Pretty much what the title says. Started out with a lousy concept, and never did get much of a crowd. Who will be the next to close? I’m hearing rumors of several other places in the Pearl.
Mercato in the Pearl has Closed
October 27, 2008 By 14 Comments
Food Dude
"I have a wide-range of food experience - working in the restaurant industry on both sides of the house, later in the wine industry, and finally traveling/tasting my way around the world. Whether you agree or disagree, you can always count on my unbiased opinion. I don't take free meals, and the restaurants don't know when, or if, I am coming."
Never even heard of this place…where was it located??
I don’t see it on the review list to the right… what was the “lousy concept”?
I agree. I work in the Pearl and I can’t even place this. Who are the rumors about though?!
Jeff, you’ll find lots of reviews around town. Just Google Mercato.
Stumptowngirl, I’m avoiding identifiying the restaurants circling the drain. Not worth the hassle I’d get.
hotdawg, it was just down from Ten 01, about 9th and Couch
Located across the street from Pearl Bakery. Huge space that took months (too long!) to build. Was open from 7AM for breakfast until dinner. Poor concept indeed, and always empty. Sad…
What was so poor about the concept?
I kind of dug the place, for something that would be located in some sprawling place out in the boonies. But even a place that is built around that concept, like Noodles & Company, had their act put together better. Mercator never seemed to have much impact – not really a Pearl”y” type of place. Probably would have done better in Beaverton or something.
next: Isabel Cruz’s place?
Circling the Drain
How can Radio Room on NE Alberta not be the next restaurant to go under? It’s always empty, the food, the food has gotten significantly worse (try to keep down one of their “fresh” mussels), and they’ve been cutting staff right and left. Like Mercato, RR is poorly conceived and has no idea of its audience.
After RR goes down, look for Casa Naranja to join it. Both of these places assumed that just because they open a restaurant on a hot strip they’ll do well. They take their diners for granted.
KingoKenton, I am sorry you couldn’t muster a more encouraging (and accurate) take on Radio Room. “Circling the Drain?” Not so fast, Kingo. I understand the impulse to be a doomsayer in these tough times but gee whiz, you seem to delight in it.
Things are going very well and getting better all the time at Radio Room. We own the property and look forward to being part of Alberta for a long time. We have a fantastic manager, Sarah, who shares our interest in serving good food and drink at an affordable price, while mixing it up with music, art and a few events along the way. All casual, all the time. We will soon be booking some great low-fi local musicians and showcasing other artists from the Alberta area. We have a growing number of repeat guests who have been very helpful as we make changes to fit their tastes.
It is true that some restaurants and bars are so well conceived from the outset that they find success the moment they open the doors, which is a truly beautiful thing when it happens but not very common. And there are places like Radio Room that take time, collaboration and hard work to age properly and evolve to meet the tastes and desires of the neighborhood. Most of my favorite places in town evolved that way and Radio Room is doing the same.
Radio Room is a collaborative place with fantastic employees, customers, neighbors and friends all taking part in making it a lively addition to Alberta. We hope you will come by and take part as well. In fact, stop by on election night, we will be watching the historic event live and hope to celebrate a long-awaited and decisive win for the good guys.
Thanks again for your previous suggestions, you may be surprised to see a few of them in place if you stop in again some time.
I hope they are getting better, Unabaines. I just haven’t seen the changes, and I’ve been to RR a dozen times or more now, as I live right around the block. Love the servers and cheap wine, but the food, oy, please. Lo-fi Alberta musicians will be a good addition. Would love to see a complete overhaul of the menu. Look at Bye and Bye: all (very tasty) vegan fare, and cheap drinks in huge mason jars. Now those guys KNOW the neighborhood. I’ll stop by election night to watch Nader’s victory speech.
Black eyed peas and greens = Nader.
Add bacon to that, and then you’re watching a victory speech.
KingoKenton, I am glad to hear you are counted among our regulars. Some choice menu changes are underway, but we wont be all vegan. The Bye & Bye have that covered very well. We will be offering more vegetarian options. The changes will be rolled out over the next couple of weeks.
I agree that our friends at the Bye & Bye KNOW the neighborhood, and I am glad to count them among our regulars as well.
If you stop in on Tuesday for Nader’s victory speech, say hello.
I am not entirely sure what Morris means in the post above but I think I agree. Bacon is good….