View Full Version : ROCK & BOWL SIGN GONE!!!!
nyc gal
09-20-2007, 06:25 PM
Those bastids painted over the old Mid-City Lanes Sign--now its baby-shit brown witht just the bowling pin and two musical notes stuck on....oh the crime of it!!!!!!!
This aint right.
jazzykeb
09-20-2007, 07:16 PM
dam, that does suk
NYMAMA
09-20-2007, 07:24 PM
Those bastids:mad:
festivalgirl
09-20-2007, 08:00 PM
what's it look like?? [other than wrong]
Rossvegas
09-20-2007, 08:16 PM
Maybe it's only half done...maybe they're waiting to paint on the rest of it? By the way, who are these bastids that did this? The landlord?
Corona
09-20-2007, 08:25 PM
That was my question too Ross...damn that sucks...I hope it's just a work in progress :(
rosetree
09-20-2007, 08:30 PM
Before we jump to conclusions, did anyone try to contact John Blancher or R&B to see if it is being repainted or repaired????
http://www.rockandbowl.com/contactPAGE/contactpage.html
festivalgirl
09-20-2007, 09:01 PM
Before we jump to conclusions, did anyone try to contact John Blancher or R&B to see if it is being repainted or repaired????
http://www.rockandbowl.com/contactPAGE/contactpage.html
I did check out the schedule and noticed they were closed for the past 10 days.
bywterbro
09-20-2007, 09:11 PM
the closing has been planned due to renovation of the shopping center,
and the parking lot....so the sign work is prolly part of this...
that center could use the improvements...
Belle
09-20-2007, 09:11 PM
that center could use the improvements...
YGTR
windowman
09-20-2007, 09:17 PM
The entire complex that contains RnB is undergoing extensive renovation. RnB was closed for ten days to allow the contractors greater access to the building. I talked to Johnny B. the night before the closing and he didn't seem too hopeful that the shut-down would really speed things up and from the looks of it, he is right. This is a pretty large structure and everything but RnB was on the ground floor with about four feet of water in it. I hope that the new signage is reminiscent of the old one, I would be surprised if it was not.
stynger
09-20-2007, 09:17 PM
Let's hope it's not finished yet.
nyc gal
09-21-2007, 02:23 AM
I went to Rock & Bowl tonight and asked John about it. The landlords (a coupla guys from da Nortshore and coupla sons of someone or other, all of whom just don't "get it") had the facade repaired and painted.
They painted over John's sign-which, by the way, he had comissioned in 1995 to be painted by a local artist. It was designed to LOOK like it was there for decades.
The artist is available to re-paint, and John is willing to pay for it, but the owners want to wait and see who ends up renting the downstairs. He is not happy about this--he has no choice.
Any complaints to the management should be directed to the management and not to John-he really wants to put the sign back!
Belle
09-21-2007, 07:14 AM
I went to Rock & Bowl tonight and asked John about it. The landlords (a coupla guys from da Nortshore and coupla sons of someone or other, all of whom just don't "get it") had the facade repaired and painted.
They painted over John's sign-which, by the way, he had comissioned in 1995 to be painted by a local artist. It was designed to LOOK like it was there for decades.
The artist is available to re-paint, and John is willing to pay for it, but the owners want to wait and see who ends up renting the downstairs. He is not happy about this--he has no choice.
Any complaints to the management should be directed to the management and not to John-he really wants to put the sign back!
Anyway to contact these managers?
larrybawlmer
09-21-2007, 10:13 AM
Only in NOLA-good and bad
papafrog
09-21-2007, 10:16 AM
Anyway to contact these managers?
Im sure if you call rock n bowl, you could get their contact info....
bluesgirl
09-21-2007, 01:21 PM
South Park made that sign even more of a legend...
nyc gal
09-21-2007, 07:23 PM
Developers Clark Heebe, Brett Davis and Vincent and Romero Marcello said they all approached Berenson separately about acquiring the property to no avail. The four-man team joined to form 4 Pins Standing LLC, a development company that purchased the shopping center that houses Mid-City Lanes for $2.7 million. Today, 4 Pins Standing LLC began a $5-million renovation of the 72,000-square-foot space now called Mid-City Shopping Center. It could be ready by Christmas.
nyc gal
09-21-2007, 07:26 PM
Clark Heebe, the lead investor behind 4 Pins Standing
Rossvegas
09-21-2007, 09:04 PM
Okay, I'm thinking that no one is going to dump $5 million into a renovation and lose the one thing that would be considered "iconic" in the building - that just makes no sense. I'm guess that there will be a big, beautiful Rock N Bowl sign up there at some point, and John Blancher will find a way to get these guys to pay for a big chunk of it...mark my words! :>)
stynger
09-21-2007, 10:48 PM
Can someone post a picture of how it looks NOW so I can get a visual? We all know how it use to look.
windowman
09-24-2007, 02:09 AM
As per your request, Stynger, the new sign at RnB (in progress):
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/windowman_2007/P9230086.jpg
stynger
09-24-2007, 06:04 AM
OMG that is so generic looking. Ugly. I hope they can get it back to something like it's old self.
bluesgirl
09-24-2007, 07:39 AM
windowman, can I put this picture in the rebirth category on my website at www.fullmoonblues.com?
Oh, and I really can't see them letting the sign stay like that. The sign is famous, too!
Right after the thing, I got an email from the list master at the R'n'B looking for pics for an article that the Denver paper was doing. I sent them some, but I don't know if they were used or not.
windowman
09-24-2007, 02:35 PM
I don't think that they are finished with the sign, Stynger. I do like the big neon pin, it will look cool at night. I think it will look good when it's finished.
Bluesgirl, you are welcome to use this photo if you would like. Here is a direct link to it:
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/windowman_2007/P9230086.jpg
bluesgirl
09-24-2007, 03:01 PM
I don't think that they are finished with the sign, Stynger. I do like the big neon pin, it will look cool at night. I think it will look good when it's finished.
Bluesgirl, you are welcome to use this photo if you would like. Here is a direct link to it:
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/windowman_2007/P9230086.jpg
Thanks!!! I'll put it up after I get home, with a windowman credit, of course. :D
sophisticated sissy
09-24-2007, 04:10 PM
I think it'll be okay. Can't wait to see it when it's done! Thank you, windowman, for the pic of the work in progress!
festivalgirl
09-24-2007, 08:31 PM
Looks like a work in progress to me. A nice clean surface for the big ol' sign.
stlbarb
09-24-2007, 08:39 PM
Looks like a work in progress to me. A nice clean surface for the big ol' sign.
why does it need a sign? doesnt everybody already know where it is? ;)
probably gonna put a bowling shirt on one side and a big picture of John dancing on the other.
i hope the thrift store comes back.
bluesgirl
09-25-2007, 05:56 AM
why does it need a sign? doesnt everybody already know where it is? ;)
probably gonna put a bowling shirt on one side and a big picture of John dancing on the other.
i hope the thrift store comes back.
It has to be one of John's sequined shirts. :D
nyc gal
09-25-2007, 10:56 AM
John specifically wants the old painted sign replaced-he owns the artwork, the artist who did it back in '95 is still available to do it, and he will gladly pay for it. The new (clueless) owners of the strip mall will not let him do so it until the other units are rented out.
The sign was originally painted to look old and weathered, like the building itself. Given the money they are spending on the refurbishments, I'm sure the new owners don't really want the "old and weathered" look, especially since they will be trying to sell space in the center to new tennants. And frankly, the old sign would look somewhat out of place on the freshened face of the building.
I drove by R-n-B on my way home from the game last night, and the neon bowling pin and musical notes were lit up and looked great. It will be interesting to see what more (if anything) they do to the facade of the building. But whatever they do, remember its what goes on INSIDE that makes the place so special.
Just a local's point of view....
nyc gal
09-25-2007, 11:54 AM
true dat! But really-even if the new sign were not faux-weathered, its a great design. Unfortunately, for right now, the new owners will not allow anything beyond the exisiting neon pin and notes.
festivalgirl
09-25-2007, 03:08 PM
John specifically wants the old painted sign replaced-he owns the artwork, the artist who did it back in '95 is still available to do it, and he will gladly pay for it. The new (clueless) owners of the strip mall will not let him do so it until the other units are rented out.
If I was a new tenant, I would want the most established business to put their sign back. They pay for it and it attracts people to my business.
The anchor tenant always gets the biggest sign. Can't imagine more of an anchor than RnB.
glinda
09-25-2007, 03:41 PM
Sad reality is probably that the typical corporate decision makers for the usual strip mall tenants would prefer a generic-vanilla look that allows THEIR brand to show through. Genericization of America? PLEASE, not in New Orleans.
festivalgirl
09-25-2007, 03:50 PM
Sad reality is probably that the typical corporate decision makers for the usual strip mall tenants would prefer a generic-vanilla look that allows THEIR brand to show through. Genericization of America? PLEASE, not in New Orleans.
You're right. I just don't think of corporate tenants in that mall. IS it a busy corner during the day? Never been there in daylight myself.
You're right. I just don't think of corporate tenants in that mall. IS it a busy corner during the day? Never been there in daylight myself.
It is a VERY busy corner during the day. And remember, the other tenants may not care about (and in fact may not like) R-n-B being in the same complex - because they have to share parking facilities with a late-night drinking establishment, which (as much as we dislike it) can lead to broken bottles and other litter as well as random folks wandering around at night, etc...
I think we should all just thank our lucky stars that the new owners decided to honor the lease with John and allow Rock-n-Bowl to remain in business at the corner of Carrollton and Tulane!
djgriff
09-25-2007, 04:36 PM
I think we should all just thank our lucky stars that the new owners decided to honor the lease with John and allow Rock-n-Bowl to remain in business at the corner of Carrollton and Tulane!
Amen.
stynger
09-25-2007, 05:28 PM
The sign was originally painted to look old and weathered, like the building itself. Given the money they are spending on the refurbishments, I'm sure the new owners don't really want the "old and weathered" look, especially since they will be trying to sell space in the center to new tennants. And frankly, the old sign would look somewhat out of place on the freshened face of the building.
I drove by R-n-B on my way home from the game last night, and the neon bowling pin and musical notes were lit up and looked great. It will be interesting to see what more (if anything) they do to the facade of the building. But whatever they do, remember its what goes on INSIDE that makes the place so special.
Just a local's point of view....
Yeah I was thinking about this the last couple of days. While I would like the sign to remain the same, it's incredible we still have the RnB at all. For whatever reason it survived thank god.
I guess if I have to live with it changing on the outside I will be more than happy to have the inside remain the same.
windowman
09-25-2007, 08:48 PM
I saw the pin and notes last night on my way home from the game (ugh!) and as Frank said, it looks great. I believe that the new owners did not have the option to terminate RnB's lease, FWIW.
Belle
12-14-2007, 03:00 PM
Any locals willing to update what is going on with the sign. I do know some great music is on the inside.
mamaroux
12-15-2007, 01:06 AM
it's a shame that John couldn't afford to buy the whole complex himself and rent out the space to more suitable tenants... like a used record store, funky clothing, and whatever happened to that Thai restaurant that was downstairs? Hmmm maybe a costume shop... or a health food store would be good. A place that sells hangover cures, ya know? LOL John told me a couple of weeks ago that he really would like to have the old sign back out there... who knows, maybe he can get it done and not have it look quite so old and weathered and the new owners might be okay with that... sigh.
pokerchick66
12-15-2007, 09:44 AM
it's a shame that John couldn't afford to buy the whole complex himself and rent out the space to more suitable tenants... like a used record store, funky clothing, and whatever happened to that Thai restaurant that was downstairs? Hmmm maybe a costume shop... or a health food store would be good. A place that sells hangover cures, ya know? LOL John told me a couple of weeks ago that he really would like to have the old sign back out there... who knows, maybe he can get it done and not have it look quite so old and weathered and the new owners might be okay with that... sigh.
Ooooh, I've eaten at that Thai food restaurant and it was good. Great Pad Thai!
I miss the Thrift Store. One year when I was doing the whole Fest somebody from our group of 1st weekenders took my bag home by mistake. Nine days left in NOLA with only the clothes on my back. That Thrift Store provided tees and Hawaiian shirts as well as a pair of jeans that became cut-offs. They saved my ass. The only thing I miss more than that store was the Bayou Plaza Hotel.
ibjamn
12-17-2007, 06:35 PM
As per your request, Stynger, the new sign at RnB (in progress):
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/windowman_2007/P9230086.jpg
It looks just like that as of yesterdy, only the facade of the shopping center is finished.