The image showing what Laham Development wants for its property at 620 W. Maple, which sits just west of Riverfront Stadium at Maple and Sycamore and has been home to a string of bars over the years, is bound to get ballpark fans excited.
It features a modern building with retractable garage doors and a fenced-in patio that’s surrounded by manicured landscaping and has string lights glowing above. Lots of outdoor seating and yard games that people can enjoy before or after ball games are also part of the plan.
That vision is likely still a ways off, but Laham Development has made what it hopes are the first steps toward it, said Amy J. Liebau, chief operating officer for the company, which co-owns the property with Justin Cooke. They’ve leased the address to Tanker BBQ owner Bruce Nielsen, who over the last few months has already spruced it up and started operating his restaurant from it.
Nielsen, who started his barbecue business late last year as a pop-up based out of his buddy’s roofing company at 608 W. Texas, is worried that people will get too excited too soon about the impressive drawing. In his mind, that version of the property is still years away.
It features a modern building with retractable garage doors and a fenced-in patio that’s surrounded by manicured landscaping and has string lights glowing above. Lots of outdoor seating and yard games that people can enjoy before or after ball games are also part of the plan.
That vision is likely still a ways off, but Laham Development has made what it hopes are the first steps toward it, said Amy J. Liebau, chief operating officer for the company, which co-owns the property with Justin Cooke. They’ve leased the address to Tanker BBQ owner Bruce Nielsen, who over the last few months has already spruced it up and started operating his restaurant from it.
Nielsen, who started his barbecue business late last year as a pop-up based out of his buddy’s roofing company at 608 W. Texas, is worried that people will get too excited too soon about the impressive drawing. In his mind, that version of the property is still years away.
When the renovations and upgrades are complete, this will be a pretty nice spot near the stadium and if the BBQ is any good, it should do well.
It can't hurt that the area in general is going to see quite a bit of action over the next few years with the hotel and apartments along with retail space going up beyond right field and the work expected to start in the next few years beyond center field. There should be quite a few more people down there on a more regular basis within the next decade.
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