God’s sake, they have a shuttle that takes students from a parking lot at the bottom of the hill, to the med school at the top of the hill. Someone needs to teach them about public health!

  3. Chuck Munson on February 20, 2007 5:42 pm

    From what I’ve been told by another restaurant owner, Addis Ababa closed because the owner wanted to pursue different interests.

    Whenever I hear about new security services and “streetscape” improvements I get worried. This kind of thing is often the first step towards the Yuppiefication and crapification of a commercial area. I’ll have to challenge this development with some flyers and see if these changes herald the death of public space along the corridor.

  4. hank on February 22, 2007 1:42 pm

    I love Thomas. That place is great!

  5. Tim on February 24, 2007 9:32 am

    Thomas is okay, Rumi should have closed long ago; on two subsequent visits I get dirty silverware and there was lipstick on the rim of my water glass. I will miss Macaluso’s, but it was long overdue for remodeling. The food however was great.

  6. anne on February 26, 2007 5:46 pm

    Pangea is an awsome restaurant, if you can get passed the service style. The food is consistently tasty, & the variety is great too. It’s a little way off the main drag of 39th, but worth the drive, & they do have parking.& seriously the best desserts in town.
    They also have an impressive beer selection & crazy low happy hour prices.

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