Mallory Hearts Oysters

Jane Prendergast reports:


Mayor Mark Mallory is a big fan of downtown’s new McCormick & Schmick’s on Fountain Square. He eats there a lot.

Today, though, the trip had a purpose beyond the mayor’s desire for fried oysters, which he ordered and declared "excellent." He met with the restaurant chain's regional managers to talk about the restaurant’s success in a spot where some critics said there wouldn’t be enough business downtown to keep such a place in the black.

He learned at the meeting that Cincinnati delivered the corporation its strongest opening in years, second only to Baltimore. The company started more than 30 years ago in Portland and now operates about 40 restaurants across the U.S. Cincinnati’s opened in November.

"I think that tells a story of the strength and vitality of downtown Cincinnati," Mallory said. "People do want to be there."