Looking to get into a different line of work? Seems not one, but (yes) two DTL eating establishments are on the block. Longtime lunch couter Quick Pickin's and sports salon Hookslide Kelly's on opposite sides of Merrimack are up for sale. As things move in, things move out. A balanced and fair equation. Just look at NYC. Everytime I go back and visit whole blocks, hell neighborhoods, are totally different. Where's that favorite funky cafe? Gone. Now it's a Chinese massage parlor. What does this mean for you and me, the urchins of the street? Perhap nothing. We hear the owner of QP have been wanting out of the downtown lunch trade ever since the Sun moved from its Kearney Sq. digs and yours truly ceased her garden salad w/ chix chunks (loved those chunks, fake as they were) I consumed religioulsy for five years. I will miss that salad, which I haven't had in a year plus. But Hookslides? Never much cared for the ho-hum food and no-thrills atmosphere. Like the free popcorn tho. Can't wait for Beer Works, which looks like it's on sched.. Any Hookslides/Quick Pickins lovers/haters out there care to weigh in? It's been a while, Im ready to dish!
Merrimack St. Meltdown
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Only went to Hookslides once and was not impressed. Took 20 minutes just to get our drink. Didn't think the food was good either.
I will miss the chicken salad and the corn chowder from Quick Pickens.
That's too bad about Hookslides. Not my favorite place in the city but definately an asset to the downtown. They seem to get involved with different events and causes. The pizza and calzones are good. You shouldn't expect gourmet greatness from a sports bar. Is the beer cold, is the game on?-check, check However, I agree that the waitress service is spotty. Never had a problem at the bar. I prefer the back bar and was looking forward to the outside seating this summer. Maybe they'll get no bites and use this as a wake-up call.
Dig a little deeper. You'll find a lot of places for sale in the downtown. Some that might downright shock you GG, including another highly acclaimed deli.
I will miss the homemade soups at Quick Pickin's. Nobody else does them better.
JJF!
How's it going? I would love to hear your opinion as to why so many places are for sale? Is there a common reason in your opinion? Because Beer sells in DTL, if Olives don't? Curious. -SPlath
Follow the money Scott.
Take people with no business experience at all. Entice them to come open a shop to fill the store fronts. No long-term survival plan necessary. Give them grants, low interest loans that they don't have to begin paying on for five years. Guess what happens before the five years are up? Hocus Pocus. They disappear. Sometimes in the middle of the night, a la Pizzi's Market.
How much of that seed money gets paid back?
Hookslides has the look of a great sports bar with the service of a dive bar - you get better service at the Worthen!
Agree with you Schmookie. SkyBox in Tewksbury is the best sports bar around.
I've never been to the Skybox, but will check it out JJF - thanks for the tip!
I hope that someone who knows how to really run a sports bar picks up Hookslides - that space has so much potential. I met my husband there when it was The Usual - granted, that was also a dive bar, but they had live music there a few nights a week.
LIVE ORIGINAL MUSIC - now THAT'S something that needs to come back with a vengeance to Lowell. Sangria's has an "Original Songwriter" night Tuesdays hosted by local singer/songwriter/awesome gal Jen Kearney. It starts around 9pm, and it's great!
My husband and I check it out whenever we get the chance, and to also order Sangria's FANTASTIC Chicken Caesar Salad - it makes for a nice (but not too late) Tuesday night!
It would be nice if a few more restaurant/bars in the area followed suit. ART IS THE HANDMADE OF HUMAN GOOD!!!
-Schmookie :-)