Ariba Ariba!

[roymccoy]

is gone. The restaurant that was in Downtown Disney at the DLR is no more. I saw a sign in the window that said "A new dining experience coming soon!" It looked like they were in the middle of emptying the place out. I assume the gift shop next to Ariba Ariba will be emptying shortly as well.

I hope that this isn't going to be the start of the same thing happening at DD that happened at DCA...most of the independent restaurants have closed. (ie Wolfgang Puck, Robert Mondavi and Lucky Fortune Cookery.) I thought Ariba Ariba was doing pretty well, compared to the rest of them! I guess Cantal, House of Blues and the Pizza place will probably be next. I have heard that they have already let Disney know that they are not happy with foot traffic or revenue.

Mimi's on Harbor is looking better and better!

Roy

P.S. The wife and I had went to DD to eat at Ariba Ariba so we switched to Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen for lunch. It was okay. Nothing to write home about. The bill for two adults and a kids meal was $40. AYE Chihuahua!!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Well that just sucks! We were really looking forward to tapas and mojitos in October.

One more meal off the property...


How long before we see McDonalds in DD? I'll venture to guess it will be sooner than later.

Maybe they can get a Bubba Gumps. Heck, I wouldn't mind a Cheeseburger in Paradise.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Well, that is a bummer! We were planning on eating there in early October....

I really enjoyed that restaurant.

 

[princessKT]

That sucks, I was thinking I might actually get a chance to eat there in November when I go.

I do think you're wrong about House of Blues closing however. Everytime I walk by there is a huge line, and they also have concerts there. But you are right, Mimi's is looking better and better.

 

[roymccoy]

I know that the entire House of Blues chain is having some problems and I know that they are busy on the weekends but, like most of the restaurants in DD, the lunch and dinner weekday crowd is pretty lite. I've also noticed that that the more famous musical artists and groups aren't coming anymore. At first, you could see B.B King, Slash's Snake Pit, Blink 182, etc. Now, I have noticed that the bigger groups avoid DD's HOB's and choose the Hollywood one instead. It COULD be that the bigger names that DD HOB had in the first year were planned to give it a shot in the arm OR it could be that ticket sales weren't where they needed to be and that's the reason. I don't know. I do know this though, high profile restaurants like HOB and Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe need to be filled most of the time to make money. If they're crowded on Saturday night only...that won't cut it.

Roy

 

[lucky1]

A CM told me that Y Arriba Y Arriba was bought out by Wolfgang Puck. Wolfgang Puck moved out of DCA because the attendance was low (Families were not willing to pay $$$$ for a fancy meal after paying
$$$ for entrance and parking). The CM said Wolfgang Puck chain is banking that they can draw more locals, because it does not require park entrance like before and there is free parking for DD.

 

[princessKT]

Originally posted by roymccoy
I've also noticed that that the more famous musical artists and groups aren't coming anymore. At first, you could see B.B King, Slash's Snake Pit, Blink 182, etc. Now, I have noticed that the bigger groups avoid DD's HOB's and choose the Hollywood one instead...I do know this though, high profile restaurants like HOB and Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe need to be filled most of the time to make money. If they're crowded on Saturday night only...that won't cut it.

Interesting. I suppose that only makes sense, since Disneyland is supposed to be a family type place, and it's probably not the right type of atmosphere. Just out of curiosity I went to hob.com, and you're right, not a whole lot of bands that I'm familiar with. They do have one thing going for them however, their Gospel Brunch. It rules

Thanks lucky1 for that info, hopefully it's coming soon