DDA Recommends New Pizza Restaurant Downtown, Hears Feedback on Albert El Fresco
There could be a new pizza shop coming downtown, after the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) recommended a Special Use Permit needed to put a shop in the suite next to FieldHouse sports bar at its Nov. 21 meeting.
St. Anne LLC, the property owner, requested a Special Use Permit that would allow it to modify the building to create the pizza shop. The proposal is to create the pizza restaurant in the vacant suite and share a kitchen with FieldHouse. Blue Owl Coffee previously operated in the suite, before relocating last year.
A representative for St. Anne clarified that the plan is to also allow FieldHouse patrons to order food from the shop when it is open.
Unlike FieldHouse, which often draws college students out for a drink, the pizza shop hopes to attract families. Representatives said at the meeting that they would not serve alcohol at the pizza shop.
A representatives for St. Anne said the hope is to give students and downtown workers a “decent meal at a decent price.” He compared the concept to the old Frandor deli, where customers could quickly come and get something to eat between classes or during a break from work.
The proposed hours for the pizza shop is 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The DDA recommended St. Anne LLC be granted the Special Use Permit unanimously. Next, the decision will go to City Council at its Dec. 11 meeting.
Albert El Fresco
Albert El Fresco, the seasonal space downtown that includes games, seating and sometimes live music returned this summer.
At the Nov. 21 DDA meeting, the board heard feedback on the past summer’s iteration of El Fresco. Surveys distributed by the city showed that community members still enjoy the downtown space, but mixed feedback from business owners on financial benefits they see.
For the survey, the city received 318 community responses to a survey. As has been the case in past years, feedback was mostly positive, with about 90% of responses rating El Fresco three out of five stars or better.
One of the most common pieces of feedback given by community members was that they would like to see the space expanded. This came after El Fresco was shrunk at the start of the year to make it easier for business owners to receive deliveries.
Data the city collected showed that there was a mix of college students and other residents using the space. On days other than Thursdays, when the city held “game nights” in El Fresco, about half of the people utilizing the space were adults and 37% were college students. On game nights, slightly fewer college students and adults, and more kids tended to be in the space.
In addition to community members, the city collected feedback from business owners.
Business owners mostly indicated El Fresco did not help their bottom line, as only one of 35 responses said the space increased their sales. 27 business owners responded “no” to the question and seven said they were unsure.
Similarly, the space received mixed reviews from business owners when they were surveyed on their perception of the space, and if they believe El Fresco increased awareness of their business.
The new layout of El Fresco was received better, with 45% of business owners giving a positive response and 26% being neutral to the smaller size. Additionally, 52% favored the new seating and planters this year, with the other 48% indicating they were neutral–meaning no business owners disapproved of these additions.
Business owners generally felt like the late April to mid-August runtime of El Fresco was appropriate, with 17 of 31 responses saying they’d like to see El Fresco’s season stay the same. The other 14 responses were split, with seven indicating they’d like the space open longer and seven for it being shorter.
Business owners also provided new ideas for how El Fresco could operate in the future. Ideas include making it a social district and relocating the space every other year, so other businesses gain exposure.
One business owner believes the city should use El Fresco even more to put a spotlight on downtown businesses.
“I think the downtown businesses should be promoted by name/logo and each week there should be special attention to a few so the public is encouraged to shop/visit businesses not just play in the street or go to the restaurants next to the closed off area. But recognizing the small businesses that truly struggle in the summer, but are the actual heart of downtown,” a response from a service provider business owner reads.