Downtown Bethesda: Where did it all go wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in a Bethesda neighborhood, just near the DC line. We love the neighborhood, community pool, schools, etc.

But downtown Bethesda really is a disaster. Very few good restaurants, most of the independent shops have closed, and there is generally not much going on. It feels like a cultural vacuum.

We were in Frederick, MD last week and it is the total opposite. It is vibrant, with independent stores, excellent bars and restaurants, diversity. We loved it.

So my question is how did Bethesda end up like it is now? Was it ever anything lie Frederick? Did it have rowhouses that were demolished?

Where and when did it all go wrong?

Rent prices are absurd. Squeezes out Mom & Pop and unique for national/chain.
That said, there are many good restaurants on the Woodmont side.
By not much going on, I’m assuming you don’t mean literally, because it’s been pretty active - especially since things have re-opened and the Streeterys are still in place.

Downtown Bethesda is full of a bunch of overweight, unattractive people that lack any sense of fashion...and yes, it is most often your fault if you are overweight.

[Anonymous]

Not PP, but Tout de Sweet is an excellent bakery.

We also like Casa Oaxaca. (And Momo for KFC and fries).

Small local chains — Q, Da Marco, BGR, Chiko, Medium Rare

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that basically Federal Realty/the market is doing a terrible job around Bethesda ave (except for ChiKo) but Bethesda is not uniformly a lost cause.

Federal Realty did a great job in Bethesda until the County screwed them over. The resultant mess was Ike Leggett’s dream.

Honestly how did the county screw them over? The county didn’t force them to turn a bookstore into a furniture store and turning surface lots into apt buildings with underground parking isn’t screwing them over.

The lack of fine dining has been a long-standing problem/mystery (RiP David Craig) which I think is partly due to the lack of a business lunch market and partly to the antiquated liquor laws.

I loved David Craig so much. Sigh.

Me too.

[Anonymous]

Had good takeout recently from Tikka Masala and Pho Viet (both newish).

Haandi became Kadhai years ago.

[Anonymous]

Agree with OP about Frederick. The downtown area has an authenticity to it. It's vibrant. We live in Rockville and I wish we had considered Frederick. There's also much more green space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Montgomery County has a long history of letting developers take liberties to the long-term detriment of any area and Bethesda is no exception and it’s only gotten worse. At this stage, they are trying to retcon what was once an interesting and vibrant commercial district into a simulacra of Pike and Rose.

This. So much this. County Council is dependent on developers to fund their campaigns, Council signs off on their awful plans (infill, nothing that fits within a current neighborhood, not enough parking spaces even though public transit like Bus Rapid Transit and Purple Line are still on paper, not keeping schools up with development so they are overcrowded, building pocket parks - barely better than nothing, but not enough open/green/play space for children, and taking down every bit of greenery to build more apartments, and mini-destinations like Pike and Rose, Bethesda Row and Park Potomac, which while perhaps nice for those who live there, are not places I want to go with my family of 5 including 3 young children).

If only the Planning Board and Council weren't so intent on turning all of our leafy green suburbs into cement-city urban areas.

Yes, and what really rubs is that most of them choose to live in leafy green Takoma Park, which fights development.

Where is there a version of Bethesda from the ‘90s? That’s where I’d like to live…does such a place exist in the DMV?

Agree with all the above. MoCo Govt just loves concrete.

[Anonymous]

Bethesda has never been interesting so...

[Anonymous]

Bethesda is full of smart and interesting people and I love walking around the neighborhoods in the evening--my daily wonderful routine.

[Anonymous]

We live in more-charming NW DC but love Bethesda downtown. It’s clean, parking is easy, decent stores, lotsa food, and full of nice, rich liberals. Frederick is charming for a visit every five years, but there are Trumpers about. No Republicans in Bethesda. It’s a lovely civilized bubble. A bit sterile, but great to have nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in more-charming NW DC but love Bethesda downtown. It’s clean, parking is easy, decent stores, lotsa food, and full of nice, rich liberals. Frederick is charming for a visit every five years, but there are Trumpers about. No Republicans in Bethesda. It’s a lovely civilized bubble. A bit sterile, but great to have nearby.

LOL. You're joking 😃, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not PP, but Tout de Sweet is an excellent bakery.

We also like Casa Oaxaca. (And Momo for KFC and fries).

Small local chains — Q, Da Marco, BGR, Chiko, Medium Rare

Their specialty cakes are sublime. For a small local chain Big Greek Cafe is very tasty.

[Anonymous]

The nightlife around Cordell has really stepped up the last few months. There's at least 6 bars on the 2-block stretch, some open until 2am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think all these bethesda haters haven’t been downtown in a while. While I do miss the Barnes and Nobles a lot, between Bethesda row and woodmont triangle there are a ton of restaurants. And chocolate shops, and random little things. Yes there are less cutesy retail stores but that’s because of Amazon.

My favorites:

Passage of India
Raku
Gringos and Mariachis
Silver
Hanaro
Bachus of Lebanon
CherCher is excellent
Q by Peter Chang is excellent
Even that grungy Korean fried chicken place is good and it has live music


Less fancy but also yum
Bethesda Bagel
Moby Dick
The Big Greek Cafe (so good, everyone please go here so it stays open)

All good. Let me add Hinata for sushi, Wangs for good Chinese, and Milae for mom and pop Korean food.

Moby Dick is in multiple locations, one in walking distance from my house
Big Greek Cafe is also in Rockville and easier to get to
Gringos is in Park Potomac, much easier to get to than Bethesda with its lack of parking

So…your list isn’t unique.

[Anonymous]

Frederick is a town

Bethesda is just a designated area in the county. It’s not well managed like a town would be. It’s on the same level as “North Bethesda”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The nightlife around Cordell has really stepped up the last few months. There's at least 6 bars on the 2-block stretch, some open until 2am.

Wow. I was just out last Friday night and was so disappointed that we could not enjoy drinks on a restaurant’s patio much past 10 PM.