Tables turn

Is that all you think of GG is booze? I think the downtown would be a lot better off if there was NO liquor served anywhere there. Make it more family friendly - I'm surprised you don't want McD's and Chuckie Cheese to add booze.

So booze hound, I just wanted to point out to your dumb comment that chuckie cheese does sell booze or beer should I say! And, just because a restaraunt serves alchohal does not mean its not family friendly, just more adult friendly! :)

That would be great if you could get a gin and tonic while hanging out with the Big Mouse. Skeeball and beer I say !

I'm curious about who is giving out all these loans.

We have more than a handful of places opening or opened that are going to be cannibalizing each other for a dwindling amount of free cash, and banks stand to lose a lot of money here. I am all for survival of the fittest, but my problem is regardless of the condition of the economy, unfortunately I don't see the downtown market growing too much more anytime soon.

The city used to talk about a "critical mass" of residents we needed to hit to sustain this sort of economy, and I don't know if we ever hit it. Additionally, we've apparently been losing downtown daytime foot traffic, which is a real killer for these lunch places I'd guess.

Put a Sal's Pizza back downtown. I miss that place. No where to get a non-greasy, cardboard crust pizza downtown.

Chucky cheese does not sell booze, moron. But Fun World does

what lowell doesnt need is another sub shop, even if it is Sal's. personally, i think Sals is really bad pizza. the crust is too thick and they overload the cheese. pizza should be good if you want to reheat it and sal's definitely isn't that way.

"With Micky D's and the BK lounge barely affected by the economy, this is a good move. We will all be sharing footlongs w/ the fam on Saturday nights under the Subway lights from now on. Right? Wrong"--Call me anti-acronym but I found this laugh out loud funny. Admittedly I am not dining out as much. For both economic and personal reasons. So when I do go out it has to be a sure thing. I would guess many of us are eating hot dogs at home during the week. I like the Market Basket Frankfurts that go "crunch". Sorry Demoulas snobs! Bad Dawgs quality was comme si comme sa so they chose euthanization.

Might want to do a quick check before calling others moron. Chuck e cheese does indeed sell beer, though not all locations do.

As for no beer downtown? sounds like a ghost town to me.

Thanks Tim! I think it was pretty rude to call someone a moron in the first place...not to mention it was even doubly rude to call GG a Booze hound because she likes to drink. People need to really check themselves before they hit Post, let's try to be civil please.

I suggest that downtown needs more than just restaurants to stay alive. There are already places to grab a drink, a sandwich, a cup of coffee, whatever. But there need to be a variety of businesses to create some economic diversity, other than just eating establishments.

I still think we need a good, late-night coffee house. As much as I hate the chains, why doesn't B&N stay open past 5pm!?

I agree with LostInLowell on evening options and variety. I work in Boston and when I come home to Lowell at night, there is very little open in downtown for a later dinner or place to meet up with a friend that isn't a bar.

Although I haven't cut back on going out too much, I find I am much more careful where I spend my $$ these days.

Welcome back GG. You were missed. And thank you for your credo of continuing to go out eating and drinking despite tough times. We, like all restaurateurs, hope that same sentiment resonates with the majority, at all price points, as we seek to provide more than just food, but also escape, entertainment, a feel good buzz with friends...Clearly, as past debates have questioned, no one is insulated from falling victim, from a Chelmsford Bistro (not so cheap) to a long standing Indian Restaurant (cheap) to Hot Dogs (cheapest). Just read the Wall St. Journal article "What's Not Cooking" (Frid 1/23) for further evidence of a national crisis. NY Institution Ruby Foos closing. Famous, hugely successful operators from Stephan Hanson to Drew Nieporent to Jean-Georges are shutting down or scrambling to respond. There are no easy answers, but answers are sought and strategies will be enacted, and tested. And we will all do what we are able to continue to maintain trust and appreciation from our valued guests.

And what's the Statehouse doing to help our industry at a time when many are struggling while employing 10% of the statewide workforce? Proposing an increase in Meals tax, both statewide and at the local level. Incredible.

Don't worry, I don't know ANYONE who'd stay home because if a 1% restaurant tax. Maybe some right-wing conservative whacko ya-hoos trying to make some kind of a point. But any diner worth his salt, or pepper, won't mind stepping up 1% more to help out in this day and age.

Hello all. Agree with the post about bringing business downtown that is outside of the realm of 'food and drink.' Don't get me wrong, food brings all together and generates revenue, but, the rest. competition is broad and not demographically isolated... more specifically, how do we create more traffic downtown? Other businesses would prosper... along with the idea of keeping barnes open past 5! Has everyone seen how busy barnes is up on DW any time of the evening???? Sheesh. No one is catching on. How about a mom and pop book store with gourmet coffee, upscale small eats and wine? I'm in... who is ready to take the dive????!

My wife and I ate at Tabocas Steak House (26 Andover St.) on Saturday and were blown away by the experience. The meal was a real treat--dining at a beautifully redecorated restaurant (marble and white stone), with jazz playing in the background and an excellent, but inexpensive ($6) house wine. This was our first exposure to the Brazilian steakhouse tradition. Some 19 different items (mostly meats, but also pineapple) were served table side on skewer, one by one. The meats were accompanies by an elaborate buffet of salads, pastas and other items.

We made reservations for Valentine's Day. Pianist Leroy Brown (rock/jazz/soul music) will be playing downstairs at 9 pm. We're eating upstairs and then moving down for the music.

OK, so a little over GG's $20 max. but Saffron Bistro in Nashua is offering $20 off a check of $50 or more until Feb. 28 (except for this weekend of course). Just need to print the coupon on their website. Great food and great infused martinis! I believe they also have half priced drinks in the bar on Thursdays.

Apparently the economy has effected more than just the downtown Lowell Bad Dawgs. The one that opened on Huntington Avenue in Boston last fall has also been closed, apparently by court order. This one was also owned by the brothers who owned the Lowell shop. And if you go to the Bad Dawgs web site to find locations, you get the nebulous "Bad Dawgs locations are now expanding across the US." Does that mean the ones in Keene, Amherst, MA, and Plymouth, NH, are gone as well?