Right Now Downtown

They vied for your votes via video.  The competition was fierce.  And the final margins were razor thin.

Congratulations to the 2010 Show Your Love Contest Winner (drum roll please…)

Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace!!!

Thanks to all of you who voted for your flav-o-favs!  With hundreds of votes cast, J. Gumbo’s fell short of the winner’s spot by a mere three votes, with Jack’s Diner, last year’s Show Your Love winner, and Burgers Dogs and Fries in hot pursuit.

Now the love showing worked both ways.  By voting for their favorite lunch spot, food fans were entered to win free lunches from our featured downtown restaurants: Barrio, Burgers Dogs and Fries, Caffe Daniela, Dirty Frank’s, J. Gumbo’s, and Plantain Cafe.  Congratulations to our winners who now know that there is such thing as a free lunch:

Erika Haske
Trish Mester
Alyson Miles
Angela Butler
Kristine Kring
Jen Town
Christina Ringley
Mary Groves
Jeremy
Chris Powers
Joshua Young
Rhonda Ries
Sandy Auckerman
Chris Carpenter
Mark Siple
Kris Davis
Charlie Letson

LOVE ‘EM UP

(to cast your vote immediately, click here.  if you want to learn more about the campaign, read on…)

Time flies: it’s been a full year since DowntownColumbus.com’s Show Your Love project launched.  Back in 2009, six local eateries joined in a good natured contest to become Downtown’s Official Sweetheart.

The competition was brutal.  The love was intense.  Ultimately, Jack’s Diner emerged as number one.

But it can be number one for only one year.  Jack’s reign has ended.  Although we still love the joint, it’s time to find 2010’s Official Sweetheart.

Just like last year, we’ve sweetened the deal for the voting public.  Cast a ballot for your favorite eatery and you’re automatically registered for a set of gift certificates from all the competitors: Barrio Tapas Lounge; Burgers Dogs and Fries; Caffe Daniela; Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace; J. Gumbo’s; and Plantain Cafe.  Vote early and vote often.

(Sigh)… and it seemed like just yesterday when Jack’s claimed its award.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It was yesterday.  SOMEBODY kept hoarding Jack’s award plaque in our office.  Oops.

If you want to re-watch anyone’s video, to really take in the message, just click on the link: Barrio Tapas Lounge; Burgers Dogs and Fries; Caffe Daniela; Dirty Franks Hot Dog Palace; J. Gumbo’s; and Plantain Cafe

Show Us Some Love 2010 from Downtown Columbus on Vimeo.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE HOT DOG STAND

The big debut of Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace (248 S. Fourth Street) is right around the corner.  No, seriously this time.  Everything that could possibly go amuck has already gotten mucked up.  Think it’s easy to open a restaurant?  Tell that to industry veteran, Liz Lessner.

Cuz it takes more than duct table.
As it turns out, Dirty Frank’s reasonable-looking address was in need of an extra makeover.  Liz details the horrifying process of discovery, “We thought the space needed a fresh coat of paint, but it was, in fact, out-of-code in just about every aspect imaginable.”  Her story ends in this magical phrase: gutted to the studs.

Cuz it’s about the money, honey.
More specifically, it’s about the entire meltdown of the mortgage industry.  Think it’s hard to get a home loan?  Try securing a commercial loan on a new business venture.

Cuz you gotta speak in code.
Even when you’ve finally got the money (honey), the economy can still throw major curves.  Said Liz, “The City of Columbus laid off most of its Building Services Department the week we needed to file for permits.  We were promised a twenty-day turnaround… it took nearly sixty days to get our permits.”

And does Lessner still love it all?  You betcha.  That’s what makes her a champ (and not a chump).  At the end of the day, she still says, “When setting up shop, there was no place I wanted to be but downtown.”