openings and closings in Playa

[ryberg]

Been meaning to post this for quite a while but just haven't gotten around to it. Now I have. So for what it's worth:

Tony & Cheri already beat me to the punch on Office Depot opening, as you can see here. It rather dwars Faisan y Venado there in its lot on the highway near Juarez, I must say. And they put it up quickly! But this is another nice improvement for locals looking to run a business. We used to have to go to the Cancun branch to get Canon printer toner, for example (though I think Sam's recently added that).

Also possibly old news to some is the closing of Zócalo on 8th street across from Yaxché. Sorry to see that but I guess it happened a couple of months ago. We've been rather distracted... Such a shame to think of that especially in light of the loss not only of what was said to be a nice restaurant (never had the pleasure myself) but also that great Rivera mural they apparently went to great pains to have put up on their wall, there.

Edit: Ignore the following mistaken comment! Seems like Taberna, the sports bar on 10th at the corner of 4th street, is also closed now, or perhaps operating only as an Internet café or something. (I go by so early that it's hard to tell.) Anyone know about that?

Also some time ago Kabuki, around the corner from us on 8th, gave up the ghost and moved out, after what (for that general location) was a good long haul -- year and a half, maybe? There is a sign saying that a new Argentinian grill will open up there, although if I'm not mistaken, it says it will in May and there ain't much of May left...

Their neighbors, Nu Game, right next to the Alhambra, similarly closed down, or at least sold to others, who are now operating that sports-oriented spot and have been for maybe a month now. (This is the old location of Sol Food, you may remember: another short-lived entity in that area.)

I feel certain I'm missing one, an opening I saw recently, but can't recall it right now. If it comes to me, I'll post it.

Now if we could just move along in terms of the new pier closing down...

Steve

[swami]

has a new resturant opened in the gabi location? steve, thanks for the helpful info over the years. i plan on stopping by over new years to say hello.

[Michele]

Originally Posted by swami

has a new resturant opened in the gabi location? steve, thanks for the helpful info over the years. i plan on stopping by over new years to say hello.

I believe it is now El Diablito. I was there for drinks a few weeks ago. It's a nice louge to hang out in. Haven't tried the food yet. $$$ Drinks. Glass of white house wine $70 pesos.

[Sunny20]

ohh.. i liked la taberna very much, had a nice atmosphere, sports in the tv's great fajitas and also a pool table, and how nice to be able to check your emails before you go out... Definetely one of my favorties... Well, there are a lot of favorties left, so

[simontreal]

Originally Posted by Michele

I believe it is now El Diablito. I was there for drinks a few weeks ago. It's a nice louge to hang out in. Haven't tried the food yet. $$$ Drinks. Glass of white house wine $70 pesos.

Food there is really, really good. Eclectic tapas style, you need to order at least a few plates to be full. Music is usually really good too, if you're not sitting to close to the street where it clashes horribly with the hip hop from that place across the way.

[SarahB]

I noticed yesterday that it looks like Los Alemandros on 10th is closed. I used to really love that place, but last time I went (a couple of weeks ago) it was absolutely terrible (food, service, everything).

[PlayadelSoul]

La Taberna in Cancun gets a lot of its business from ex-pats, who like to hang out with other ex-pats (I never understood that dynamic). Playa is to eclectic to rely on one segment of society to pay the bills.

[ryberg]

That happens in Japan a lot. But then Japan traditionally has been notoriously xenophobic, as a whole.

Later I remembered: somebody's suddenly back into construction, or at least renovation, at the site of the erstwhile TGI Friday's at the corner of 8th street and 5th.

Steve

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by SarahB

I noticed yesterday that it looks like Los Alemandros on 10th is closed. I used to really love that place, but last time I went (a couple of weeks ago) it was absolutely terrible (food, service, everything).

Oh no! I loved Los Almendros....service was never great, but the food was and the price was incredible....

[SarahB]

Originally Posted by ryberg

...Later I remembered: somebody's suddenly back into construction, or at least renovation, at the site of the erstwhile TGI Friday's at the corner of 8th street and 5th.

Steve

Yeah, wonder what that's gonna be?

Fly is closed and under construction. New owner maybe?

I walked all over town yesterday and realized that each time I walk around I see things that I haven't seen before. Kinda a nice thought until I realized it is probably b/c so many things open and close so often!

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by ryberg

Later I remembered: somebody's suddenly back into construction, or at least renovation, at the site of the erstwhile TGI Friday's at the corner of 8th street and 5th.
Steve

Hopefully it will be a nice Benigans, or Chili's or Applebys. That's the one thing I hate about going to Playa, is not having access to all the lovely corporate food I have all over the place at home.

Seriously though, that location was WAY to prime to stay vacant for too long. I'm surprised its been vacant as long as it has!

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Oh no! I loved Los Almendros....service was never great, but the food was and the price was incredible....

Actually - sounds like the perfect StewartG restaurant! "European" service, great food and low prices.

[SarahB]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Oh no! I loved Los Almendros....service was never great, but the food was and the price was incredible....

I loved it too! I went there many times, but the service last time was terrible (and I'm used to crappy service!).

[1lostmaya]

It used to also be a favorite of our family. The first time we ate there it was at a picnic table in the yard. The family still lived in the house and you had to run down the street to buy beer. The hand made antejetos, chile rellanos and puerco melanesa were out of this world. The Senor and Senora always took interest in our family and others eating there. Last March we were surprised by the abandonment of the old regular items on the menu. The Senor and Senora were both there, the service was horrible, the food lackluster and they were both disinterested in the guests. It was like they were only there to count the receipts. There must be a story in there somewhere.

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by SarahB

Yeah, wonder what that's gonna be?

Originally Posted by StewartG

Hopefully it will be a nice Benigans, or Chili's or Applebys. That's the one thing I hate about going to Playa, is not having access to all the lovely corporate food I have all over the place at home.

Seriously though, that location was WAY to prime to stay vacant for too long. I'm surprised its been vacant as long as it has!

Well... On the walk in this morning I saw lots of workers there, with a wooden exterior that had been erected on the 8th street side, flush with the edge of the sidewalk where the old wrought iron railing of TGI Friday's ran, and after looking around a bit, I asked.

[drum roll]


Burger King.

Due to open in 3-4 months, they said. So the old rumors were true, evidently. Does that qualify for what you were referring to, Stewart?

A quick search online didn't turn up confirmation of that right away but did turn up this interesting quote from this undated article of some years ago, apparently:

When Burger King tried to set up shop in the Avenida Quinto [sic], the town fought the American fast-food chain. The result: Burger King did get an outlet, but it was located off the main drag.

Guess that doesn't apply anymore, as I for one haven't heard about any protests.

I will kill two birds with one stone here and satisfy those looking for a picture of the beach. Check out this one from the article:



Steve