I know I made light of the mermaids thing but the larger issue is the proposed $8.6 million city subsidy for the building of the complex. As you might expect, there is a petition out there in opposition to the subsidy. Neighboring businesses argue the subsidy would “bankrupt” their businesses. The Midtown Business Association has collected some documents about the proposal (they call the proposed new bar with swimming girls a “mermaid bar,” which is confusing — if it was truly a bar for mermaids, that wouldn’t necessarily cut into the bottom line for neighboring businesses catering to “normals.”)
Based on the developer’s proposal it sounds like the mermaid bar/mermaid-themed bar is going to be punningly titled “DIVE BAR” and the “adult pizza” (??) joint is to be called “PIZZA ROCK.”
The Sac Rag 
What do you mean it’s not going to cut into their business? With a mermaid bar in the vicinity, Tom Hanks is never going to go to Ella.
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I hadn’t thought of mermophiles.
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How is this even being considered?
Besides, I am too busy hanging out at Three Monkeys, another hip downtown restaurant/bar that the City decided to invest in. Oh wait, they are ALREADY BANKRUPT.
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What no mermen?
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Y’know, I think the city did not invest in 3monkeys, surprisingly – it’s unusual to see city hall pass up a losing bet downtown. (They’re going to be spending tons to move the 7th/K light rail station next month, for Zeiden, who’s already asking for additional millions.) I’m curious if anyone knows if the city helped out w/ the Park complex or the other places that are now opposing this subsidy.
Oh, and I think the correct term nowadays is mer-domestic-help. Unless “maid” is a reference to “unmarried young woman”; you can come up w/ your own contemporary substitutions for that.
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How will the mer-domestic-help tank work when the city limits water use? It’s almost like they’re not thinking things through.
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The bar can just dump undrunk ice from the bottom of cups into the tanks to top ’em off. And I’m thinking about a Sea Monkey bar in my basement, but I can only get it up and running with a grant from the city. $150,000 oughtta’ do it. Where do I get in line for all this money?
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Dirk, 3 Monkeys received $50,000 from the City of Sacramento last year to make improvements to the exterior of their building. This does not include the $$$ that was spent by the City to rehabilitate the Sun Building, which was primarily done to accommodate the new restaurant.
Leslie Fritzsche, the Redevelopment Manager for the City, was recently quoted as saying that the City is looking for “creative ways” to give the restaurant more money, as she cannot give them any more redevelopment money to cover operating expenses for an existing business.
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Oh, and few things piss me off more than the millions you mentioned that we are spending to move a BRAND NEW light rail station because Zeiden does not like the sight lines.
Sacramento, don’t you understand that these actions cause resentment? That there is no way in hell I will give these businesses my money when I can support regular, local businesses owned by regular, local folks?
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Basurman,
There was an article in the Bee yesterday (can’t find the link) quoting one of the ‘developers’ as saying that yes, they will have mermen. Seriously.
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Asexual-/Trans-/gender neutral-merpeople are getting pissed about all this exclusion. Who wants to go to a bar that discriminates? Not to mention the cultural ignorance aspects: next they will build a bar that displays Eskimos in a pseudo-Arctic environment, building igloos for your amusement while you drink and snack. Maybe a bar where you can watch amazonian tribes in loincloths try to catch fish while you play fooseball and darts.
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And since it seems to be safe to make fun of people with sirenomelia, I’m hoping for a bar where the drinks are served on/taken away by trays carried by “little people” on their heads. Maybe trays with appitizers circulating as well, at a handy waist height? Not to mention a bar where the staff only have one leg, and all drinks are shaken, not stirred?
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OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I seriously cannot wait for this bar to open. The city needs something new and exciting. Hopefully they do enough PR to get the word out about the opening. I know so many people who would love to go to a mermaid bar. Seroiously, I need to know when they open.
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