Remember this story? The City would like there to be retail businesses sharing space in the Riverfront Visitor’s Center (which is housed in Peoria’s oldest commercial building), and issued a request for proposals.
Well, the proposals are in — all three of them:
The City of Peoria and Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau received three proposals for the RiverFront Visitors Center. Mr. Kurt Huber of the Peoria RiverFront Association proposed the establishment of a retail gift shop. The PRA would offer local cultural offerings and items made by the Peoria area industry. They would relocate their office to the RiverFront Visitor Center and also be a ticket outlet for RiverFront and Peoria area events. Ms. Renada Allen of The Giant Cookie would offer fresh baked homemade cookies and hand-dipped ice cream, as well as ice cream novelties and drinks year round. Ms. Lynnette Lee of World On Wheels would offer Segway rentals and tours throughout the city, regular tandem bicycles, and also operate a snack and souvenir shop. The business or businesses selected will be located in the same building with the Peoria Convention and Visitors Bureau.
If you could only pick one, which would you like to see on the riverfront?
Clearly the best choice is the Segway rentals for a unique addition to the riverfront. I’ve rented them several times on vacations around the country and they are a lot of fun and a great way to see the local sites. However, I’m not sure what they are going to tour on them in downtown Peoria…the housing project, the RiverPlex, the soon to be vacant WTVP building….
A Moss-Bradley area tour on them would be nice but not sure the sidewalk infrastructure is there to get to that point easily!
Here’s a novel idea. Instead of issuing RFPs, the city ought to put up “business space for rent” signs, and let anyone willing to pay rent put in any damn business they want there.
A small Hooter’s with a drive thru window.
I’m surprised the museum folks didn’t turn in a bid on it. Apparently with that Delta concept they’re always touting, no space is too small to display Peoria’s history! 😛
I can just imagine how brisk a business they would have this weekend selling ice cream and renting segways on the riverfront. Anyone who would consider investing in that enterprise, listen up, I want to talk to you real bad. I’ve got some very nice bridges to sell…..
It’s been a very long time since I visited the Visitor’s Bureau. The one time I went there I was shocked that it only consisted of a hallway with literature racks. There wasn’t even anyone there to answer questions. I hope it has improved since then. Of the three choices, I favor the cookies, if they would include coffee. Also, and this wasn’t suggested, I think it would be a good place to display pictures of Grandview Drive, Wildlife Prairie Park, or other places of note in or around Peoria. It might be interesting to have some artifacts on display that show Peoria’s history. I’ve seen this done other places, and I found it quite helpful and interesting.
Frequent Reader,
That idea was suggested years ago…and shot down like every other idea that made sense in this town. Most people aren’t even aware of the historical significance of that building. Peoria – all these people who feel like they know what they are doing, but have no idea what they are doing.
On a related issue what is the plan with the museum block if Lakeview can’t win the voters over next Feb 5th? Shouldn’t we as a community be thinking of a plan B? I would personally like to see a mixed used development with residential and some small retail. The IMAX is still a good idea to bring people down 7 days a week.
That is one big block that we only get one chance in our lifetimes to develop. Even if Lakeview builds there I don’t think we should give them 2/3 of the block. We don’t need all of that green(concrete) plaza space. It needs to be a densely developed block.