The city is obsolete.

Depopulation begins.

Dominic,

Our art has not been on Mueller's corner for months now...

http://www.centraldistrictnews.com/2010/…

Please update your story.

Developers wet dream is what that is. Perhaps the property has already been purchased from the previous owner?

The corner is ripe for development...it's gonna be sooner, I think, than later.

OH NOOO(ay cabron)!!!! what about TACO CTY USA? por el amor de dios, tell me that little yelloow trailer still survives!

How can a gas station go out of business? Amazing. This intersection is now totally devoid of all business and it has such opportunity. It's sad.

The SPD drop in center is a joke, there is never anybody using it and there is not even anything in there. Would it really be too much to put up some posters, have some literature, do anything to make it look like it hasn't been deserted?

@1 You're kidding right?

If they put a decent Shell station that's kept clean and lighted and doesn't look like it puts water in your gas, I'd go all the time. But the 76 was doomed after the water in the gas scandal. And that Philly store would be a great location for a Burger King if idiots don't shoot it up.

I thought I was walking into a robbery the last time I entered that gas station. The lights were low and nobody was around. I said "hello" a few times and the clerk slowly comes out from the back. Turns out no one was holding a gun to him while he opened the back room safe. He just sleeping or getting high or something.

@6, it's surprisingly difficult for individual gas station owner/operators to make much money. Most will tell you the profit center is the attached mini-mart's booze and smokes - if the convenience store's not doing well, the station's in danger.

Good riddance to sketchy dirty 76. It would be nice if the taco truck survived, however.

@6:

That's a bit hyperbolic. There's still Thompson's, the liquor store, the hair salon, the tax consultant, the drive-through espresso stand, the post office with the laundry-mat and dollar store and sandwich shop attached on the east side of 23rd, Casey Family Services and presumably (@5) the taco truck in the gas station parking lot on the west side, not to mention Cappy's Gym and the martial arts studio, the daycare center, the church, the car wash, Adey Abbiba restaurant, USA Nails and the little middle-eastern sundries store, the Wells Fargo bank, the halal butcher, and several home businesses, all within a block and a-half (at most) of the intersection.

So no, not exactly "devoid of business" there, not in the least.

And FWIW, I DO see SPD using the "satellite precinct" (their term, not mine) on a fairly regular basis, although I don't think the location was ever intended for public access, but rather more to simply have SPD presence on the corner, and which HAS in fact done a great deal to reduce the open-air drug marketing that used to plague the intersection.

@4: Really? There's an obnoxiously high supply of unsold condos and townhomes down there now, and because there are so many it's going to remain a high vacancy area for years. That fact alone is going to depress development, because it indicates there's no demonstrable property value in the surrounding blocks.

Oooh, good riddance! That gas station was a mecca for losers and troublemakers. Bring on something worthwhile for a change! Yay!

The taco stand will still be there, right? RIGHT????

WTF? Cover the important part of this story: TACO TRUCK. What's the haps their reporter man?

@8 I would say that the Philly store is a great location for a philly cheesesteak place, if idiots didn't shoot it up. But that's just me, I think Burger King is kinda gross.

I always thought it would be fun to open a deli sandwich shop in the old Philly spot, and call it The Sub Station, in honor of the East Pine Substation, which is just across the street.

13, For what it's worth, I have been working the CD for the last several years, and it's one of the busiest parts of town, new construction-wise, along with West Seattle, and Ballard (which is where I worked before I landed the CD.) although it seems to be more single family homes than condos or town homes as of late.

@17, I'm with you. the last thing we need in the neighborhood is burger king. well, actually, the last thing we need is micky-d's, but they're kind of equally nasty.

Also, I noticed the gas station when I went to get lunch at the taco truck which is still there, but was not open today. I hope that is a not a permanent situation, because i really got spoiled with such a close source of regular tortas.

@12

I was talking about the intersection, not the surrounding blocks. At that intersection, now 3 of the 4 corners are fenced off, vacant, and now taped off. And the SPD "satellite precinct" which has the closest business to the 4th corner looks completely vacant.

I've seen cops sitting outside of that "precinct" but never anyone in there. It'd be great if they made it look like it was at least used.

I'd love to see some new businesses open up and prosper in this area. It's such a great location, but it's just been unlucky so far.

It seems all of Union is developing though, hopefully we'll see some of those businesses keep on coming in and expanding that strip. In addition to the ones you named you have 20/20 Cycles, Katy's Cafe, Cortona Cafe, Hollow Earth Radio and of course, Central Cinema.

@17 Small business doesn't have the resources to open there. It needs security. But BK is delicious. I know, I know, but you just are not going to be able to open anything there but a chain. Maybe a Starbucks. But that could be incentive enough to keep other businesses open around it. It must be occupied or it all goes to hell.

Oh god please no fast food. There is something very specific that killed this corner and fast food would only start the cycle all over again.

I don't know what it would take to make this "powerful corner" inviting to humanity again but loitering business that promote it ain't going to do it.

Community garden, a Market - wholesome but affordable - attached to a chain so it can withstand a few years of operating in the red - PCC perhaps? Restaurants and street level shopping and lets see... what else I don't know ... how does Columbia City do it?

That's loitering and business that promote it...

Comte - where's the Wells Fargo around there? Never heard of it.

I've been to the taco truck several times recently and once I had to get cash from the convenience store which had two busted ATMs inside. They let me get cash at the counter for a mere $3 charge. Also, most of the shelves were empty and the hot food cases housed pellet gun ammunition.

they built a 4plex commercial loft complex up by the Central Cinema building...there's only one space left. People WANT to live/work in that area. If they build it, they will come. And, smaller scale developments are soon to be in short supply since not much has been built in the last two years...big projects and condos aren't going to get off the ground for a long time but the time is ripe for smaller scale development in affordable areas. It's going to happen.

@24:

Damn, sorry meant Key Bank, just east of Thompson's.

@22:

There is a community garden planned for the corner south of Cappy's; they started on it this summer, and from what I understand they'll plant in the spring.

@20:

I understand your point, but just wanted to make it clear the neighborhood around the intersection isn't nearly so desolate as it might sound.

And let's not forget Union Market, the computer repair place, the yoga studio and the auto mechanic at the old Shell station just up E. Union. Lot's of small business are surviving here, and some perhaps even thriving, despite a lack of "anchor tenants" in the vicinity. (BTW, does anybody know if Dr. Larry the optometrist is still above that ratty old convenience store south of Casey on 23rd?)

This is near the bus stop I used to get on/off at when I would work at Madrona K-8. I went in there once to use the ATM to get bus fare, but it didn't work. The next time I went in for a bag of chips and a coke, but they wouldn't let me get anything with a card for under $5 (no extra .50--$5+ or nothing).

I went in there two times, and got zilch. It's no wonder that place is out of business.

lol PCC on 23rd and Union.

@29 Hey PCC was some wishful thinking but its not worth a lol. Do you have any idea what the population that lives north of Union and east of Broadway looks like? That is gentrification central. Think for a second about the traffic the Friday market gets just a few blocks away at the Red Apple parking lot. Rich White People would be all up in that shit.

this is my hood and there is a lot going on, it's just not on the corner of 23rd & Union which requires major capital to develop
I think JIm Mueller might be looking for financing, which the city should help him find, it would be nice to get this corner going again.

PCC won't consider opening near Madison Mkt, which is a bummer because MM has the most severe identity crisis of any Co-Op I've ever joined.

I really enjoyed Philly's Best. Pizza steak was excellent.

I believe this was back when outrage over the gentrification of the CD was really picking up. Sorry, but I can't really bring myself to give a shit about that when business owners are being MURDERED REPEATEDLY.

All this negativity! I foresee great things for the intersection. Of course there is going to be some tough times before new growth. Sooner or later Mueller will get his financing, Philly's will get new tenant, gas station will get new operator or come down and something else will go in its place and the intersection will have a whole new snappy look and feel. 23rd and Madison is a different place than it was 10 years ago. Then everyone will comlain the neighborhood is changing to fast and want it the way it used to be.