The 2,000 square foot first floor of 7310 Manchester Road is back on the lease market after Café on the Park fell through after nine months of trying to open.
Building owner, Tim Rohan said he’s had 10 calls; two are serious. He expects to have a lease signed by the end of July, he said. He’s still showing it.
He had a call from a national chicken wing franchise, but wasn’t interested in that one.
He’s asking $2,600 with utilities included for a three-year lease.
Rohan used the space for his interior design business for 27 and a half years, before he moved it upstairs and decided to lease the first floor.
At one point, before the most recent recession, Rohan was using the first floor, second floor and the building next door; employing three designers, six in a work room, a full-time secretary and two part time assistants. He said he always had two out-of-town houses going in places like Miami or Chicago, in addition to his design work on houses in mainly Clayton, Ladue and Huntleigh.
The first floor features:
- Front and back entrances
- Two parking spaces in the back
- Brazilian marble and herring bone wood floor
- Parts of the floor will be re-carpeted
- Kitchen is partially tiled, which will be finished, it’s also fully wired
- 19th Century shaving cabinet in the bathroom
- Four-speaker stereo system
- Wired for computers and burglar alarm
- Dumpster that Rohan takes care of
- The fire place and closet could stay or go, depending on the tenant
A good locally owned Thai, Vietnamese or vegetarian/vegan based restaurant would be a great addition to Maplewood’s already diverse food choice’s.
I’m probably out of step with the rest of Maplewood on this one, but I wouldn’t mind one or two well-chosen chains on the strip. My reason is that they tend to be more reasonably priced. As is, my family of five rarely goes out to eat on the strip, mainly because it’s too expensive. We hit the Wood happy hour regularly and Jimmy John’s as well, and Las Palmas once in a while. Subway too. Not everything has to be a local/organic/artisan/specialty restaurant, you know? Those types of places are great but kind of out of reach for regular consumption for many families.
I think in many respects the type of establishments that are going onto the strip do not fit the actual demographic of the city of Maplewood. We have cheap housing stock and mostly a middle to lower middle class population. Yet you wouldn’t know it if you look at the restaurants and their prices – Acero, Home, Water Street, etc. etc. How about a lower priced burger joint or another diner like Tiffany’s that would have more seating? Perhaps the marble and lovely interior of T. Rohan isn’t a good fit for what I’m imagining, but I think we need more low cost, casual dining options somewhere on the strip.
I find that most of the food places are cheaper to eat at in downtown then going to olive garden or a place like that. I have no problem with chain restaurant being in the city, but they do not have to be downtown. The post has great happy hours food prices ($5 for a chicken tender basket with fries!) and daily food specials. Same goes with the crow nest and even schalfy has prices inline or cheaper then olive garden.
I agree with your assessment, Scott. I wasn’t thinking Olive Garden type of restaurants (which certainly are overpriced for the quality) but more pay at the counter ones like Chipotle, Five Guys, Noodle Company, etc. With young kids, we often don’t want to go to a sit down restaurant with a tip. If I had to choose between a local and a national chain, I would of course choose local, but it’s more the price point that I’m concerned about.
We should try the Post some time for Happy Hour. Thanks for the suggestion.
What I want in Maplewood for when we get to go out without the kiddos are more ethnic restaurants. An Indian or Vietnamese restaurant would be awesome.
thank you for not putting in a chain restaurant into this space! we need something local and will add value to our great city.
Yes, indeed. Position is well stated.
These are exceedingly difficult times for both employees and business owners. I pray for the single-owner operator of any kind all the time. Big corps owned by China can absorb losses and pass them on to we ‘sheeple”. Not so for the small, hands-on businesses. Blessings for all involved.