By grazing

November 17, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

I am looking forward to sharing Thanksgiving at the Golden Corral with the rest of the village. What a nice change of pace from Waffle House. Turkey will be smothered and covered.HMMMMMMMM

By Toodles

November 13, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this

The built the Stepford Village (The Greene) to replicate the small town charm of yesterday while Tipp City, Miamisburg, Germantown, etc, struggle to stay afloat. Why don’t people visit a real small town and spend some cash? Geezzz.

By Shawn

November 13, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

Yet another place to eat at the Greene! The only thing for men there is eye candy and the bars!!!

By Sheri

November 13, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this

Those who feel the Greene is “fake” - obviously have never been to Baltimore or other similar environments. This is the “it” thing. I hope it works out for them. The synics can just stay in the little black hole where they clearly live.

By guywhoreadsddncomments

November 13, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

Best comment ever: “The Cheesecake Factory is a little too urban for me …” That had me cracking up.

By comeonguys

November 13, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

I agree with shakingmyhead. Its a breath of fresh air to go somewhere in dayton thats not ran down and you can enjoy with you family. If you don’t like it, then by all means don’t go! Everyone wants to complain about something now a days.

By Greg

November 13, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

Are they going to open a bait shop or shooting range there soon? Even good ol’ boys need a place to go!!!

By Yardbird

November 13, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this

Thanks Barry.

By Barry

November 13, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Stepford is a referance to the Stephord wives, kind of a statement on how things are made artificially to look better then the real thing, but underneath it is all crap. Sometimes I make a comment about people taking the blue pill, that is a matrix comment (the matrix was another movie)

By Yardbird

November 13, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

OK. I’m old. What is Stepford? I personally like The Greene, its outside musical acts and the Burger joint across from the theatre. The Cheesecake Factory is little too urban for me, but its good.

By Barry

November 13, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

Reasons I go to The Greene; 1) safe parking, I have not had my car broken into there even once. Something I cannot say for Dayton or Cinci. 2) it feels safe to be there, I know I am unlikely to be mugged in Dayton, but sometimes it sure does not feel safe. 3) easy access. Dayton’s town motto ought to be “you can’t get there from here”. Shifting road construction and an amazing number of streets that are one way the wrong way and you can’t turn here makes getting to my favorite places in Dayton problematic at best. 4) everything is not spread out. In Dayton I can park someplace, go to buy a suit jacket, then have to navigate may way to someplace to eat, and then go somewhere else for a movie. And probably waste at least a couple of dollars on parking. At The Greene everything is within walking distance. Before The Greene was built, there was talk about doing the same thing near the Dragon’s ballpark. The city of Dayton did everything they could to not make that happen. The outlying suburbs have the mindset of “lets play ball!”. In Dayton the mindset appears to be, “lets throw up roadblocks!” Why do you think that businesses are opening in the Suburbs and not downtown? And no it isn’t some racial thing, it is the business climate. If I want to do business go to the suburbs. If I want heartache and community “leaders” telling me what to do with my business, and my money, then I will go to Dayton.

By glus

November 13, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

I hate cookie cutter chain. we need more independent places. I will even go to the Greene for that…

By nouseforaname

November 13, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

What’s so nice about a bunch of chain restaurants and stores you can find in generic-town USA? Go out and explore the great independent places out there before they disappear and are replaced with cookie-cutter wunderlands. Ryan: Don’t forget that millions in public money helped build it Dayton is dying and to think that the suburbs won’t be taken down with it is ludicrous. We’re not offering anything unique to attract out of towners, it’s just a mini-Easton/Newport. Frankly I rather just drive down to Newport for this sort of experience.

By OD

November 13, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

“The Greene was built for people who have money”? What does that mean? Saks was built for people who have money. The 7 new art galleries downtown are for people who have money. The Greene is filled with the exact same stores as Dayton Mall. Does this mean that the Dayton Mall was built for people who have money? That was a ridiculous thing to say and makes your “argument” null and void. Attribute the Greene’s success to the fact that it’s safe and stay at home moms can drop their kids off there and grab a $6 coffee, not because it is centered around rich people who thrive in Dayton.

By Joe

November 13, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

Wow, people get so worked up about The Greene. Yes, it is successful. But is that something deserving blame? Or should we give them praise? I think the latter. We are the customers. We choose where we want to go. Quit beating a dead horse with the downtown rah rah; it’s old and stale. Downtown could be successful if it addressed its problems. As long as it doesn’t… Let’s embrace what works.

By Frank the Tank

November 13, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

I for one love The Greene. It is very nice and safe, and unlike anything else around here. It was built for people who have money, so those who dont trash it because they are jealous. If they dont want to work and have anything nice, no one should be able to.

By RYAN

November 13, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

nouseforaname: That is a stupid comment. The people who built The Greene (Steiner & A*s.) have been very successful. Why would they pour money into Downtown Dayton? Stop telling others to spend their money unless you are willing to reimburse them when they fail.

By daisyfae

November 13, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

best middle eastern food in dayton? Cedar Land on Linden! Lebanese diner/bakery… good luck to Pasha - maybe it can get the people who like “downtown without all those scary poor people” hooked on middle eastern food!

By Ron

November 13, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

If it is safe I will be there. That is what killed downtown Dayton and the Salem Mall.

By changeofpace

November 13, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

I support the Greene and its efforts to revitalize. Dayton’s downtown is a was, do a Google for “America’s Fastest-Dying Cities” by Forbes, Dayton and Ohio make top tens. Pro-Greene, Pro-Stepford if it has to be, this economy needs it.

By nouseforaname

November 13, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

“I am not into chains at all and Middle Eastern food is at the top of my list, cuisine wise.” There are a lot of little middle eastern places in Cincy. Really like this one little family run place called Mirage in Blue Ash.

By sasha

November 13, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

I’ll take Stepford to panhandlers any day, sorry. I’ll go where I feel safe and the reason the Greene is crowded is because of all the people who feel the same.

By AK

November 13, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

So glad to hear that Pasha is open! I loved Cafe Istanbul and Estillo, unfortunately the business minds were unable to make the great food a success! I hope Pasha makes it. Anything underneath Adobes is in an unfortunate location. I am not into chains at all and Middle Eastern food is at the top of my list, cuisine wise. So, if I have to drive to The Greene once in awhile (from Tipp) I would be glad to for this type of establishment. P.S. Has anyone tried the Lebanese restaurant Cedarland Bakery and Restaurant? If so, let me know what you thought. I am always in search of a good Middle Eastern restaurant. Happy Dining!

By RIPdayton

November 13, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

Downtown Dayton is dead and dying…has been for a while now. How’s that baseball village idea coming along?

By nouseforaname

November 13, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

Not saying the place isn’t successful. Great marketing ploy to target people afraid of downtown areas. Just think the resources would have been better spent reinvigorating the actual downtown rather than building yet another major shopping center between two malls.

By glus

November 13, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

I have a very nice life doing a million and one other things that don’t involve the computer at all, thank you very much. Shakingmyhead you have been hanging around fake towns a little too much. I suggest you try taking a walk in a real woods.

By shakingmyhead

November 13, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

Stepfordish? Fake town? If it’s so awful, explain why the place is always packed, always offering fun things to do for families, great shopping and restaurants…you Greene haters need to get a life away from the computer…

By Maureen

November 13, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

The last couple of restaurants pretended that they were Middle Eastern/Turkish places, and then didn’t serve much Turkish food. This sounds much more wholehearted, without all the normal food you could eat anywhere.

By mimi

November 13, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

It is a fake little town with no parking and inflated prices on frozen entrees..I can think of better things to do

By glus

November 13, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

I know the pretend town thing I find rather strange.

By nouseforaname

November 13, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

The Greene does have that whole creepy Stepford feel going on. “Downtown Dayton is trash, so let’s build a perfect little pretend downtown over here.”

By Applebee's

November 13, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

The Greene will never be embraced here because there is no Applebee’s, no TGI Friday’s, no Red Lobster. They have no Dayton favorites, and Dayton hates what is unfamiliar. Thus the hating of the Greene. I hope Pashaa makes it. The last two places there didn’t last.

By Greg

November 13, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

I may give it a try, but I only go to the Greene when the weather is pleasant AND I can find a parking spot. Those two things rarely seem to occur at the same time.

By glus

November 13, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

I too would take independently owned restaurants over a big chain anyday! I love the mom & pop shops.I will probably give them a try even though I find The Green Stepfordish…

By Scott

November 13, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

How is the Greene creepy? I always found it nice to be able to walk around in the open rather than in a inside mall.

By Publicus

November 13, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

I agree The Greene is quite creepy. But I’d patronize an independent restaurant there.

By bizadvocate

November 13, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

Its called free enterprise my friend. The American dream. If they want to start up a business and they find the customer base to support it, good for them. I wish them nothing but the best. I’ll take independently owned restaurants over a big chain anyday!

By Will

November 13, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

why the hell not? that placed is packed on the weekends.

By Come on

November 13, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

Come on … given the economy do we REALLY need another restaurant at the ALREADY crowded Greene.

By Michael

November 13, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

I will give it a try. We had one good experience and one bad at Cafe Istanbul.

By glus

November 13, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

I am not crazy about that weird little Stepford village…