Galtier may show films again

[Fred]

Scott Simon wrote:

Brutally honest ... not angry or nasty.
And yes, I have owned my own business for 21 years. It is located in the "612" but I live in the "651".
And thanks for the tips. I will check out these locations that you have suggested Black Dog, Tanpopo, DaVinci... and see how they compare with the real world of successful restaurants.

A liar and a jerk. Nice. Have a good life, as this is the last response you'll get from me.

[Mellers]

John Palumbo wrote:

Thanks Fred,
We appreciate your suggestions.
We hope to have a movie/parking validation for two or three dollars. Clean, dry parking underground at Galtier would be worth a couple of bucks, especially during inclement weather. If I was a downtown resident (we've looked at it and may move there in the future)I'd use the free evening parking on the streets. I am not a big fan of paying to park anywhere.
I've already discussed collaborations with Black Dog Cafe, Golden's Deli, and LoTo, and will speak with Trattoria Da Vinci, and possibly others. We plan on featuring sandwiches and wraps from some of these local businesses.
We have also had conversations with local indy film makers, and plan to speak with other artists for displaying art in our lobby, for sale off-site. Another option might be to have a local singer/songwriter in the theaters as pre-show entertainment as opposed to concession ads at the volume of a wide body jet taking off.
Keep the faith.
John

You are so great! Thanks for all of the work you've done, just to get this far! I'm sure many downtowners will be like myself; we'll tell all our friends about this and will help to try to make this very successful!!

I have today off, and how great would it be to walk to a movie theatre to catch a flick! YAY-it might be a reality!

[Lady Chatterley]

Scott Simon wrote:

Oh please, why not just give up? The Ordway? Jersey Boys NOT at the Ordway - over 30 shows --many sellouts at the ORPHEUM

The Ordway blows the doors off the Orpheum. The Ordway, unlike the Orpheum, has a FULL ORCHESTRA for its productions, not a few instruments like the drums and a guitarist - the rest is on CD. What a joke!!! Having seen Jersey Boys (and everything else that's been at the Orpheum) on BROADWAY, it is a poor, poor compromise.

I am very happy to see the theater open again, especially since the corporate-greed-driven demise (Roundy's) of the Roseville 4.

[Moi]

Scott Simon wrote:

<quoted text>
Perhaps Fred would care to name the bars and restaurants that are open at 6:00pm within 3 blocks of Galtier?

In addition to the ones Fred listed I will add a few more: LoTo, Hunan Garden, Senor Wong, River Room, Key's, Margaux, Great Waters Brewery, Sampan, Hilton restaurant in Town Square.

At this point every single one of Scott's points have been rebuked.

I think he can't face reality that St Paul actually has stuff to do that is worth doing. Republicans chose St Paul over Minneapolis - what with RiverCentre's superiority over Minneapolis Convention Center, St Paul Hotel being the nicest in the Twin Cities, and the far cleaner and more beautiful atmosphere, it is no wonder. You are anti-St Paul, but without logical reasons, just that it didn't pan out the way you thought it would back in the mid 1970's.

The point is, the projected numbers in any project always seem to be in the most perfect situation. Perfect marketing, perfect economy, a perfect hook, a perfect size. Well, when it was built, Galtier Plaza didn't really hit that perfection - it didn't have a large enough hook, the marketing was terrible and the critics had a field day with it. But even with this less-than-desired result, did it fail? Has it been a financial burden to the city? Hardly.

The fact that you discount businesses having a go of it in St Paul is absolutely stupid. Over 8,000 live downtown St Paul. Which is still more than the 5,000 that live in the immediate areas of downtown Minneapolis. Sure, next to Minneapolis's much larger business population this seems problematic. However, it doesn't change the fact that more people live in the immediate area of downtown St Paul compared tot he immediate area of downtown Minneapolis.

I don't think anyone has claimed Galtier Plaza a success - and in all respects, it isn't. But just because something didn't live up to its over-exaggerated expectations, doesn't make it a failure. That's a highly black and white way to look at it. "If it isn't a success, it must be a failure." Wrong.

We all don't live up to our expectations in life - does that make us failures? Not really. It could be that our ambitions were too unrealistic. It could be that we were thrown into situations beyond our control. It could be that we didn't account for enough dynamic change in our lives. That doesn't mean we've failed as people, it just means that the expectation wasn't within our grasp.

Back to downtown St Paul, financially, it wasn't living up to the standard that downtown Minneapolis set - that is one thing I will agree with. But more often than not, you don't get it right the first time. There are too many variables when designing something like Galtier Plaza large to handle in the right way. Too many people's contrasting ideas, too much bureaucracy, too many construction limitations, too many set-backs, too little time... It really isn't all that surprising what we got when you think about it that way.

Let's just give John a chance. I know I will. Just please stop your pissing and moaning. St Paul will be getting a movie theater in a market that wants one. Boo-hoo, it didn't come to Minneapolis.

[Denny Z]

Scott Simon wrote:

Torin,
Please, aside from an occasional hockey game or a concert at the Xcel, please give me one good reason to make a trip to downtown St. Paul.

Uh, Scotty, how 'bout to appear before the judge?

[Mellers]

Moi wrote:

<quoted text>
In addition to the ones Fred listed I will add a few more: LoTo, Hunan Garden, Senor Wong, River Room, Key's, Margaux, Great Waters Brewery, Sampan, Hilton restaurant in Town Square.
At this point every single one of Scott's points have been rebuked.
I think he can't face reality that St Paul actually has stuff to do that is worth doing. Republicans chose St Paul over Minneapolis - what with RiverCentre's superiority over Minneapolis Convention Center, St Paul Hotel being the nicest in the Twin Cities, and the far cleaner and more beautiful atmosphere, it is no wonder. You are anti-St Paul, but without logical reasons, just that it didn't pan out the way you thought it would back in the mid 1970's.
The point is, the projected numbers in any project always seem to be in the most perfect situation. Perfect marketing, perfect economy, a perfect hook, a perfect size. Well, when it was built, Galtier Plaza didn't really hit that perfection - it didn't have a large enough hook, the marketing was terrible and the critics had a field day with it. But even with this less-than-desired result, did it fail? Has it been a financial burden to the city? Hardly.
The fact that you discount businesses having a go of it in St Paul is absolutely stupid. Over 8,000 live downtown St Paul. Which is still more than the 5,000 that live in the immediate areas of downtown Minneapolis. Sure, next to Minneapolis's much larger business population this seems problematic. However, it doesn't change the fact that more people live in the immediate area of downtown St Paul compared tot he immediate area of downtown Minneapolis.
I don't think anyone has claimed Galtier Plaza a success - and in all respects, it isn't. But just because something didn't live up to its over-exaggerated expectations, doesn't make it a failure. That's a highly black and white way to look at it. "If it isn't a success, it must be a failure." Wrong.
We all don't live up to our expectations in life - does that make us failures? Not really. It could be that our ambitions were too unrealistic. It could be that we were thrown into situations beyond our control. It could be that we didn't account for enough dynamic change in our lives. That doesn't mean we've failed as people, it just means that the expectation wasn't within our grasp.
Back to downtown St Paul, financially, it wasn't living up to the standard that downtown Minneapolis set - that is one thing I will agree with. But more often than not, you don't get it right the first time. There are too many variables when designing something like Galtier Plaza large to handle in the right way. Too many people's contrasting ideas, too much bureaucracy, too many construction limitations, too many set-backs, too little time... It really isn't all that surprising what we got when you think about it that way.
Let's just give John a chance. I know I will. Just please stop your pissing and moaning. St Paul will be getting a movie theater in a market that wants one. Boo-hoo, it didn't come to Minneapolis.

Well said, Moi. Not everyone wants to shop, live, and visit downtown Minneapolis. I don't blame those who do, of course, but this country kid prefers a downtown St Paul life.

[Downtowner]

How about LoTo, which is IN Galtier?

Scott, here's the beauty of America. If you think this is a terrible idea, don't buy a ticket. Or else, what I think you should do is get a large crew of your friends & bring them to the theatre when it opens, buy a lot of wine & food and then you can explain to all of them what a bad idea this was :)

I would love to see a proposed date for the opening -- and as I have said, I will be the first in line to apply for a job. It's not even the money -- it's the opportunity to help make the theatre successful and my downtown more interesting.(But yes, I will expect to be paid :))

[Downtown Resident]

My spouse and I watched the Galtier Building go up and for a number of years we walked to movies at the theater once or twice a month. At that time, we had a friend who worked for the theater group that leased the Galtier Theater. Our friend was in charge of booking films for the company. I mentioned to him that our visits declined rather quickly when they started running a rather unappealing string of pictures there.

Our friend said that the theater had low revenues. He then explained that films often were leased in "packaged deals." To get a big money making film, they would have to rent a couple of "bombs" and that they would toss the bombs on the Galtier, since it was not very profitable anyway. Of course, it went bust.

I believe that the new plan may have a chance. Downtown residents are a bit older on avearge and might support an art film venue. I gather with the promotion of alcholic beverages, that the Palumbos are targeting older croud. Also, parking is not as big an issue on the "dark side," even if there is an event at the Excel, or the Ordway. That is not to say that anyone going to a Saturday matinee will not have problems with parking enforcement.

Good luck.

[ColdRedRain]

"Great restaurants? We've got 'em... Trattoria, LoTo, Senor Wong, Fuji Ya, Kincaid's Steak House, River Room, St Paul Grill, Sakura, Sawatdee, and the list continues."

Chain restaurants, LOL. There's a Sawatdee everywhere in Minnesota. And besides, none of those places are open late in STP.

To the guy that doesn't like "subsidized entertainment": Name me one great culture in our history that didn't have any sort of cultural entertainment that was subsidized. The British had their plays, The Russians had their operas, the Japanese have their Kabuki theaters, the Greeks had their libraries and the Romans had their stadiums.(Hint hint). Even in America, Nashville has the country music scene, Hawaii has their events of cultural significance.

Any society of note has some sort of subsidized entertainment. Notice when arts and entertainment weren't subsidized in Europe, that's when the continent went downhill. If you want to see what happens to cities that have no subsidized entertainment, take a 6 hour long drive to Omaha and see what not paying for arts and entertainment gets you.

Half of Omaha spends their entertainment dollar either in Kansas City or Minneapolis. Notice I said "Minneapolis" and not "Twin Cities". The other half gets drunk and turns the town into a cultural dead zone.

[Scott Simon]

Please, all join hands and sing "Kumbaya!"

[ColdRedRain]

"Well said, Moi. Not everyone wants to shop, live, and visit downtown Minneapolis. I don't blame those who do, of course, but this country kid prefers a downtown St Paul life."

You don't seem like you have too much company yourself. DT STP is dead. And if you like living in the country and living a quiet life, live in the country.

[Fed Up]

Scott Simon wrote:

Please, all join hands and sing "Kumbaya!"

What's your deal, man? I just read this thread, and it seems like your only argument is that there isn't much to do in St. Paul. I agree that it's kind of dead, and I wish there were a lot more restaurants - but wouldn't that be an argument in favor of a new theater? Most of the people posting here who live or work in St. Paul are in favor of it, but your weird anger about it seems kind of out of place.
Why not support someone who's trying to bring more life to the city? You don't live there or go there for entertainment, so why do you care anyway?

[Mellers]

ColdRedRain wrote:

"Great restaurants? We've got 'em... Trattoria, LoTo, Senor Wong, Fuji Ya, Kincaid's Steak House, River Room, St Paul Grill, Sakura, Sawatdee, and the list continues."
Chain restaurants, LOL. There's a Sawatdee everywhere in Minnesota. And besides, none of those places are open late in STP.
To the guy that doesn't like "subsidized entertainment": Name me one great culture in our history that didn't have any sort of cultural entertainment that was subsidized. The British had their plays, The Russians had their operas, the Japanese have their Kabuki theaters, the Greeks had their libraries and the Romans had their stadiums.(Hint hint). Even in America, Nashville has the country music scene, Hawaii has their events of cultural significance.
Any society of note has some sort of subsidized entertainment. Notice when arts and entertainment weren't subsidized in Europe, that's when the continent went downhill. If you want to see what happens to cities that have no subsidized entertainment, take a 6 hour long drive to Omaha and see what not paying for arts and entertainment gets you.
Half of Omaha spends their entertainment dollar either in Kansas City or Minneapolis. Notice I said "Minneapolis" and not "Twin Cities". The other half gets drunk and turns the town into a cultural dead zone.

Having been to Omaha once to visit my sister over a decade ago, they could do a lot to reinvest in their own city and state. I'm pleased that someone's trying to do so in St Paul and am puzzled by all of the anti-St Paul people posting about THIS particular topic. You think the anti-St Paul folks would be saying, "Good, great! It's about time and I hope it works!"

[Moi]

I think there's actually only one anti-Saint Paul person in this thread.

[Scott Simon]

Sorry. I know you are trying to paint and label me. So I have no choice but to keep reminding you that I am NOT anti-St. Paul; nor am I angry or nasty.

I am brutally honest and I am anti-government waste and anti-subsidy for arts, sports, circus schools and anything that does not have a strong educational component for the masses. I don't like tax dollars being wasted on such things as "art films" and hockey stadiums. It is my opinion that St. Paul has not spent wisely in the past and as a result continues to spend foolishly into the future. This Star Grant proposal to open a boarded up theatre will enrich very few people and will eventually close after some people have cheated this poor naive dreamer and worse yet, the taxpayers of St. Paul out of a couple hundred thousand dollars.

Don't try to paint me as the meanie in this discussion because I alone have the courage to tell it like it is. I'm not the one who made the situation as poor and pathetic as it is today. If it were up to me, I'd repeal the Star Grant laws or give it all to Channel 2. That is a St. Paul entity that I could (and do) support.

[Fred]

Stop feeding the jerk-troll.

[Billy Bob]

Eaganite, you're a RED star in a blue state. Ever consider a move to Texas. I think you'd find peace there amongst your emotional (junior high school) equals. I know it would be hard to move out of your mom's basement though. Say hi to W for me (NOT).

[Moi]

Scott - You're NOT painting it like it is - you are painting it in your view of how it is. You get all upset over subsidies in St Paul (including a small one to help start up a 4-screen theater), yet you tout Minneapolis as a place to go where there is something to do! HELLOOOOOOOO? Minneapolis is much more heavily subsidized than St Paul, so once again your argument is invalidated.

All of your posts are negative, and only a few of them actually relate to your dislike of subsidies. The rest of your posts are all uselessly dumping on St Paul, with no mention of your apparent distaste for subsidies.

No one is painting you - we're telling you the "reality" and being "brutally honest".

[Downtown Resident]

The Sawatdee restaurant is open in Downtown. It is now in the old Margaux location at 9th and Robert. It has been open for several months and appears to be going well at its new location, which is within three blocks of Galtier as the crow flys.

[rick]

Scott WHY not move to MPLS ,you are so negative.Since you hate St paul so much and does not want support ST PAUL businesses
Landmark in Uptown in Mpls and Edina have very few people for many shows so are the suburban theatres