Random Photographs, Thoughts, and Tales | January 2026
Random photographs, thoughts, and tales acquired in January 2026 that didn’t necessarily have a place in a larger story or post.
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The Former, Pseudo-Hidden, Downtown “Taco Bell Wannabe” That Travis Told Me About:
Travis and I met up to shoot one afternoon on the eastern side of Downtown Cincinnati. There, he pointed towards a small parking lot in an alley to ask “if I knew about the taco place that had been here.” The one they “built the parking garage around.”
No, I hadn’t known about that.
And as we stood shivering beneath the bleak, grey sky—I felt both sadness and hunger.
The intersection of New and North streets in downtown Cincinnati where the “Seven at Broadway” development was built around 322 New St—now a surface parking lot.
Tacos not only sounded good in the moment, but the idea of a local place tucked back in this benign, liminal corner of the neighborhood sounded more appealing than any of the extant options within walking distance. I meant no disrespect to the places that could be found nearby (all of which are very good), but I was annoyed at the thought (as I often am) of what could’ve been. Had the building been kept, maybe it would be housing something simple, quick, easy, and similar to the great taquerias of the northern suburbs. Or, perhaps, the first floor could’ve become a neighborhood bar. One on the quiet end of downtown, back in an area where no one really goes. The kind of “if you know, you know” type of place—except not in a pretentious or socially exclusive sort of way.
“Whatever,” I thought.
I was just making shit up in my head. Telling myself a story.
Two of them, actually, because the other half of my brain cynically assumed that If the building had managed to survive, it’d probably just be boarded up now or one of those lunch-only, weekday diners that offers great food, but not when you need it.
Didn’t matter. Taco Casa was long gone, anyway.
Taco Casa at 322 New St. in downtown Cincinnati as seen in March 1993 (left) and October 2003 (right).
Images via Hamilton County Auditor.
My affection with this now-demolished building wasn’t solely rooted in a manufactured nostalgia, though—there was a genuine curiosity as well. For all intents and purposes, the front door had sat on what’s now essentially an alleyway. The entrance hadn’t fronted one of the primary streets, but rather: it faced inwards at the center of the block along a smaller, bisecting street. The unique physical orientation and geographic position called back to a point in history when the population of downtown Cincinnati was more dense, well before so much space was dedicated to the needs of a commuting workforce.
However, this street probably hadn’t always felt so secluded, and the former Taco Casa probably hadn’t been all that secretive. Even before the wraparound parking garage (and eventual condo tower) of “Seven at Broadway” had been built, Taco Casa had long been bordered by a former-shoe-factory-turned-residence and an early-70s parking garage built for Procter & Gamble employees. Just steps away from the P&G headquarters, the building had also stood amongst a sea of surface parking according to some aerial imagery from 1993:
So, I’m assuming it was probably an easily identifiable and well-known lunch spot.
June 2008 view of 322 New St. Constructed in 2003, the parking garage would not receive its condo tower until 2014.
Image via Hamilton County Auditor.
On his website, the talented Dann Woellert has a great story about the history of Taco Casa, a local chain he fondly described as one of multiple “Taco Bell wannabe” concepts that could be found across the city back in the day. The Taco Casa on New St. is mentioned as active in 1988, but I was unable to find a record of exactly when it closed. The chain still has two locations locally, but I’ve never personally been to one.
According to Google Street View and County records: the building itself remained till at least September 2007, but was gone by June 2008.
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“Skywalk” Remnants on Sycamore St:
After the whole secret taco building thing, Travis and I realized that a section of private, corporate “skywalk” had recently been removed.
Remnants of a recently removed, elevated “skywalk.”
And not far away was an entrance to what’s left of the public system…
Columbia Plaza and Skywalk entrance.
…but that story’s coming (in the) next (two) week(s).
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“Live, laugh, love” graffiti.
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Hammond St, Cincinnati.
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Main St between 3rd and 4th, Cincinnati.
When this stadium opened in 1999, I distinctly remember my ten-year-old self asking: “Why would they would build a single escalator that would be exposed to the elements all year round?”
However, I also loved it.
From what I understand, though, this escalator is going away due to the ongoing renovations of this facility.
I get it.
As Lammi likes to (rightfully) point out: this escalator packed with frustrated, dissapointed fans heading for the exits has been a common visual featured at the end of many a national television broadcast.
RIP.
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Someday—probably like seven years from now—someone’s gonna come across these photos and say: “Oh, shit, this is from when those rusted ‘temporary’ stairs near the convention center were new!”
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Corner of Race St and Central Parkway, Cincinnati.
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Streetlight at the Corner of Richmond Street and Lloyd Alley:
I don’t know what era of Cincinnati’s public utility history this street light is from, but it’s the only one I know of that still looks like this.
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Mural. Watts Alley, Cincinnati.
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Carew Tower, Cincinnati.
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”Fading (Millennial) Ads of Cincinnati.”
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The Banks, Cincinnati.
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The Icon Music Center, Cincinnati.
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The Ghost Escalator of Great American Ballpark:
Outline of removed escalator.
Located outside of the gates and connected to public sidewalks; not sure when exactly these were removed or if they’re coming back, but I feel like they used to let both the upper and lower one run all the time in the offseason.
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The owls are not what they seem.
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Watched a video review of go-kart tracks in Gatlinburg where the influencer discussing them said they were all “perfect for a guy’s trip.”
I’d been to two of the three.
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Sixth St restaurant construction, Cincinnati.
…which reminded me that the tile placed along the restaurant’s wall is the same tile that was found in the (now closed) Tri-County Mall.
Above: tile at the Red Fox Grill.
Below: tile at the former Tri-County Mall.
2022.
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The Big Mac Bridge as seen from The Mercantile Library.
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Winter Storm Fern as Experienced in Cincinnati’s Pendleton/Mt. Auburn Neighborhoods:
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Since 2007, the content of this website (and its former life as Queen City Discovery) has been a huge labor of love.
If you’ve enjoyed stories like The Ghost Ship, abandoned amusement parks, the Cincinnati Subway, Fading Ads, or others over the years—might you consider showing some support for future projects?
