The new construction underway in LSU’s North Gate area is a great step in the right direction for the burgeoning neighborhood.A CVS, PJ’s Coffee, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Shanghai Tokyo and Pita Pit will all comprise the new shopping center known as College Row North Gate and will be completed in time for the fall semester. The shopping center will also have a new parking lot, which will hopefully relieve some of the area’s already bad parking situation. This new establishment could lead to further projects dedicated to improvement of the immediate area around campus.North Gate would see better crowds with a large bar. The Varsity serves its purpose for concerts but is impractical for hangind out at on a normal business night because of high prices and an unconventional bar layout. The dive bars along Chimes Street also cater well to their clientele but lack the size to accommodate larger crowds.I’d imagine the naked white walls of the old Blockbuster could easily be remodeled to a new bar. This current eyesore could be transformed into a fine drinking establishment, complete with the new Capital One ATM being constructed next door. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about opening a tab and forgetting your credit card at the end of the night. A large bar could also disperse some of the cluster at Serrano’s during and after home football games.
Another crucial business opportunity lies in the former pizza heaven Mr. Gatti’s. All-you-can-eat buffets are favorite stops for college students, and the absence of one in Northgate hurts. Hopefully the Italian gods will shine their beautiful light upon us and bless us with another $6.99 cheap pizza feast. Proven businesses in the area have laid down the blueprints for new enterprise to succeed. I love Raising Cane’s as much as the next person in Baton Rouge. In fact, I’m a proud member of the Caniac Club. Yes, such a thing exists and it even comes with a free box combo (it lacks health benefits, except if you count its high cholesterol content).
Cane’s is unique in the fact that the original restaurant started in North Gate and has since spun off franchise throughout the country, giving hope to future entrepreneurs. The Chimes, with its worldly beer collection and blackened alligator, has long been a mainstay of North Gate. Its tame and friendly atmosphere makes it the go-to restaurant near campus. Highland Coffees seems to be pretty popular with students. I don’t drink coffee or really study for that matter, but this random opinion columnist appreciates the shop for its support to the local community over several years. Small niche stores like Highland Coffees and Storyville are great for overall business as they often bring back returning customers and spread via word of mouth.
Hopefully an influx of new businesses will send the beggars packing. Perhaps the biggest problem with North Gate is the number of vagrants on its streets.Find a way to clear out the homeless and self-proclaimed bohemians who call the front of Circle K home and live off of students’ spare change and King Cobra tall cans. I understand poverty is a problem in most major metropolitan areas and that the Baton Rouge’s zoning commission didn’t just transplant homeless people here. The frequency of it within our North Gate area, however, is at an extraordinarily high level.Find ways to combat it. The way I look at it, new businesses will bring more people and more security. More security will lead to fewer homeless people in North Gate and a cleaner and more hospitable neighborhood.–Contact Cory Cox at [email protected]