Conca D'Oro closed June 2nd after 36 years in business. A sign of the times or a portent of Hollywood's downtown demise? The last time I ate at Conca D'Oro, about 2 years ago, it was packed.
Sunday, June 24th about 4 pm I took a walk around Downtown Hollywood Florida. Harrison Street was all but deserted with dozens of empty stores and for rent signs. Most of the restaurants on Hollywood Blvd. and Harrison street seemed dark - I had to press my nose against the glass to see in. None seemed very inviting so we ended up driving to a restaurant out of the area. It made me sad to see all the little shops gone. What was left? Apparently a slew of women's clothing shops with sparkly, low cut dresses and ultra high heeled shoes. Most of the merchandise was pretty cheap...looking. Also left were bars. As I passed bar after bar on Hollywood Blvd. the smell of stale beer wafted out, turning me off.
It was only about 4 or 5 years ago when downtown Hollywood was a popular choice for a dinner destination. There was plenty of live music and artsy shops to visit. It was Hollywood's attempt to repackage South Beach or Delray Beach.
I blame the exodus of all the good business from Hollywood to the bad redesign of Young's Circle. Whatever happened here in downtown Hollywood, it is profoundly sad.
11 comments:
Another example why the Cuban American builders need US foreign policy to change: to open up Havana. The dream ain't working in SoFlo.
Hollywood struggles to create its mojo. City leaders should face it, Hollywood has none.
So sad. That restaurant was great.
I think that the city tinkered too much with parking fees - and likely landlords jacked up rents too. These things go in cycles and it is still a pretty walkable area. Hopefully the cycle will uptick soon. Last night we drove by Young Circle and there was a food truck round-up that looked pretty busy, and I do like the playground features on the north east side of the park. Time will tell. Soo - where did you go to eat?
Rustic Inn.
Food trucks don't help dying businesses.
I beg to differ! some great little places to eat. Nakorn Thai, Angus Bar & Grill, Mam Mia & many more -reasonable priced & good. more $$$ but great are La Baracca (live Flamenco dancers!)and very upscale Fulvios 1900. Sage is good too. Vino is wine bar owned by Fulvio's, so you can get food by same great chef. The only thing wrong with downtown is that Hollywood residents are physically ugly. I speak as one myself. But you can go to Lincoln Road to people watch.
I looked in windows of some of those places--like Sage, just didn't beckon you in like let's say places in Delray.
Eastward Ho!
What everyone is overlooking for yearsis that Low income housing has been forced into neighborhoods around the downtown. Thos people can barely afford anything much less eating downtown. It is time the city improves the neioghborhoods and increase the property values to middle class. we must get rid of the commissioner that is in disctrict two-hes the biggest problem.
The restaurant you are referring to has closed due to being bought out by a new construction project and not due to lack of business. AS a business owner myself in the Downtown -I have seen my business increase by on average 12% from 2008 so I'm not sure if your idea that things were a lot better 4 or 5 years ago are correct. I do agree with you on the bad design of Young Circle as being a hinderance but even more of a hinderance is the City's constant spending on it's entertainment to prove to the residents that it's not the White Elephant we all know it to be.
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