Opinion: The list of dearly departed downtown eateries grows

Andy Furman
·2 min read
You can enter off Fifth Street or from inside Carew Tower. Frisch's Big Boy was doing a brisk business during their grand opening in the Carew Tower in downtown Cincinnati. You can enter off 5th street or from inside Carew. It's been 14 years since Frisch's has had a downtown location. There are new menu items for this location.
You can enter off Fifth Street or from inside Carew Tower. Frisch's Big Boy was doing a brisk business during their grand opening in the Carew Tower in downtown Cincinnati. You can enter off 5th street or from inside Carew. It's been 14 years since Frisch's has had a downtown location. There are new menu items for this location.

The List. It’s not just a TV show. This list grows and the results, well, not so good. In fact, come Aug. 1 another name will join this list.

Tom Baker, owner and operator of Bake’s Place, a little hidden gem in downtown Cincinnati, will be no more. Bake’s Place, a breakfast and lunch nook located in the Mercantile Center Lobby at 414 Walnut Street, will be forced to move.

Where? Who knows?

But Tom Baker will have plenty of company. This list grows like an uncontrollable vine. In fact, an unofficial count will push the number on this list to a very depressing 28.

The dining room at Palomino in downtown Cincinnati, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015.at Palomino in downtown Cincinnati, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015.
The dining room at Palomino in downtown Cincinnati, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015.at Palomino in downtown Cincinnati, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane for the dearly departed downtown Cincinnati eateries Baker will be joining come next month. Remember these?

Scully’s, Frisch’s, Great Steak, Burger Chef on Race, Squire Jacks on the Skywalk, Red Squirrel, Snappy Tomato, Roy Rogers, Long John Silvers, White Castle on Broadway, Burrito Joe’s, Taco Bell, Cadillac Ranch, Maisonette, Big Cajun Mommas, Bruegger's Bagels, Atlanta Bread Company, McDonald’s, Quiznos, Panera Bread, J. Gumbo’s, Palominos, Chick-fil-A, Gold Star, Wendy’s, Sbarro and Rock Bottom Brewery.

Yikes – it’s enough to make you hungry.

So where did they go? And where are their replacements?

With office space remaining bare – as workers continue to labor from home – eating lunch downtown, well really isn’t necessary. Or is it?

A leasing company sign and paper cover the windows Tuesday at Fountain Square fixture Rock Bottom Brewery on Sixth Street in Cincinnati.
A leasing company sign and paper cover the windows Tuesday at Fountain Square fixture Rock Bottom Brewery on Sixth Street in Cincinnati.

Even sending packages from our lovely downtown has been a bit of a burden. Once upon a time, there was a UPS Store located at 441 Vine. It soon moved to 137 East 4th and then – gone.

Add them to the list.

In fact, if you need UPS services in town, the closest is on Madison Road. There’s another on Glenway, Wooster Pike, Montgomery Road (2) and Eastgate North Drive.

You get the picture. You’ll need UPS to get UPS.

But entrepreneurs, please don’t worry. We’re not here to paint a dismal picture – although it may very well seem that way. We need people to take chances in business for our downtown if we want to see growth. People like John F. Barrett, CEO of Western and Southern, who dream of a new downtown arena and do so much for the Cincinnati lifestyle.

1997: Todd Westermeyer (front left) and Jim Cornwell (right) work the fish station on the cook's line. Behind Westermeyer is Jean Robert de Cavel.
1997: Todd Westermeyer (front left) and Jim Cornwell (right) work the fish station on the cook's line. Behind Westermeyer is Jean Robert de Cavel.

Dreamers are always welcome. And there’s a very good chance you won’t find them on The List.

We won’t forgot those dearly departed on The List. And we certainly hope there aren’t many more additions.

Andy Furman is a member of the Enquirer Board of Contributors. He also talks sports nationally on Fox Sports Radio, serves as PR Coordinator for The Point/Arc in Northern Kentucky and writes for the Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Andy Furman: The list of dearly departed downtown eateries grows