Daily Are Saddened By The Upcoming Changes To Fry Street

[EagleD]

AMEN!

Yeah, Because what we want is a group of people who look alike, think alike, and dress alike. Guys, it's about a city's identity. Locally owned businesses mean a lot to a city's makeup. Big business has it's place but Fry Street, like so many other spots in small towns, is special b/c there's a local flavor to it. Did it need a face lift? Sure. But it's charm could have been preserved. I fear that time is gone. All that will remain are my memories. My drunken, blurred memories...

"You know, grey is my favorite color" - Counting Crowes.

GO MEAN GREY GREEN !!!!!!!!!?

[Coffee and TV]

Yeah, Because what we want is a group of people who look alike, think alike, and dress alike. Guys, it's about a city's identity. Locally owned businesses mean a lot to a city's makeup. Big business has it's place but Fry Street, like so many other spots in small towns, is special b/c there's a local flavor to it. Did it need a face lift? Sure. But it's charm could have been preserved. I fear that time is gone. All that will remain are my memories. My drunken, blurred memories...

"You know, grey is my favorite color" - Counting Crowes.

GO MEAN GREY GREEN !!!!!!!!!?

You couldn't be more on target.

And its funny to see all the "drive the hippies out" blatter. People this is Denton we're talking about, god forbid you have to walk down the streets of NYC or San Fran or Seattle, you old farts would probably have a heart attack.

[D Trueblood]

There was a place north of the Tomato where you could get pretty good breakfast on Fry St. when I was a NT. I can't remember the name though!

[FirefightnRick]

Exactly what are they going to replace the current businesses(assuming the Tomato etc relocate?) with, and what type of construction/design will they go with? Anyone know?

Rick

[Rudy]

Ok, so to take a TO from the political BS here, When is thw Tomato's last day, and are they going to just relocate?

[CMJ]

I think they have to be out by Feb 1st...so any day now I would imagine.

[Green to the Bone]

I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said she would fear for the health of a college campus that had no hippies. Oh, wait, I think she said communists. But the point was pretty close.

The dirty, funky, sleazy atmosphere of the Tomato has college town written all over it. There's better pizza and cleaner restrooms elsewhere, but you got into a restroom at at CVS drug store and the grafitti might say, "Ask your doctor if Cialis is right for you." At the Tomato, I recently saw bathroom grafitti that said: "Kill Whitey!" Among our favorite college bars in Athens, Ga., was Allen's Hamburgers, where the bathrooom graffiti said, "Iranians! Savak is watching you!" Edginess and irreverent humor are supposed to be a part of youth.

With regard to the Tomato and its disreputable neighbors being disincentives to parents bringing their precious, impressionable babies to Denton, our oldest son took me to the Tom when he attended UNT, and our youngest does so now.

After all, it's still cleaner than his dorm room.

So here's to the unslick, the homegrown, the gloriously substandard, unforgettable places of youth.

Edited January 26, 2007 by Green to the Bone

[Green Mean]

Just because its old it doesnt mean its historic. People are so saddened by Fry Street changing but good grief people...we arent losing Central Park in New York or Picadilly Circus in London...its a Fry Stree that IMHO was sucky and overrated. The places were ok to eat (liked Tomato) but everything else there was crappy. Just cuz its old it doesnt mean crap...that crap was just OLD OLD OLD. There was no artistic or meaning to what was there. As far as change...I think its needed...UNT needs to change its attitude, culture and methods for it to RISE. I'm not saying take away its charm and history but make it better and new with some old UNT flavor. You have to go with the times and culture and frankly UNT still seems like its in the 50's and 60's. We are in 2007 now so we need to live like its 2007. The worst place on that area is Riprocks....its the worst atmosphere in the history of restaurants and its literally more run down than some old whore motel in south Dallas. Tear all that crap down and put some new, cool stuff that people from all over denton and around the DFW area will want to come up there for the nite or the weekends. In regards to the future downtown....in about 20 years its going to be FABULOUS. I was reading an articul in the Denton business magazine and DRC that they are severely expanding downtown and making it a combination of shops and residential and making like how it is in uptown dallas, quorom drive in addison and etc. I think thats awesome and will do wonders for the city of denton, the area, UNT and TWU and most of all its the PEOPLE that are going ot benefit because it wll be fun and people not only in Denton but from all over the state and surrounding areas will want to go there and have a great time.

[Green to the Bone]

Just because its old it doesnt mean its historic. People are so saddened by Fry Street changing but good grief people...we arent losing Central Park in New York or Picadilly Circus in London...its a Fry Stree that IMHO was sucky and overrated. The places were ok to eat (liked Tomato) but everything else there was crappy. Just cuz its old it doesnt mean crap...that crap was just OLD OLD OLD. There was no artistic or meaning to what was there. As far as change...I think its needed...UNT needs to change its attitude, culture and methods for it to RISE. I'm not saying take away its charm and history but make it better and new with some old UNT flavor. You have to go with the times and culture and frankly UNT still seems like its in the 50's and 60's. We are in 2007 now so we need to live like its 2007. The worst place on that area is Riprocks....its the worst atmosphere in the history of restaurants and its literally more run down than some old whore motel in south Dallas. Tear all that crap down and put some new, cool stuff that people from all over denton and around the DFW area will want to come up there for the nite or the weekends. In regards to the future downtown....in about 20 years its going to be FABULOUS. I was reading an articul in the Denton business magazine and DRC that they are severely expanding downtown and making it a combination of shops and residential and making like how it is in uptown dallas, quorom drive in addison and etc. I think thats awesome and will do wonders for the city of denton, the area, UNT and TWU and most of all its the PEOPLE that are going ot benefit because it wll be fun and people not only in Denton but from all over the state and surrounding areas will want to go there and have a great time.

Hey, guys, what do you want to do tonight?

I don't know -- wanna hit Lower Greenville? Or how about South Lamar?

No, wait, I heard there's a new CVS up in Denton. They'll check our blood pressure for free.

[Green Mean]

Hey, guys, what do you want to do tonight?

I don't know -- wanna hit Lower Greenville? Or how about South Lamar?

No, wait, I heard there's a new CVS up in Denton. They'll check our blood pressure for free.

Yeah and have you been to those areas? They arent quite the safest areas to hang out....trust me I know cuz i've gotten robbed 3 times there....literally. I'm not saying to put nothing but CVS's over there but put some new blood in there...Starbucks will do wonders for the area....the whole world practically drinks starbucks. If the area changes then it will pursue other people and entrepeneurs to invest in that area and bring other kinds of businesses and stuff there. Its just simple common sense....it totally ups the value of your school and area and city. I've been to college towns all over the country and very few of them have just distinct college areas like Denton has right now....other than that all of them are new, modern and with places that people know and want to go. America practically created the "BRAND".....people want to go to places they know these days. Thats not to say that Denton can have unique places...sure they can but as of right now everything on fry street if crap crapity crap. Its all run down, bugs and insects all over the place, terrible stench and god knows what else. Out with the crap and in with the new and clean and nice.

[Green to the Bone]

Yeah and have you been to those areas? They arent quite the safest areas to hang out....trust me I know cuz i've gotten robbed 3 times there....literally. I'm not saying to put nothing but CVS's over there but put some new blood in there...Starbucks will do wonders for the area....the whole world practically drinks starbucks. If the area changes then it will pursue other people and entrepeneurs to invest in that area and bring other kinds of businesses and stuff there. Its just simple common sense....it totally ups the value of your school and area and city. I've been to college towns all over the country and very few of them have just distinct college areas like Denton has right now....other than that all of them are new, modern and with places that people know and want to go. America practically created the "BRAND".....people want to go to places they know these days. Thats not to say that Denton can have unique places...sure they can but as of right now everything on fry street if crap crapity crap. Its all run down, bugs and insects all over the place, terrible stench and god knows what else. Out with the crap and in with the new and clean and nice.

Number of Starbucks currently in Denton: 5.

Number within 50 miles of Denton: 264.

Values of the comma and the correct use of its/it's: Priceless.

Edited January 26, 2007 by Green to the Bone

[Green Mean]

Number of Starbucks currently in Denton: 5.

Number within 50 miles of Denton: 264.

Values of the comma and the correct use of its/it's: Priceless.

There's not a Starbuicks on Fry Street you moron. If you go to Europe there's a cafe in every street corner and even tons more than that. But people still go to all of them and they all make money. I dont want thugville coming to Fry Street like South Lamar, Greenville and etc...these are college students and we want a nice safe atmosphere for these people as much as possible. If you wanna stick to your rut Riprocks and all those crappy ass places then thats fine....but most people have standards and those places arent even halfway up to the standards of what they should be.

[Green to the Bone]

There's not a Starbuicks on Fry Street you moron. If you go to Europe there's a cafe in every street corner and even tons more than that. But people still go to all of them and they all make money. I dont want thugville coming to Fry Street like South Lamar, Greenville and etc...these are college students and we want a nice safe atmosphere for these people as much as possible. If you wanna stick to your rut Riprocks and all those crappy ass places then thats fine....but most people have standards and those places arent even halfway up to the standards of what they should be.

I think a friendly conversation over different views of culture has suddenly degenerated into juvenile name-calling. You should learn some manners, along with some grammar.

End of conversation.

[Green Mean]

I think a friendly conversation over different views of culture has suddenly degenerated into juvenile name-calling. You should learn some manners, along with some grammar.

End of conversation.

Wow I didnt think one could become so sensitive....this is a message boards website...its not a Harvard publication. Yes we different view but you havent even given any ideas on how to improve to the place. You wanna bring greenville and south lamar to fry street LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO. I gotta admit thats been the funniest and yet dumbest thing i've heard in quite a long time. I like that...I really appreciate that kind of humor LMFAO!

[Bryan316]

I'm glad to see that area go. Vintage, old, archaic, junky. Call it the "flavor" of the Tomato, but the poor lighting and the poorer construction, along with the roaches and carved/drawn-on tables never did a thing for me. Neither did either of the run-down comic shops, the eye sore that looks like it used to be an auto repair/gas station, or the perpetually empty church/meeting hall/civic center that refused to let anyone park there. Maybe because I've grown up in the age of the corporation would I rather see a pharmacy, a lucrative coffee establishment, and other new, "trendy," "modern" businesses. The next thing that needs to happen is for the homes in that area to be brought up to the standards that this new retail center will have. The historic homes can stay; the termite buckets need to go.

[Green Mean]

I'm glad to see that area go. Vintage, old, archaic, junky. Call it the "flavor" of the Tomato, but the poor lighting and the poorer construction, along with the roaches and carved/drawn-on tables never did a thing for me. Neither did either of the run-down comic shops, the eye sore that looks like it used to be an auto repair/gas station, or the perpetually empty church/meeting hall/civic center that refused to let anyone park there. Maybe because I've grown up in the age of the corporation would I rather see a pharmacy, a lucrative coffee establishment, and other new, "trendy," "modern" businesses. The next thing that needs to happen is for the homes in that area to be brought up to the standards that this new retail center will have. The historic homes can stay; the termite buckets need to go.

AMEN BROTHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LongJim]

At the Tomato, I recently saw bathroom grafitti that said: "Kill Whitey!" Among our favorite college bars in Athens, Ga., was Allen's Hamburgers, where the bathrooom graffiti said, "Iranians! Savak is watching you!" Edginess and irreverent humor are supposed to be a part of youth.

The best restroom "sign" I've seen in Denton is at Recycled Books. The Dymo label--stuck to the ceiling in the men's room--reads:

"Video Tapes Are Changed Daily"

[greenminer]

Wow I didnt think one could become so sensitive....this is a message boards website...its not a Harvard publication. Yes we different view but you havent even given any ideas on how to improve to the place. You wanna bring greenville and south lamar to fry street LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO. I gotta admit thats been the funniest and yet dumbest thing i've heard in quite a long time. I like that...I really appreciate that kind of humor LMFAO!

There's not a Starbuicks on Fry Street you moron. If you go to Europe there's a cafe in every street corner and even tons more than that. But people still go to all of them and they all make money. I dont want thugville coming to Fry Street like South Lamar, Greenville and etc...these are college students and we want a nice safe atmosphere for these people as much as possible. If you wanna stick to your rut Riprocks and all those crappy ass places then thats fine....but most people have standards and those places arent even halfway up to the standards of what they should be.

per the Forum Rules:

While debating and discussion is fine, we will not tolerate rudeness, insulting posts, personal attacks or purposeless inflammatory posts. Our decision is final in these matters.

This is GMG.com, which has rules. You're on the internet, so there are other places to take jabs. Your's was hardly that harsh, but I'd just keep this in mind.

I don't really see how a cleaner Starbucks is an improvement. My personal attachment to the place was how unique all these places were to Denton. I'm in support of cleaning the area up, I've heard that the tenants were pretty lousy about taking out trash, keeping the walkways clear, etc. But a Starbucks? To The Bone knows that there isn't one on Fry Street. His point was that anyone can find a Starbucks within a 5 minute drive to and from anywhere in the Metroplex.

Europe has unique cafes at every corner. It's Europe, and each one is probably different right? I wonder if they are all Starbucks. I don't think I saw their sign in van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night. So isn't Europe's scene, in a sense, an argument FOR keeping these unique places around Fry Street?

I want to think of something to say about how happy you are, but am speechless. "LFAO LFAO LFAO LFAO LFAO" I haven't seen that in forever on this board. It's good to see people being amused.

I was reminiscing on my blog about Denton a while ago. Thought I'd share in light of the Fry Street talk:

...Get some beer from the Silverleaf, maybe that will help. Maybe you can argue that, to a Dentonite, Shiner served at Dan’s is different from the Shiner served from the local Albertsons. And the dirty-ass floors at Tre’s place near Bonnie Brae is cleaner than my freshly-mopped El Paso apt. When you walk away from those places, the body feels stronger, the soul is filled, and you’re warmer like when you get into the Karma Cafe or after you’ve just finished a pizza and pitcher of beer at the Flying Tomato.

3 years removed, and I still miss that shitty town. I can still smell it sometimes.

...I guess I'm one of the few that liked that dirty-ass smell lol.

Edited January 26, 2007 by greenminer

[PlummMeanGreen]

I lived at 316 Fry Street my first couple of years at NT, so all this made me get a bit misty-eyed and nostalgic, too; but Fry Street will soon take on the role that Fouts Field will soon enough and that is: Nice to have known ya' but its time to move on to bigger and better things now.

Fry Street never became the UT-type 6'th St. scene or scenario it could have become IMO. We all have our memories from Fry Street, but all the new UNT students projected to come to Denton by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (43,000 enrollment at our main campus) will never know what they missed and they may actually prefer (in larger numbers) what they are going to be getting over at Fry Street. Just my .02.

[UNTLifer]

I lived at 316 Fry Street my first couple of years at NT, so all this made me get a bit misty-eyed and nostalgic, too;

Yes, but it was all new then, wasn't it?

[KingDL1]

per the Forum Rules:

While debating and discussion is fine, we will not tolerate rudeness, insulting posts, personal attacks or purposeless inflammatory posts. Our decision is final in these matters.

This is GMG.com, which has rules. You're on the internet, so there are other places to take jabs. Your's was hardly that harsh, but I'd just keep this in mind.

I don't really see how a cleaner Starbucks is an improvement. My personal attachment to the place was how unique all these places were to Denton. I'm in support of cleaning the area up, I've heard that the tenants were pretty lousy about taking out trash, keeping the walkways clear, etc. But a Starbucks? To The Bone knows that there isn't one on Fry Street. His point was that anyone can find a Starbucks within a 5 minute drive to and from anywhere in the Metroplex.

Europe has unique cafes at every corner. It's Europe, and each one is probably different right? I wonder if they are all Starbucks. I don't think I saw their sign in van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night. So isn't Europe's scene, in a sense, an argument FOR keeping these unique places around Fry Street?

I want to think of something to say about how happy you are, but am speechless. "LFAO LFAO LFAO LFAO LFAO" I haven't seen that in forever on this board. It's good to see people being amused.

I was reminiscing on my blog about Denton a while ago. Thought I'd share in light of the Fry Street talk:

...Get some beer from the Silverleaf, maybe that will help. Maybe you can argue that, to a Dentonite, Shiner served at Dan’s is different from the Shiner served from the local Albertsons. And the dirty-ass floors at Tre’s place near Bonnie Brae is cleaner than my freshly-mopped El Paso apt. When you walk away from those places, the body feels stronger, the soul is filled, and you’re warmer like when you get into the Karma Cafe or after you’ve just finished a pizza and pitcher of beer at the Flying Tomato.

3 years removed, and I still miss that shitty town. I can still smell it sometimes.

...I guess I'm one of the few that liked that dirty-ass smell lol.

Its not unique its a dump, there are plenty of dumps in DFW.

That whole intersection should be master planned with retail, restaurants, and clubs at street level with condos and apartments above and behind the businesses. Hell everyone drinking could just stagger home.

The majority of students leave Denton every weekend to party elsewhere. Fry street had its hay-day long ago and now its getting further out of place. We now have the opportunity to rebuild this crappy eyesore and have a nice area to hang out. UNT is trying to attract better recruits for sports, more donations, more students and so on, driving by that area of campus looks like a slum district. The construction is happening god bless it.

I wonder how many will complain when Fout's comes down?

[THOR]

Yes, but it was all new then, wasn't it?

what's going to happen with the Fry Street Fair? will this change it, if the Fair isn't already gone?

on a side note, i never liked the tomato...bye bye tomato...bye bye

[untgirl04]

Exactly what are they going to replace the current businesses(assuming the Tomato etc relocate?) with, and what type of construction/design will they go with? Anyone know?

Rick

I think I read on one of the press releases that they're going to do 1920s-style buildings, to keep that historic flair of Fry Street.

To discuss a few other posts, I'll start off by saying that I'm happy they're rennovating Fry Street. However, I don't think a Starbucks and CVS are the answer. Non-chain coffee houses are still popular, and I love the unique flavor an original place has. One of my favorites was always Uncommon Grounds, just behind the campus. I loved the funky look, the student art on the walls, and the more original drinks. Those are the kinds of places I would like to see associated with Fry Street.

Also, another way to keep that funky, college atmosphere is to continue the building look around Hickory. Specifically, Voertman's, Fry Street Ink, and the Print shop. I love the murals and artwork on the fronts of those buildings. It's a theme seen elsewhere in Denton, so I think it wouldn't be too far-fetched to continue it on Fry. I used to love the Tomato's pizza, but last time I ate there, roaches as big as my hand were crawling on the floor, and the food was awful. I don't think they'd cleaned the floors since it opened. Nostalgia is great and all, but so is cleanliness and a Hepatitis-free eating establishment.

[Green Mean]

per the Forum Rules:

While debating and discussion is fine, we will not tolerate rudeness, insulting posts, personal attacks or purposeless inflammatory posts. Our decision is final in these matters.

This is GMG.com, which has rules. You're on the internet, so there are other places to take jabs. Your's was hardly that harsh, but I'd just keep this in mind.

I don't really see how a cleaner Starbucks is an improvement. My personal attachment to the place was how unique all these places were to Denton. I'm in support of cleaning the area up, I've heard that the tenants were pretty lousy about taking out trash, keeping the walkways clear, etc. But a Starbucks? To The Bone knows that there isn't one on Fry Street. His point was that anyone can find a Starbucks within a 5 minute drive to and from anywhere in the Metroplex.

Europe has unique cafes at every corner. It's Europe, and each one is probably different right? I wonder if they are all Starbucks. I don't think I saw their sign in van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night. So isn't Europe's scene, in a sense, an argument FOR keeping these unique places around Fry Street?

I want to think of something to say about how happy you are, but am speechless. "LFAO LFAO LFAO LFAO LFAO" I haven't seen that in forever on this board. It's good to see people being amused.

I was reminiscing on my blog about Denton a while ago. Thought I'd share in light of the Fry Street talk:

...Get some beer from the Silverleaf, maybe that will help. Maybe you can argue that, to a Dentonite, Shiner served at Dan’s is different from the Shiner served from the local Albertsons. And the dirty-ass floors at Tre’s place near Bonnie Brae is cleaner than my freshly-mopped El Paso apt. When you walk away from those places, the body feels stronger, the soul is filled, and you’re warmer like when you get into the Karma Cafe or after you’ve just finished a pizza and pitcher of beer at the Flying Tomato.

3 years removed, and I still miss that shitty town. I can still smell it sometimes.

...I guess I'm one of the few that liked that dirty-ass smell lol.

Are you kidding me? You think that was rude? Dude these are discussion boards...if you dont like it frankly you dont have to read it. Like I said I frankly dont care if a starbucks and cvs comes there or not...as long as its something new, renovated and with class. Thats all i'm saying....I live in Denton and everybody I know would rather go to freaking Lewisville than stay in Denton...dont you think thats sorry? And most people that live in the dorms and etc go home on the weekends rather than staying in Denton. To me something is wrong there. And if you think what I said is rude and offensive....well frankly you need to look at all the threads and look at what people say rather than my post. And if not....I really still dont care.

[the real grad88]

"His point was that anyone can find a Starbucks within a 5 minute drive to and from anywhere in the Metroplex."

We need to turn this point around. We need to ask the question: Why are there so many Starbucks? People like them, that's why. Why wouldn't we have one across from campus? If the masses are flocking to them, why wouldn't we want to have one on Fry Street? Were the masses flocking to the Tomatoe? Nope. I hope the college can eventually buy all of the rundown houses all around that area as well...houses with couches in the front yards...you know the places. Clean the whole area up.