Downtown Edmonton pulses to the beat of a vibrant nightlife

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Journal Insight articles:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/enter...594/story.html

EDMONTON — Move over, Old Strathcona — downtown is quickly becoming Edmonton’s hottest entertainment destination.

Nine new late-night bars, clubs and pubs (or 3,000 seats) popped up along Jasper Avenue and area between 2007 and 2011 — with more opening in the weeks to come.

Which means competition for customers across the city is heating up, says Jesse James Kupina, who co-owns two of the city’s biggest dance clubs, Union Hall and The Ranch Roadhouse.

“All I can do is keep my eye on the competition and play the best game possible,” Kupina says. “Edmonton people can’t be fooled. You can’t lie to them or fake them out or roll paint over your wood then call yourself a new name. We have a discerning customer in the city and that keeps you honest.”

How much money do these nightspots contribute to the city’s economy? We’ll soon find out. A report by Responsible Hospitality Edmonton, an initiative launched by the City of Edmonton, will be released Thursday, June 21. Officials won’t leak any numbers, but expect something in the hundreds of millions.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Pubs trump clubs in Edmonton’s shifting nightlife scene

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/enter...596/story.html

Jasper Avenue, particularly east of 109th Street, used to be a dead zone after 6 p.m., without even a Tim Hortons in which to seek refuge. Between 2007 and 2011, the downtown corridor has welcomed nine new pubs, lounges, bars and — to a lesser extent — nightclubs, mirroring a citywide shift from huge boom-boom rooms to smaller, multi-purpose watering holes.

That’s an increase of 3,066 “late-night seats” — referring to the capacity of establishments open after midnight — along Jasper Avenue (including 100th to 104th Avenues). As of 2011, there were 10,359 late-night seats in the area, according to Responsible Hospitality Edmonton, which surveys the city’s nightlife. Whyte Avenue/Old Strathcona has 10,412 late-night seats while West Edmonton Mall has 8,048.

City officials say downtown’s nightlife is only going to get busier, what with the opening of three more spots in the next few months and the eventual construction of the Oilers’ new arena on 104th Avenue.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Interactive map of Whyte Ave and downtown nightspots
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/enter...149/story.html

[North Guy66]

Lots of negative nannies in the Journal comments.

[Medwards]

Originally Posted by North Guy66

Lots of negative nannies in the Journal comments.

DAFUQ did I just read and why did I punish myself by reading it?

[North Guy66]

Our good ol' friend Paul Vickers is talking out of his arse again:

Paul Vickers, who was baptized in Edmonton’s nightlife in the ’90s, and early in the new century, echoes those sentiments. He owned several clubs (Club Malibu, Cowboys, The Drink), then opened two Ceili’s Irish Pubs before pulling up stakes. He now lives in Calgary, where he runs several restaurants and clubs. (He’s about to open an entertainment complex, Cowboys Casino, near the Saddledome.) Vickers says his Calgary properties are much more profitable than his former northern holdings ever were. Cowtown’s looser wallets are one of the reasons, but he says his experience in Edmonton also helped hone his business acumen.

“In Edmonton, you have to be really competitive,” he says. “Some guys want to book a function at a venue in Edmonton and they’ll ask, ‘How many free drinks do I get? What’s the deal? Give me a discount.’ In Calgary, they ask, ‘Can you get me in? We don’t want any discounts, we just want to get in.’ ”
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/enter...596/story.html

So says the man who made his fortune from pushing 3 for 1 watered-down highballs.

[howie]

Just playing to his current audience.

[The_Cat]

I think it's great to see more pubs and restaurants opening up downtown. It shows that downtown is on its way back, especially if the arena takes off. I think it would also be great to see other
businesses open late, like some of the stores and having the food
trucks. The bars should also keep in mind that more people will be
living downtown. Finally, it would also be great to have nighttime LRT and transit service.

[Dialog]

Originally Posted by North Guy66

Lots of negative nannies in the Journal comments.

And in other news, the sun rose this morning

[IanO]

I really hope downtown starts to develop a 'pub culture' where people go for a pint after work with colleagues and friends similar to that of many European cities.

[edmonton daily photo]

^ I am ok with that!

[bcwong1]

New upscale 'club' opening next week called the "Marquee Sound and Beverage Room" at the old downtown Overtime building (111st 104Ave). Think it will last?

http://marqueemansion.com/

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Group effort keeps nightlife crime in check
Police, bar owners, residents, city staff work to make Edmonton’s entertainment districts safe
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/enter...726/story.html

[Blueline]

Kinda hope we will see some more 25" couples oriented clups-pubs-eateries west of 112
BTW Mr Vickers has paid for a lot of non industrial silicon in this province

[Sonic Death Monkey]

The Underground Tap & Grill - 72 beers on tap!
http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...-with-72-taps/

[IanO]

Excellent.

5 Edmonton draft. Good to see, but surprised no alley kat.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Charlie Flint and Full Moon are Alley Kat beers

[IanO]

That they are, not sure why I thought they were ambers.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

They're also carrying this Innis beer on tap that some of you are so fond of

[howie]

If it's nae Scottish, it's crrrrrap!

[Terry_H]

One of the articles mentions 3 new places opening up in the downtown area soon. From this thread, you can count Marquee, Underground Tap & Grill and the third being??

[IanO]

Mercer Tavern is my guess

[Komrade]

Originally Posted by IanO

Mercer Tavern is my guess

Has anyone tried this place yet?

[Marcel Petrin]

It's not open yet.

[IanO]

A week or so and it's going to be awesome.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

A pity these articles missed Brittanys
http://www.connect2edmonton.ca/forum...ad.php?t=22458

[IanO]

Technically Brittany's is not downtown. Middle of the road west is.

[lat]

Went to Brittany's last night, I'll be going back. Cool vibe to the place.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

^^ The "technically downtown" argument is lame given that the article focused on bars in both downtown proper and Oliver district (which incidently missed listing Canadian Brewhouse and Hudsons on its map)

[Levko13]

Warehouse Rocks! It has a lounge/pub during the week and early evenings then turns into a club after 11 best of both worlds!

[britthal]

Originally Posted by IanO

Technically Brittany's is not downtown. Middle of the road west is.

Did you actually say Brittany's is "NOT downtown"!!!????!!!!

Sorry to yell but this type of attitude makes me livid... Ian, it definitely surprises me to hear this from you!! Such "support" of an independent business taking a gigantic risk and believing (apparently falsely) that this city wants to support local independent entrepreneurs (thinking outside the OCG, Century Group, 'chain' mentality) & the reclamation and rejuvenation of the east end of downtown is disappointingly looking more and more like lip-service when confronted with attitudes like this.

You have a voice Ian...one that people follow and value/await your input/opinion regarding most things going on ...we all know that.

I invited you to the lounge when we ran into each other at the I <3 YEG event. We had met a few years earlier when I spoke to city council regarding the urgency and need to historically designate the Kelly Ramsey bldg. I was the only business owner that had been affected and displaced to give two seconds of thought to that bldg post-fire... I actually viewed the space I am now in on that very same day.

Having various C2E members ask and show interest in seeing me come back was something that made me try to look on the bright side of things through the 3 years it took for me to eventually relocate and reopen.

I was so happy to announce (on this board in particular) that I had not been defeated, did not give up, still believed in this city and it's people, was excited to be a part of what will happen in The Quarters....also known as part of downtown!

Too be ignored is frustrating... To be met with this attitude about 97st from the journal was disheartening...from you..? such a "man in the know"... is maddening!

Let me clear things up for you Ian & everyone else reading this.... Where I am IS Downtown..... West of 109st (yes including Oliver *gasp!*) is not..I repeat NOT downtown

Downtown Edmonton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 53°32′25″N 113°29′54″W
Downtown Edmonton is bounded by 109 Street to the west, 105 Avenue to the north, 97 Street to the east, 97 Avenue, 100 Avenue, and Rossdale Road to the south and Jasper Avenue to the southeast (the downtown core), though many people consider part or all of the surrounding neighbourhoods to be part of downtown. The downtown core is bordered by the neighbourhoods of Oliver to the west, Queen Mary Park to the northwest, Central McDougall to the North, McCauley to the northeast, Boyle Street (Jasper-East) to the east, Riverdale to the east and southeast, and Rossdale to the south. Within the downtown core are five districts: the Commercial Core, Government Centre, Warehouse District, McKay Avenue and Rice Howard Way. Sometimes the Northedge (part of Queen Mary Park) is referred to as part as downtown, as is Oliver.

/rant

[britthal]

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

A pity these articles missed Brittanys
http://www.connect2edmonton.ca/forum...ad.php?t=22458

Originally Posted by lat

Went to Brittany's last night, I'll be going back. Cool vibe to the place.

Thank you both! Pleasure meeting you lat I look forward to seeing you again and appreciate your support

[psiebold1]

Downtown is specific and vague at the same time. Brittany's is technically located in the Quarters, but as what is commonly known as downtown, downtown it is.

[Replacement]

Originally Posted by psiebold1

Downtown is specific and vague at the same time. Brittany's is technically located in the Quarters, but as what is commonly known as downtown, downtown it is.

Agreed. No idea what Ian was suggesting there. Edmonton should be promoting the thought of downtown also being 97st, and even east of 97st and not shutting it out of the equation.
I applaud brave new businesses opening up and making something better out of areas that have struggled. This should be encouraged.

Its ridiculous not to consider 97st as party of the downtown. Army and Navy, Old Farmers market, WW Arcade, couthouse, Canada Place, Shaw conference Center etc, were always considered downtown. What is this weird notion?

[IanO]

Originally Posted by britthal

Did you actually say Brittany's is "NOT downtown"!!!????!!!!

Sorry to yell but this type of attitude makes me livid... Ian, it definitely surprises me to hear this from you!! Such "support" of an independent business taking a gigantic risk and believing (apparently falsely) that this city wants to support local independent entrepreneurs (thinking outside the OCG, Century Group, 'chain' mentality) & the reclamation and rejuvenation of the east end of downtown is disappointingly looking more and more like lip-service when confronted with attitudes like this.

You have a voice Ian...one that people follow and value/await your input/opinion regarding most things going on ...we all know that.

I invited you to the lounge when we ran into each other at the I <3 YEG event. We had met a few years earlier when I spoke to city council regarding the urgency and need to historically designate the Kelly Ramsey bldg. I was the only business owner that had been affected and displaced to give two seconds of thought to that bldg post-fire... I actually viewed the space I am now in on that very same day.

Having various C2E members ask and show interest in seeing me come back was something that made me try to look on the bright side of things through the 3 years it took for me to eventually relocate and reopen.

I was so happy to announce (on this board in particular) that I had not been defeated, did not give up, still believed in this city and it's people, was excited to be a part of what will happen in The Quarters....also known as part of downtown!

Too be ignored is frustrating... To be met with this attitude about 97st from the journal was disheartening...from you..? such a "man in the know"... is maddening!

Let me clear things up for you Ian & everyone else reading this.... Where I am IS Downtown..... West of 109st (yes including Oliver *gasp!*) is not..I repeat NOT downtown

Downtown Edmonton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 53°32′25″N 113°29′54″W
Downtown Edmonton is bounded by 109 Street to the west, 105 Avenue to the north, 97 Street to the east, 97 Avenue, 100 Avenue, and Rossdale Road to the south and Jasper Avenue to the southeast (the downtown core), though many people consider part or all of the surrounding neighbourhoods to be part of downtown. The downtown core is bordered by the neighbourhoods of Oliver to the west, Queen Mary Park to the northwest, Central McDougall to the North, McCauley to the northeast, Boyle Street (Jasper-East) to the east, Riverdale to the east and southeast, and Rossdale to the south. Within the downtown core are five districts: the Commercial Core, Government Centre, Warehouse District, McKay Avenue and Rice Howard Way. Sometimes the Northedge (part of Queen Mary Park) is referred to as part as downtown, as is Oliver.

/rant

Too hard to give the proper reply on iPad keyboard, will do tomorrow, but nothing of what I typed was meant to ignite that kind of response. I can't wait to stop by, admire your perseverance and wish it had been included.

Ian

[lat]

Originally Posted by IanO

Too hard to give the proper reply on iPad keyboard, will do tomorrow, but nothing of what I typed was meant to ignite that kind of response. I can't wait to stop by, admire your perseverance and wish it had been included.
Ian

The intent may not have been there, but I was saddened by your statement. It sounded like something a city bureaucrat would say, while peering at you over their reading glasses from behind a high counter...

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Bars, clubs, music venues add $687M to city economy

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/enter...026/story.html

Edmonton's bars, clubs, casinos, pubs and music venues contributed almost $687 million to the city's economy in 2010, according to a new report.

The city's 235 late-night establishments (those open later than midnight) had more than 20.6 million visitors that year. The economic impact assessment, the first of its kind for the City of Edmonton, will be presented to city council's executive committee on June 27.

The report aims to shed light on the importance of the late-night entertainment sector and shape the city's policies on public transportation and services.

"The role of the nighttime economy is really quite significant, not just in terms of providing colour and vibrancy to the community," says John Rose, chief economist for the City of Edmonton.

"We can't take it for granted, or worse yet consider it some sort of negative.

"People tend to only see a bunch of bars - and sometimes they're noisy - but they don't really understand that this sector is important to providing people with employment opportunities, supports the music sector and episodic activities like the Fringe Festival."

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Marquee is now open in the old Overtime space:
http://marqueemansion.com/