Well, not exactly.

June 26, 2008 Toledo Blade - Erie Street Market draws encore as concert venue

Robert Croak, of the Verso Group, said he plans to have up to 10 events a month in the former Civic Center Auditorium. The first show will be Aug. 2. Mr. Croak said he was selected for the job because of his connections and experience with bookings and promotions. The city expects to make between $10,000 to $15,000 per event, the mayor said.

"Anything that brings in 2,000 people, you have to get excited about," Mr. Finkbeiner said. "The Erie Street Market as a civic center theater is exciting," Mr. Finkbeiner said. "It will bring Toledo-area residents to downtown and should make money for the Erie Street Market."

Mr. Croak founded the River East Entertainment District on Main Street: Club 128, the Main Event, and Frankie's Inner City Lounge. All three nightclubs at one time were under scrutiny from liquor control and city police for problems that included noise, drugs, underage consumption of alcohol, unruly juveniles, and public indecency.

Mr. Croak, who operated the former the Main Event in East Toledo, has had legal troubles in the past. He was arrested in 2001 and accused of allowing underage drinking at the nightclub and operating a business where alcohol is sold or furnished in violation of the law. He pleaded not guilty, and the charges eventually were dismissed six months later.

I spent a fair amount of time at the Main Event and Frankie's back in the 1990's. Bachelor days. Fun stuff. Public indecency and underage drinking? What are you talking about? Just rumors ;-)

I saw some good, up-and-coming bands at those two venues, including Korn at the Main Event in 1995. That was impressive. The Stain opened for them. Croak plus Strainbrook, now we're cooking.

• "You're only young once, but you can be immature forever."
• "Rehab is for quitters."

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Comments ... #

Oh i remember those days! Thats interesting that you mention stainbrook, he worked the door at frankies on occasion. Underage drinking? Nah, they had to actually check ID's to determine that. 8-) however there was one guy, can't remember his name, he was the bigger guy with glasses, HE always checked my ID, i totally hated it when he worked the door. 8-)

posted by tm2 on Jun 26, 2008 at 12:59:45 pm     #

Isn't Mr. Croak known for not honoring agreements...

People would come out to see any crappy cover band anyway in a festival-like setting no matter the time of year. Or even a radio DJ playing whatever payola is on the playlist.

Serve Miller Lite and something Belgian for the beer snobs like Budweiser, maybe some double-boxed merlot, and some chick drinks like Jagermeister.

It's not rocket science unless Blatz is involved, then we're gonna need a few physicists.

posted by charlatan on Jun 26, 2008 at 10:46:22 pm     #

Jul 27, 2008 - WTVG - Toledo councilman gives ultimatum

Jul 28, 2008 - Toledo Blade - Michael Collins wants the city of Toledo to quit running Erie Street Market

Jul 29, 2008 - Toledo Blade - 'Anemic' statement shows $26,268 gain for Erie Street Market

Jul 30, 2008 - WTOL - WTOL Editorial: Market not viable, Mr. Mayor

Jul 30, 2008 - WTOL - Council concerns over rap sheet of Erie St. Market promoter

Jul 30, 2008 - WUPW - Collins shocked at Market renovations

Jul 31, 2008 - Toledo Blade - Toledo City Council not in on $80,000 Erie Street Market revamp

Jul 31, 2008 - WTVG - Erie St. Market renovations

Jul 31, 2008 - WTOL - Mayor's highly priced project sparks debate

Aug 1, 2008 - Toledo Blade - Erie Street Market shows will go on, city leaders say

Dec 19, 2007 Toledo Talk posting The Erie Street Market circa 2001-2002 mentioned a Mar 6, 2006 Toledo Blade story Erie St. Market vendors told to go - City clears the way for major renovation :

The renovation will mark just the latest in a series of attempts to help the market, which has been in trouble almost from the day it opened in 1997.

The market, which has suffered from a lack of customers and vendors in recent years, has received a federal grant of $630,500 for maintenance upgrades such as thorough cleaning, painting, new lighting, and upgrading decor. The face-lift will also include a redesigning of the demonstration kitchen, which will include new appliances, a complete facade design, a wireless computer network, and new audio-visual components.

Mr. Boyer said the market already has an existing grant of about $300,000 from the city, and together with the federal grant, the CitiFest committee that operates the market will embark on the project, which will include the hiring of a a new full-time permanent manager within 30 days who will actively begin recruiting tenants to fill the market bay.

Whatever happened to that planned expensive upgrade to the ESM over two years ago?

Number fifteen on Carty Finkbeiner's 2005 Mayoral Campaign Promises :

• "Will actively and personally work to restore the Erie Street Market as a centerpiece of downtown revitalization."

The Erie Street Market opened in 1997 when Carty was mayor. ESM failed. COSI opened in 1998, and it failed. The Commodore Perry apartments building opened in the late 1990s, and its struggling financially. The taxpayers are continuing to fund failed government projects because the dimwitted politicians elected by dimwitted voters are trying to revitalize downtown Toledo.

The political dolts are forcing a square peg into a round hole. Government needs to quit bribing businesses and residents to move to downtown Toledo. If it's meant to be, downtown Toledo will remake itself for the better, but it should mainly be done with private investments.

For several years now in downtown Toledo, the local government has been implementing the Detroit Plan (or Cleveland Plan) that is meant to hide the Detroitification of Toledo. The blueprint calls for government to build a glitzy facade to hide the city's decay.

posted by jr on Aug 01, 2008 at 07:44:49 pm     #

Aug 3, 2008 WTOL story :

A noisy neighbor has returned to the Erie Street Market and no one seems to mind. In fact the newly renovated Civic Theatre got a rockin' welcome home. And this is something the market's manager has been wanting to see again. A sort of rebirth of the Civic Auditorium that Connie Hoffmann, Erie Street Market manager, once knew.

Of course Saturday's spotlight on the new theatre didn't come without some controversy. As questions were recently raised about funding for the renovations. "We are definitely going to pay that back. We are not using tax payer money," says Hoffman.

posted by jr on Aug 06, 2008 at 03:40:47 pm     #

Aug 6, 2008 - Toledo Blade - Maumee Dearest - Erie Street Market

posted by jr on Aug 06, 2008 at 03:43:10 pm     #

I saw Goober and the Peas at Frankie's once. I think Jack White was their drummer then.

posted by pink_slip on Aug 06, 2008 at 03:52:14 pm     #

Aug 2, 2008 - Toledo Blade - Toledo City Council subpoenas local promoter - Inquiry's focus is $80,000 spent on market :

In its quest for answers regarding the expenditure of $80,000 in taxpayer money to renovate part of the city-owned Erie Street Market, Toledo City Council took the unusual step of subpoenaing a concert promoter selected by Mayor Carty Finkbeiner to renovate and revitalize that venue. Councilman D. Michael Collins said he wants to be sure local promoter Robert Croak will appear before council's committee of the whole on Wednesday [August 6, 2008].

"I could have asked him, but with his criminal record, he has a very high number of times he failed to appear in court," said Mr. Collins, a former Toledo police officer. Croak was convicted in 2002 on one count of forgery and has been arrested for but not convicted of underage alcohol sales, according to court records. The forgery conviction stems from a 2001 accusation that Croak falsified records to obtain a liquor permit.

Council's subpoena "duces tecum'' orders Croak to bring with him all contracts, letters of authority, purchase orders, receipts, and any other records used for renovation of "Bay 4" of the market at 237 South Erie St. That space is now called the Toledo Civic Theatre. Several councilmen were displeased this week over revelations that almost $80,000 was spent to renovate space at the market for concerts and other events without council's approval. Mayor Finkbeiner justified the action because the expenses were broken into different contracts - each below $10,000, which the mayor can order without council approval.

Several on Toledo City Council are upset over taxpayer money spent on the ESM. Why are they upset now?

Back in January 2008, here are the Toledo City Council members who voted FOR continuing to fund the Erie Street Market for another four months :

• Joe McNamara
• George Sarantou
• Betty Shultz
• Mark Sobczak
• Wilma Brown
• D. Michael Collins
• Mike Craig
• Tom Waniewski
• Lindsay M. Webb

And here are the two council members who, back in January 2008, voted against wasting taxpayer dollars on the Erie Street Sinkhole :

• Michael Ashford
• Frank Szollosi

And back in May of 2008, the same exact vote occurred in reference to funding the ESM for the rest of 2008.

Council did vote 9-2 to continue operations of the Erie Street Market building for the remainder of the year. Mr. Szollosi and Councilman Michael Ashford voted no. Mr. Copeland was not present for that vote.

Frank Szollosi said back in January 2008 : "We have put $4 million into the market with no return on investments."

If the majority of council back in January and May of this year were not upset about $4 million being dumped into the ESM over the years, why are they upset now about a mere $80,000? Frauds.

August 2008 audio clips found at WSPD that contain phony concern by these frauds on Toledo city council. The titles of some of these WSPD audio clips :

• COUNCILMAN GEORGE SARANTOU - NOT HAPPY WITH THE MAYOR
• COUNCILMAN MIKE COLLINS - GUNS FULLY LOADED
• COUNCILMAN MIKE CRAIG - MAYOR's SLIGHT OF HAND

Back in January and May, those three voted to fund the ESM with taxpayer money.

posted by jr on Aug 06, 2008 at 04:12:58 pm     #

"I saw Goober and the Peas at Frankie's once."

I saw the entertaining Goober and the Peas at Pine Knob back in 1992. It was some kind of all day music fest sponsored by 89X. Saw Front Line Assembly and Concrete Blonde that day also. It was a good day, despite the crowd on the hill lobbing sod bombs at those of us in the seats. The new sod was rolled out a few days earlier. Big mistake.

A bigger mistake, however, is Toledo not selling the Erie Street Market to a private owner, which Jack Ford mentioned as a possibility years ago.

Mayor Jack Ford said in his February 2004 state of the city speech :

I know there is a lot of concern about the Erie Street Market. Past administrations ignored expert advice on how to design and operate a successful market. As a result the market has always struggled. A few years ago, the market was nearly full of merchants. Unfortunately many of those merchants were not paying their rents. The City cannot and should not subsidize merchant rents. That is an irresponsible use of your tax dollars. We've gone back to the experts to propose options for the market. By April they will release their recommendations. At that time, we as a community will have some tough decisions to make, as it could cost millions.

From February 2005 - Trying to save the market :

The former Frogtown Square area at the Erie Street Market is being converted into the Civic Center Promenade, that'll be used for special events and other happenings. Mayor Ford says local artwork and historical photos of Toledo will be used to give the space a nostalgic look. Mayor Ford also says the market can't be forever supported by city tax dollars, and at some point if the market continues to struggle, it needs to be turned over to private hands.

posted by jr on Aug 06, 2008 at 04:26:53 pm     #

Did you know that the lead singer for Goober and the Peas, John Dan Miller, was in the movie Walk the Line? I never actually saw the movie, but I heard he was in it.

Agreed on the ESM. What a waste

posted by pink_slip on Aug 06, 2008 at 04:38:46 pm     #

Aug 5, 2008 e-mail from the Toledo ReUrbanism organizer :

Tomorrow [Aug 6] at 1pm, there will be a Committee of the Whole Meeting of Toledo City Council. Although I wasn't able to be at this past Saturday night's concert at the Erie Street Market, friends said it was well attended, with good music, and affordable food and drinks. I only heard good things about the event, but there are questions about whether the new "Toledo Civic Theatre" should remain open.

This past Saturday night had big crowds and it is reassuring when lots of events are happening at the same time - for example, Adams Street was alive and kicked with the opening of Ottawa Tavern, drawing a line of people waiting to enter. Driving down Adams, there were lots of people and cars outside of every place - from Bretz, to Ottawa Tavern, Mano's, Pub St. George, Manhattan's, and Wesley's. Toledo Club had a Beatlemania concert, and it was amazing seeing all crowds of people walking up and down Adams Street for the events.

I hope that you will have time to voice your support for more downtown activities and investment at tomorrow's city council meeting. It seems like the Toledo Civic Theatre can turn into an affordable and active addition to our region's entertainment options.

Things are heading the right direction in Downtown, but we need to keep encouraging positive developments. I hope that conversation at City Hall opens the door to the Downtown Circulator Project (which has already passed the feasiblity study stage) would bring streetcars back to the downtown grid, as well as removing all remaining one-way streets, adding some more living amenities for downtown residents (tennis and basketball courts, bike paths to and from downtown, support for a downtown grocery, and more parking in deadzones along unused curbs).

As the high costs of our country's suburban lifestyle come to light, the rebuilding and rejuvenation of Downtown Toledo into a friendly, dense, and vibrant community will redefine our region for the best.

I hope you will take time tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, August 6 at 1pm to show support for more downtown activity and investment.

Taxpayer-subsidized entertainment in downtown Toledo, eh? How about selling the Erie Street Market and letting a private owner manage it as a night club, or does that make too much sense?

Toledo government should not be involved in retail, and it should not be involved in the nightclub business. Isn't Toledo government now competing with local private nightclub owners? So much for any buy local initiative that supports local, independent business owners.

And I first heard about Toledo Choose Local at the August 2007 ReUrbanism meeting. And now the main organizer of the these meetings is advocating more big government business that competes with private business owners.

The Erie Street Market is a classic, local example of big government, government intrusion, government failure, and a waste of money.

So, yeah, let's continue to funnel tax money into renovating downtown Toledo while streets around Toledo flood from a heavy rain because, most likely, the drains are clogged. I believe the city refuses to perform basic maintenance on basic infrastructure because it's not a sexy task to brag about. No excuse exists for this kind of street flooding on a major road like Douglas Avenue.

Councilman Tom Waniewski Newsletter - July 2008 :

Well the floods came again, and boy did I hear about it! I've talked with the mayor's office about this. Particularly I mentioned Drummond (pictured), Clover Lane, Elmhurst, Douglas, Buell, Castleton and Garrison. The city has no money I'm told.

Making sure rain water drains efficiently from primary and secondary streets is a somewhat minor task. But if the city is ignoring this "minor" issue that exists in multiple areas around Toledo, what else is city government ignoring because taxpayer money is used to renovate downtown Toledo and to support senseless projects like bike paths?

This is where Toledo is heading.

posted by jr on Aug 06, 2008 at 05:19:11 pm     #

Toledo government along with the Erie Street Nightclub and Event Hall are anti-art.

Last year, Czarty announced the Toledo Arts Zone.

larger map

Well, the Erie Street Market building is not included in the "arts zone" so I guess destruction of art in the market is OK.

Aug 28, 2008 - Toledo Blade - Renovation policy unheeded; $20,000 mural painted over :

Erie Street Market renovations will exceed $100,000 - $20,000 more than the Finkbeiner administration previously reported and $60,000 more than originally intended to make the city-owned building ready for concerts.

Buy local, eh? Use taxpayer money so the government can compete with private business owners.

Councilman D. Michael Collins disclosed yesterday that a mural in what is now the market's Toledo Civic Theatre was painted over during the renovation work. The mural, painted by Cynthia Carlson, an artist and landscape architect, was commissioned about 11 years ago and cost the city more than $20,000. Mr. Collins said Ms. Carlson "provided about eight specific pieces held as an ensemble and then painted the walls to fulfill the mural."

He said the eight pieces have been placed in storage, but "the original concept is gone because it's been painted over." The mural, part of the city's Art in Public Places program, was called Objects of Desire and featured stylized versions of fish, produce, and other items.

Renovations were done without informing council and by splitting the work into 13 contracts - each below the $10,000 threshold above which the city charter requires council approval.

posted by jr on Aug 28, 2008 at 08:50:01 am     #

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