Aiello redux

A clothing store. There's no way a coffee shop is going to work around the block from a Dunkin Donuts. Not in that part of town where there's nowhere near enough foot traffic and no drive through.

Here's a suggestion to new entrepreneurs. Instead of opening the seventh of something we already have too many of, how about being the FIRST to open something we don't.

Whatever goes in there has to be a unique destination. You'll never get the casual/impulse shopper at that location.

Right, it has to have panache. Offer fondue or hokas or something to lure in the Euro kids w/ $$ who live in Loft 22.

I'd love to see a stick to your ribs and smack your lips old-school red sauce Italian place.

As much as I love the newer poshier takes on Italian food, I miss the simple old cheese/sauce/macaroni, red and white checkered table clothed places we grew up with. I was sad to see Antonio's in Billerica go.

Give me a big 'ol basket of bread, fresh or otherwise. Butter pats are fine, no need for putting on aires. Give me a pile of macaroni (remember when it was called macaroni) swimming in thick red sauce and send me home with noxious garlic breath I'll wake up still tasting in the middle of the night.

Yeah, that sounds pretty good.

An independant bookstore would kill in Lowell.

Didn't you see You Got Mail? Indie bookstores don't make much $$. But I've often thought a Beat Bookstore would "kill." Bring in all the Kerouacians.

Does anyone know A GOOD PLACE in this neighborhood to rent films rated G -> NC-17?

Not passing judgement but a man surely can't live on prawn alone and still be expected to thrive in society!!

The giant video store adiosed their location as soon as I moved in!!

Or how about a CD/video store/book store? If I want to buy a new CD or DVD, the closest place I can to go is Nashua or Burlington.

How about a coffee shop + PLUS + independent bookstore, like Trident Books in Boston?

I think the right coffee shop could survive there. Cafe Aiello was busy when it tried.

CDs? DVDs? Books? Seriously?
Last time I checked it was the 21st century! With all that is available online I don't see how a brick and mortar media store could succeed... Especially in that location.

I keep writing up long responses and then deleting them :-)

I guess to summarize my rantings, between now and the implementation of the The JAM Plan / Hamilton Canal District, as someone termed it, the "New" Downtown Lowell, what vision do we have for downtown, aside from restaurants?

Once we're out of that niche, we're going toe-to-toe with the suburbs (and New Hampshire) that robbed downtown Lowell of one department store, movie theatre, professional office, or small shop after another for the better part of a century. And that's still happening today (right Lowell Sun? ;-) ). It's easy to see why. Easier to drive to and park at, larger, newer, more visible office spaces. Critical mass of nearby businesses. So, what do we need to do to get people to get in their cars, brave the most dangerous highway in Masachusetts, drive a good mile from it in city traffic, pay to park, and then walk to something in downtown Lowell?

The people living in and around downtown can't support the entire downtown themselves.

I like Peter's idea about a good old school Italian restaurant. With Ricardo's a few doors over a fancier Italian wouldn't make sense. I would love if the Italian equivalent of Athenian Corner went in. Great food, large servings, casual atmosphere with prices that don't break the bank. How about a wine bar? There is a restaurant/bar in New Orleans called the Grapevine Wine Bar and Bistro. It's a really quant old building with exposed brick and a beautiful bar in the middle. All the tables are bistro tables with candelight. Nice, lowkey atmosphere with a huge wine list.

Yeah! Huge portions! You knwo last time I checked pasta was still running a buck a dry pound or so. They all ought to be piling it on. It's their biggest edge over the other types of restaurants. Make your sauce a big winner, you can always bread and cheese up your meatballs as loing as you season them well and put them on a mound of pasta usually only seenj in cartoons! I'll be there!

Tatnuck Book shop and cafe in Westborough is a great model - perhaps they would want to do an outpost in Lowell?
http://www.tatnuck.com/

or this one i went to in DC
http://www.busboysandpoets.com/books.htm

Late night coffe /wine bar and books? Maybe only open at night?

Corey: I agree that the DTL crowd cannot support all establishments. The Aiello space is unique. Do we not have a commitee of business people in Lowell to discuss the planning and possible successes of businesses? I grew up in Lowell, work in Lowell and love Lowell...thinking of moving back (what is Loft 22 GG?). Would I walk to Gorham at night? Probably not. I will leave the answer to the Lowellian business community and, most importantly, the patrons- to-be...

Loft 22 is a typo for Loft 27 on jackson street. It's certainly risky to open a coffee shop, esp w/out any business in the new garage yet. You don't even know who your competition might be. If I had the balls to quit my job and make a go of something in Lowell I'd open a so called "Gourmet-To-Go retail operation". They have one in Saybrook CT that ABSOLUTELY KILLS. I suspect there are a lot of busy professionals in Lowell with no time to make dinner that would patronize such a place.

I have family in CT, and I am amazed everytime I go to this place. It's constantly mobbed and the food is outstanding.
http://www.pastavita.com/

Thanks Craig! If you do open a Gourmet-to-go I will be one your faithful patrons. Lord knows that I am a faithful customer of Wholefoods in Andover, especially when I do not have time to cook.