[Barnaby]

I spoke with someone who works (part time) at the Icehouse... she said it's basically packed to the gills on any game/event day but a total ghost town on any other day, which doesn't surprise me in the least for a variety of reasons.

The Canadian Icehouse suffers because it isn't upscale. It's a sports bar that's on the level of Boston Pizza. Joey Bell Tower, Lobby bar in Marriot, Bar Henry, Sabor, MSSM, and even The Old Spaghetti Factory, all do just fine. People are definitely going for nights out at the nicer places throughout the week.

Fast food and premium casual are the only two restaurant types which Ice District and DT can support more of imo. A McDonald's walk up window would do numbers year round as DT is turning into somewhat of a bar destination. During the playoffs they'd print money.

 

[David A]

A fast food place might do well here especially when busier, but I have really become quite negative particularly on McDonalds.

They are no longer good, fast or cheap and I would rather have a decent sit down experience than stand at by a window while the dust blows around me.

 

[buildings]

walked into the Icehouse a couple of weeks ago for a bite and a sip (first time).. this was mid-day and the place was mostly empty... read the menu and walked out. agree with Barnaby on this one. high school cafeteria level offerings.

 

[Gronk!]

We need more events at Rogers Place and Fan Park, especially during the NHL off-season. We need the NHL Draft. We need more large-scale award shows such as the Junos. More speaking tours. How about convention events - I could see the Edmonton Expo outgrowing the Expo Centre at Northlands, or Animethon outgrowing the downtown Convention Centre.

 

[MacLac]

walked into the Icehouse a couple of weeks ago for a bite and a sip (first time).. this was mid-day and the place was mostly empty... read the menu and walked out. agree with Barnaby on this one. high school cafeteria level offerings.

Everything they serve screams low-brow - paper baskets, paper plates, paper cups, paper ramekins - entirely all throw away mentality - shows you what they think of their own food to NOT serve on some sort of ceramic.

Ever since 8 years ago, they conned me into buying "Chicken Legs" rather than "Chicken Drumettes" , ie - chicken wings - I thought it had to be a typo - no restaurant would ever serve chicken legs in a paper basket....low and behold.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

A couple major fast-food chains in or near ice district and MacEwan/Norquest will help more foot traffic.

 

[Offworld]

Everything they serve screams low-brow - paper baskets, paper plates, paper cups, paper ramekins - entirely all throw away mentality - shows you what they think of their own food to NOT serve on some sort of ceramic.

Is that for real?

 

[Kosy123]

Drove by but it looks like Julia’s Cafe by 105 St seems like it’s being replaced by Donya Ukrainian Kitchen which is actually such a big W for the area.

 

[Greenspace]

Yes, saw that as well. Excited to try.

 

[Kosy123]

More variety of places downtown = more foot traffic! Let’s keep er going

 

[Barnaby]

These ladies look like they make mean Ukrainian food. This is gonna be a problem for me. I'm happy!

 

[Gronk!]

Downtown Spark festival fizzles out due to lack of funding

Edmonton Downtown Spark public arts festival will not be lighting up this year.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[IanO]

Drove by but it looks like Julia’s Cafe by 105 St seems like it’s being replaced by Donya Ukrainian Kitchen which is actually such a big W for the area.

 

[Kosy123]

Really wish we had journalistic pieces like this focused on our downtown too, especially when it comes to downtown design and what's being done to kickstart activity.

 

[TAS]

Did my first bit of garbage picking this year - did the planters along Jasper ave between 113-114st. But I didnt do planter in front of Teddy's - I decided to report that one instead because of the hundreds of cigarette butts in there from Teddy's patrons all winter long. There's not even a garbage can there.

So disappointing. So much garbage in those city planters just in one block.

Also reported Regency across the street for garbage inside of fence. There was a lot outside too where the liquor store and convenience store is, too.