New Omni presence
The downtown Omni Hotels are reopening the former Wienerschnitzel at McGee Beach as a restaurant/bar.
Omni is leasing the city-owned building, has repainted and renovated, and will name it The Beach House.
The restaurant/bar will open at 11 a.m. Friday during July Fourth festivities and will be open Thursdays through Sundays.
The Beach House is meant for Omni guests and will charge non-guests a cover fee.
The fee has not been determined as the permit process is under way, said Paulette Good, marketing director for the Omni Hotels. She expects the deal to be final by July 10.
"The reason why we decided to do this is so we could clean up McGee Beach and make it more inviting for visitors and current residents," Good said. "We want to have drinks and food service for those who visit or want to enjoy the day under one of our umbrellas."
Good said the building had begun to deteriorate and had been vandalized with graffiti, so Omni officials decided to take action.
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(56) User Comments:
Posted by 287001 on July 3, 2008 at 6 a.m.WOW!!! This is very dangerous. One might actually consider this some form of development in Corpus Christi!!!
Posted by 427774 on July 3, 2008 at 6:04 a.m.Thank you!!! It is always great to see ABILITY take action! We need more people with the ability to care - caring. I will make some special trips just to support this business.
There really are no excuses for NOT utilizing what we do have available - NOW. Unbelievable how many unused buildings the city owns.
Posted by 700317 on July 3, 2008 at 6:52 a.m."The Beach House is meant for Omni guests and will charge non-guests a cover fee." - Way to embrace your community, OMNI!
At a minimum, from a marketing perspective, you could have said that there will be a cover charge for all and then waived it for hotel guests. Instead, you made it clear you don't want the 'riff-raff' who walk along 'your beach' to wander in.
I, too, would have made it a point to patronize, but I'm not going to pay extra for it. This shows about as much class as coin slots on the bathroom doors.
Posted by 712045 on July 3, 2008 at 6:58 a.m.Thank you Omni people for seeing the need to revitalize the downtown beach area and doing something about it. And to think, you didn't even have to hire a consultant. Maybe you can do something with the coliseum next.
Posted by 321845 on July 3, 2008 at 7:07 a.m.I personally had plans to open up the building as a bar myself and discussed my business plan with the Marina but I decided to focus on a different venture due to the expense of fixing the old place up. I'm glad this is happening regardless of a cover charge and I will support the OMNI full force. This is a positive direction for the Bayfront and ultimately for Corpus. I will say that the Marina board members do a very good job in making improvements, and they are great people. Way to go Marina!!! I don't believe that the cover charge will be a bad thing. What concerns me are some of the riff raff who'll be hanging around outside trying to bum money from our visitors. Mike Young
Posted by 233544 on July 3, 2008 at 8:05 a.m.A cover charge for non guests. So when did the Omin buy the beach? Leasing the building doesn't mean they now own McGee Beach as well. I can see if this beach was accessable from their back door like the Holiday Inn but it's not.
As much I applaud them for stepping in fixing up one eyesore along the seawall they need to realize "we" who live here in CC will never be guests in their Hotels. So they are going to penalize the citizens of CC by charging a cover charge? Guess it's a good thing I can bring my own food and ice chest .
Posted by 713277 on July 3, 2008 at 8:14 a.m.I'm willing to pay a dollar or two in order to keep the bums and beggars from laying all over the tables and setting up camp. That was one of the main reasons I never ate there before, it was dirty because the homeless would camp out there in flocks... Not to mention the safety factor... I think my family's safety is worth at least a dollar or two...
Posted by 711094 on July 3, 2008 at 8:26 a.m.in response to 233544
Calm down. It's just the bar and restaurant that they're charging for. No one is stopping you from going to the beach. This is great news. It's a small step, but a step none the less. It's good to see Omni investing in our city. They do, after all own a majority of downtown property. It's time they start fixing it up. The more they invest in downtown the better it's going to be for them in the long run. Incresed traffic downtown means increased traffic for their hotels.
Posted by 258638 on July 3, 2008 at 8:33 a.m.great idea! I'll make a point of patronizing the place.
Eeyore
Posted by 233560 on July 3, 2008 at 8:34 a.m.But we did not have public meetings we did not hire a consultant, how about taxes who is going to defer them, how dare they do this without have a comm\ittee consisting of a cross section of the community,why could they not have done this at the fair gounds, It looks like a carnvial, they are going to take away the view....... not really ......good luck
Posted by 239579 on July 3, 2008 at 8:47 a.m.For all of you crying about spending a cover. STAY HOME! Nobody wants your broke - coming into their place of business anyway! There are miles and miles of free space for you to take your family and your bologna sandwiches. This is a great idea for someone to utilize such a space. I will show my support, and maby we can stir up a little more interest in someone doing something with the building across the street.
Posted by 247652 on July 3, 2008 at 8:58 a.m.And to think what TRT/Omni could have already been doing to the MC area but thanks to the Petionistas and the select group of landlords that don't want outsiders to develop new things in this city.
Posted by 699874 on July 3, 2008 at 8:58 a.m.What a GREAT idea!! Thank you Omni.
If they are willing to open that place and try to improve things with that old dinosaur ("the pathetic excuse for a memorial" coliseum) across the street, they have my applause. They bought it, they are entitled to do business as they see fit. If they want to make it into a private club for their guests, so be it. If you don't like it, don't go there.
Posted by 233544 on July 3, 2008 at 9:15 a.m.Omni doesn't own the beach, doesn't own majority property downtown, and I wonder how the other hotels feel that their guests will be charge a cover charge just because they didn't get a room at the Omni.
And 239579...our broke a...probably have more money than you do and feel paying a cover charge on a free beach is ridiculous. I support they are fixing it up and will there will now be a location to purchase a drink if you are walking along the sea wall but allowing them to charge extra just because you don't have a room..
If we allow them to do this, who's next...the marina just to drive on the T-Heads since you don't own a boat slot?
Give me a break...
Posted by 310180 on July 3, 2008 at 9:23 a.m.You Fail, 233544
Bars have cover charges. Get out of your retirement home/trailer park...
Posted by 273713 on July 3, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.Do you people actually think they are closing off the beach and charging a cover charge for access? For god's sake, read the story. The cover charge is for getting into the restaurant/bar. They leased it, they have a right to charge a cover charge. All the power to them. It's about time we start doing things for visitors. If we start doing more and more things to attract visitors, good things will come to locals.
Posted by 262709 on July 3, 2008 at 9:32 a.m.Get your swim on Bro......Get your swim on
Posted by 712784 on July 3, 2008 at 9:35 a.m.in response to 273713
Caller.com should institute cover charges for comment posters who don't read and comprehend their stories.
Posted by 712045 on July 3, 2008 at 9:49 a.m.Why are so many people assuming they are going to charge a cover for the beach? It's for the restaurant/bar not for the beach it self. I take a daily walk on the bayfront and am tired of seeing bums peeing, sleeping, hanging out at that building. Try walking out on that jetty (I think that's what it's called) and all you smell is urine and beer. If the Omni wants to clean it up, make something out of it, why not? So many people complaining on this comment blogs about nothing to do in CC and when someone has an idea that would boost the area, you shoot it down.
Just call me: One lady who is ready for her margarita at The Beach House!
Posted by 287001 on July 3, 2008 at 9:54 a.m.Why shouldn't the OMNI charge a cover??? The sense of entitlement in this part of the country is crazy!!! Why does everybody think they should get everything for free???
Posted by 705049 on July 3, 2008 at 10:12 a.m.I heard they're planning to put up a ferris wheel.
Posted by 709973 on July 3, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.I hope they charge a heavy cover before it turns ghetto. I don't trust Corpus Christi people one bit.
Posted by 713348 on July 3, 2008 at 10:21 a.m.any improvement in the downtown area is a godsend. thank you OMNI for investing in corpus. i will gladly pay a reasonable cover for a bar on the beach. They are taking a risk and should be allowed to recoup some of their investment. how come everyone in corpus wants a handout? stick a crowbar in your wallet and support local businesses that support our city. a nice bayfront will attract more investors and further development.
Posted by 237045 on July 3, 2008 at 10:23 a.m.Good for Omni! It’s something, which says alot about our city's approach to the beach! Its ghetto out there because there is nothing to filter them out! Whataburger Field did the job in the area under the Harbor Bridge! The Landry's Beach development deal from a few years ago would have done so too! If you build it (and charge for it), they will go (rif raff)! At night, its sooo dark and boring on the Bayfront! Idiot City Council seems to not notice that! It needs life!
Posted by 699260 on July 3, 2008 at 10:43 a.m.I'll have to go and see what it's all about!
If you don't want to pay a cover charge to have a drink by the ocean go to the Holiday Inn Emerald Beach's bar...it's pretty nice...sometimes they have bands.
Sweetie ;-)
Posted by 713317 on July 3, 2008 at 10:45 a.m.Way to go Omni! Keep up the awesome job of infusing life into d-town. As for the Hummellite on here crapping on this idea I say good riddance and take your motorized wheelchair staright to Florida with all the other old a** coots!
Posted by 257726 on July 3, 2008 at 11:38 a.m.in response to 711094
I agree with the previous poster... Unless they are expanding the original building, there IS no bar or restaurant to enter. How can you charge a cover for people to sit on the beach under an umbrella and have a drink? Holiday Inn Emerald Beach and the H.I. on the island both have outdoor bars and don't charge a cover.
Posted by 284374 on July 3, 2008 at 11:46 a.m.in response to 699260
I'll see you there! Did you close your doors today?
Posted by 699260 on July 3, 2008 at noonin response to 284374
Yes, the balconey doors are closed today...lol!
Happy Fourth of July!
Sweetie ;-)
Posted by 234453 on July 3, 2008 at 12:43 p.m.in response to 700317
Please get a life - you have not seen the lease itself so you have no idea what you are talking about. Get all the facts before you start blasting someone who is trying to clean up the eyesore known as downtown.
Posted by 239722 on July 3, 2008 at 12:51 p.m.I went to the movies the other day, and can you believe that they charged me to go into their building? I can't believe that! I mean, I'm entitled to free entertainment, and I shouldn't have to pay to go into someone else's establishment. The nerve of some business owners.
Posted by 713483 on July 3, 2008 at 1:02 p.m.in response to 709973
theres nothing wrong whth being ghetto.everyones a lil ghetto.....the fake ones are the ones you cant trust coz they dnt even know who they are they have to pretend to be something they are not..
Posted by 703392 on July 3, 2008 at 1:05 p.m.omni can charge a cover and should to keep the misfits out.
indeed you can go down to holiday inn's bar.....the bar area is claimed as hotel property, but the beach is public and nice at that with umbrellas, jet ski rentals, etc,.......most people probably dont know that all that is open to the public. the bar will let the public hand out.....saturday they have kareoke.....it is not that bad
interesting to see omni playing the game now, most people probably dont realize that this property(weiner/beach house) is right across from the MC, where TRT failed to develop property and TRT was owned/operated by robert rolling (ex-cc resident)......who owns the omni chain that has a grip on the downtown hotel business?? it is the same robert rolling. personally i believe that he never wanted to develop the MC area at all, his ploy was to make sure that any development in that area did not bring a new hotel(Westin, Marriott, Sheraton, Etc.) that could challenge his business interest (2 BIG omni's downtown) and now this interest in the area to buy this property?????? is the omni guarding the waterfront from future hotels/tourists??? seems like a long "dangerous"(this is cc after all) walk for tourist from their hotel to this beach house......
I believe that this could be a sign that development is in store for the MC and Rolling & co. are getting their ducks in a row to reap some of the benefits....i knida hope it is true....growth is good
but this is just all speculation!!!
Posted by 712875 on July 3, 2008 at 1:17 p.m.Only on corpitos would people make a big deal over something so trivial and a normal part of everyday business in other Texas cities. I think you guys need to get out once in a while, and see what is happening in Port A, New Braunfels, San Antonio, Fredericksburg, Austin, Houston, etc.
And..........the bickering here says it all.
Posted by 237045 on July 3, 2008 at 1:27 p.m.in response to 712875
Kudos 712875! We have an incompetent leadership on the city council because the citizens who elect them are just as clueless! CC needs PROGRESS! At this point, anything small is progress! Stop whining about the cover charge people! U probably don't even go out anyways!
Posted by 709973 on July 3, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.in response to 712875
I agree 100%. Who cares if the Omni owns it? This is the first business I see that wants to start something new down there in years.
Posted by 310101 on July 3, 2008 at 1:46 p.m.At other oceanfront hotels around the country they charge for renting chaise lounges, rafts, umbrellas, etc. It is NOT for using the beach. All these amenities and the wages they pay the employees who work at these concessions cost money. I'd rather have something like this than have an empty building with vandals, drugees, etc on our city beaches.
Posted by 700317 on July 3, 2008 at 2:38 p.m.This is a vending concession on the beach, no different than the sno cone cart wheeled up next to the pier. What would you tell them if they said you couldn't stand beside their cart without paying a fee? If the theater wanted to show their movies on the beach, then I'd have a problem with a cover fee there too.
A public city owned facility is NOT 'intended for Omni guests'. It is intended for the public. If OMNI wants a facility for their guests, they should rent a commercial building or put it on their own property.
How does that work anyway?
Guest: Yes, table for 3 please!
Maitre'De: That will be $15.
Guest: For dinner?
Maitre'De: No, to sit down and order dinner.
Beyond right and wrong, it's just dumb. Like driving trucks on the beach where kids play. There, now there's something for everyone to dislike in this comment. Enjoy.
Posted by 273385 on July 3, 2008 at 3:06 p.m.Let Dusty do his river park project, he as done more for Corpus Christi than the Labonte brothers, financially and maybe our city council can get off their saddle and put a river park bond issue to expand the river park to the port. Corpus Christi could have the longest linear river park south of San Antonio and we could attract more tourists to the nueces river. The river is a fun place to refresh and enjoy.
Posted by 713096 on July 3, 2008 at 3:17 p.m.in response to 700317
Shut up.
Posted by 273385 on July 3, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.Developers please come to Corpus Christi and instead of a downtown project or a island resort investment, why don't you invest and bring to the Corpus Christi city council table, a river park project with walking, running and bike trails and stone tables and canopes and plant thousands of oak trees along the nueces river park, expand the park to the port. This would be a quality project and I guarantee everyone, tourists would be flocking to the new tourist nueces river park project. The mall at Robstown would be close by, to grab those tourists.
Posted by 273385 on July 3, 2008 at 3:23 p.m.The one that posted shut up, I can tell your from corpus
Posted by 273385 on July 3, 2008 at 3:25 p.m.The one that posted shut up, I can tell your one of the reasons corpus is the stupidiest city in the nation.
Posted by 713096 on July 3, 2008 at 3:29 p.m.in response to 273385
shut up.
Posted by 713096 on July 3, 2008 at 3:31 p.m.in response to 273385
And for your information, I was telling the anti-development whiner who posted before you (who I agree with) to shut up. I'm all about development in Corpus, but I can't wait that long, so I am moving to Austin.
Posted by 712667 on July 3, 2008 at 3:45 p.m.in response to 713096
Haha! At least some said it! Thank you!
And what is the difference between this and paying a cover at a bar/club or comcert? I don't see one!
Posted by 700317 on July 3, 2008 at 5:35 p.m.The difference here, once again, is PRIVATE vs. PUBLIC property. If something is on public property, it should be accessible to everyone equally. It doesn't have to be free, it just should be equal. Don't get so stressed. We both get to win. You get your way now, and I get mine in 6 months when they close it down like everything else that's been there..
Posted by 700317 on July 3, 2008 at 5:40 p.m.in response to 713096
That's a lot of nuts!
Posted by 245928 on July 3, 2008 at 10:03 p.m.Why is everyone always so big eyes like it's just the homeless that go to the bathroom outdoors. If tourists, conventioneers, and local residents see all that water and need to go suddenly, as could happen, where are the comfort stations? Highway rest stop facilities are nice and contracted clean - maybe Dusty could build some of those.
Posted by 710237 on July 3, 2008 at 11:38 p.m.in response to 245928
I love Dusty and have always appreciated everything he has done for our city. He loves Corpus Christi and we are so lucky that he has the money and wits to do some really nice things here. I wish he could do much more. I think he has great vision if only the city would allow him to exercise it...and he wouldn't even need consultants or a focus group to get something going!
A Dusty-D Fan.
Posted by 425944 on July 3, 2008 at 11:41 p.m.in response to 239579
I beg your pardon! Peanut Butter sandwiches are the order of the day for us broke folks! lol
I will pay this establishment a visit too! Love it when someone can accommodate the public. My husband wouldn't mind hanging out at the beach a little longer with a cold one close by! : )
Posted by 711254 on July 4, 2008 at 12:33 a.m.A hot dog stand on the beach is considered a major downtown revitalization project in Corpus Christi! Kinda shows you how far down the developmental ladder the community has fallen
Posted by 712664 on July 4, 2008 at 2:43 a.m.in response to 273385
to both of the ding dongs who can't spell "YOU'RE".....
pipe down...enjoy a dog.
Posted by 425944 on July 4, 2008 at 11:25 a.m.in response to 712664
Don't you love it when a person comes on board to slam Corpus Christians as being stupid and can't spell worth a damn? : )
Posted by 347318 on July 4, 2008 at 12:22 p.m.Just finding someone who is interested enough in doing something with the Wienerschnitzel stand is enough to think there is still hope for Corpus Christi. It's a small step in the right direction. I just hope this will spark or wake up other City officals or
anyone interested in promoting the downtown area. They started with the beach area being built up and it only makes sense to fix up the surrounding areas. The OMNI should be commended for doing so.
Posted by 335574 on July 4, 2008 at 10:14 p.m.They better sell tacos or they'll go out of business.
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