Anaheim Garden Walk dying?

[JuicyFruit]

Last time we went to DL, which was about 5 years ago, it was so quiet there. I swear , we were the only ones walking around. I'm surprised if there are any tenents still there. What is it like now? Still the same?

 

[Darkbeer1]

I am at Roy's right now for Dinner full house and the other eateries seem busy.

The House of Blues, and Rumba Room Live and Heat Ultra Lounge are/will help, and as will the JW Marriott.

 

[JuicyFruit]

House of Blues moved? That will sure help bring in more foot traffic.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Yes, they officially open on February 28th, with Social Distortion opening that weekend. (They were the band banned by Disney from performing at DtD, think the owners are sending a message. But they still have a lot of work to do to get it done in time....

http://www.houseofblues.com/anaheim

HoB is opening in the former Movie Theater location, so a nice group of adult clubs now at the North end of the Shoppertainment Mall.

The Shops in the middle though, are still struggling. But I think a few of them will do well with the upcoming NAMM Show, as some of the stores have some interesting and unique items, including funky suitcases.

 

[bumbershoot]

with Social Distortion opening that weekend. (They were the band banned by Disney from performing at DtD, think the owners are sending a message.)

OK I want to hear more about THAT story.

 

[Darkbeer1]

http://mentalfloss.com/article/23135/8-things-disney-parks-have-banned

>>In early 2008, upstart English punk band Gallows was all set to open for Social Distortion at a gig at the House of Blues at Disneyland. The bill seemed like a good way to get exposure for a band that was starting to catch on stateside—or it did until Disney officials actually stopped to listen to Gallows' debut record, Orchestra of Wolves. Once Disney brass heard Gallows' tunes, they nixed the show due to the band's occasionally offensive lyrical content.

While it seems odd to get upset at a punk band for being abrasive, Disney's move wasn't unprecedented. Just a few months earlier, the company had banned the metal band Machine Head from performing at the House of Blues for similar reasons.<<

 

[Belledisney]

I was there in December and it was pretty slow. The restaurants seem to do well but I don't consider the shopping to be real shopping. Lol

 

[LizzyS]

That's over there where the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is, right? I haven't been over to either, but I notice it when we drive in.

 

[Darkbeer1]

That's over there where the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is, right? I haven't been over to either, but I notice it when we drive in.

Yes, basically the North west corner of Harbor and Clementine, the east end is the Cheesecake Factory,

 

[LizzyS]

Did anyone else think that HOB being in DTD was a mismatch, anyway?

 

[agamble]

I think this area has struggled, especially as a "mall." It will likely do better with all of the parking changes coming and new hotels.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Did anyone else think that HOB being in DTD was a mismatch, anyway?

DTD was originally envisioned to be a stand alone dining and entertainment destination like Universal Citywalk...well, that never really materialized as planned and now they are more content with just catering to the park attendees as an extension of the resort.

So originally it fit perfect...but based on where DTD is now...yeah, does not fit as much anymore.

 

[sheetz]

The big chain restaurants have always done pretty well, but the storefronts inside have struggled. I always thought the layout was awkward and the building looked cheaply made. Compare it to someplace like the Grove and it's no contest.

 

[danceanddisney2010]

the restaurants seem to do well, but Other than that it is pretty dead. We had dinner at P.F. Chang's a few months back and it was pretty full. After we took a walk around and yeah... not much activity. It could be a great little area ...too bad it is not going anywhere.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We will be in DLR in December and one of the things that we want to do is check out the Garden Walk. We will be staying at PPH, how far of a walk is it from there or would it be something we should get a cab for? We have never been there and I would love to go there for dinner and shopping, thought that would be a nice break from the parks.

 

[Darkbeer1]

The walk is about 1.5 miles, so just think of it as walking from the PPH, to the Park Entrance, and then doing the same exact walk to Anaheim GardenWalk. The ART Shuttle also runs the second half to the Shoppertainment Mall.

 

[tzeitel]

http://mentalfloss.com/article/23135/8-things-disney-parks-have-banned

>>In early 2008, upstart English punk band Gallows was all set to open for Social Distortion at a gig at the House of Blues at Disneyland. The bill seemed like a good way to get exposure for a band that was starting to catch on stateside—or it did until Disney officials actually stopped to listen to Gallows' debut record, Orchestra of Wolves. Once Disney brass heard Gallows' tunes, they nixed the show due to the band's occasionally offensive lyrical content.

While it seems odd to get upset at a punk band for being abrasive, Disney's move wasn't unprecedented. Just a few months earlier, the company had banned the metal band Machine Head from performing at the House of Blues for similar reasons.<<

So, they banned Gallows, not Social Distortion. Disney just cancelled the show.

 

[GrandBob]

Yeah, we went to the Cheesecake Factory on Jan 5, the same week that it was crazy crowded in DLR. The restaurants were doing fine. But once you walked into the actual retail area of Garden Walk, it was dead as a door nail.

Bob

 

[prestoncaldwell]

Yeah, we went to the Cheesecake Factory on Jan 5, the same week that it was crazy crowded in DLR. The restaurants were doing fine. But once you walked into the actual retail area of Garden Walk, it was dead as a door nail.

Bob

My 2c is that people are in that corridor to do Disney, not shop. The chain restaurants offer both a known menu and a break from overpriced Disney food, and liquor/convenience stores offer the obvious that you can't get from Disney, plus perhaps some cheaper souvenirs. I don't know how any business model except DLR, lodging, restaurants, and liquor/gift shops could thrive along that stretch of Harbor. In that sense Garden Walk my have been a bad idea from its inception.

 

[PinkBudgie]

The last time we were there was in 2009. I remember because we made a point to go take a look around. At the time it was very quiet and there were no interesting stores to look at. They were all clothing type stores. That's not really what I shop for on vacation. There were no interesting stores like you see at DTD. If I didn't need shirts, shoes, or sunglasses there was no reason to be there. If they got some fun stores, I'd make a point to go there for more than just one of the big restaurants.