yeah I don't have much sympathy for local business that goes out of business when they do such a crappy job of being in business. The trouble is that they will likely blame Worcester.

I disagree. I've eaten there a dozen times. Joe was always a first-rate host. The food, too, was outstanding - creative and delicious.

I think it's a drag. What will the city do with its expensive garage after driving out the blues club and "The Restaurant"?

Well, first off, Joe has been a successful restaurateur in Worcester for over a decade. He then made a leap of faith, offering to open at Union station when Worcester got the building together. That was a huge risk. Afterwards, he suffered the same fate as the blues club: limited promotion by the city, failure to come through on some development projects, and charging premium rent all the while. Joe, I understand, footed a hefty bill to provide free valet parking, while the city kept promising parking that never materialized. Their rent, if nothing else, should have been subsidized in order to ensure success. Then, adding insult to injury - in both cases - the city seems to have offered better rents to those who would replace these businesses when they failed. Don't quote me as the expert - I'm not. But I have followed this story over the past few years, and I patronized these businesses and a few other events at the station, too. I heard gripes about the blues club owner - his attitude and reluctance to host a local night - and I agreed with these gripes. But I think Worcester needs these businesses, and has a responsibility to see them work. Just my viewpoint, of course.

Personally, I wouldn't execute a business plan that replied upon other people (ie, the city) to subsidize costs, build parking, or help promote. 

Plan for the worst, don't expect the best.