Connecticut Ave, NW in Chevy Chase, DC Needs Help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone told me the other day Pumpernickel's is so gross they won't go in it anymore. Bread and Chocolate (which is just an older version of Panera) is also pretty bad. The one on Capitol Hill closed and became a Le Pain Quotidien. It was dead and totally revived with an updated version of the same thing. I agree, time for positive change people!

It's a bagel and pizza slice shop. Does everything need to look like a food court?

[Anonymous]

I wonder why the storefront above child's play hasn't been addressed. I am sure the toy store and the new gym underneath aren't too happy about it. Who owns the building?

[Anonymous]

16:06 What does your comment even mean? Who said anything about looking like a food court? People are talking about sprucing up the storefronts, streetscape, and improving options. None of that means looking like a food court!

[Anonymous]

14:47 Totally Agree!

The weeds and sidewalk are particularly bad on the Conn. Ave block between mcKinley and Northhampton. This is the block with the USPO, the Avalon Theater, Spa Nail, State Farm, Subway, Monarch Paint, and Macgruders. The renovation of the Avalon is well done and wonderful for the neighborhood, but the rest of the street is pretty dumpy. The super wide sidewalk has spray paint markings all over it and there are hardly any trees - only weeds. The second worst block is the one with Child's Play, the Chinese Restaurant, Arucola, Bread and Chocolate, CVS, and the Diner. There may be a few more trees, but still lots of weeds, miss match/broken sidewalks, and deplorable store fronts.

The positives in the neighborhood are the restored Avalon Theater, Macon, Jetties, Starbucks, Periwinkle, Full of Beans, Blue 44, Relaxed Nail Salon, Salon Familia, and the Fish Market. Everything else needs a serious make over!

And I second the need for Trader Joes - especially if the one in Chevy Chase, MD is leaving at some point.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone else see the article on the front cover of this weeks NW Current about either Harris Tetter or Trader Joes moving into AU Park where the old Fresh Foods was? They are also getting an expanded and renovated Wagshals and new development in the old Chicken Out location. It feels like everyone is getting spruced up with renovations and redevelopment in NW except us. AU/Spring Valley, Tenleytown, VanNess, Cleveland Park - when will it happen for Chevy Chase?

[Anonymous]

God, please no Trader Joe's! If the Safeway needs to go at least replace it with another traditional supermarket and not with an upscale 7-11.

[Anonymous]

To the OP, do you live in the neighborhood? If so, then work with the Chevy Chase Citizens Association to address the problem. They have resident and business members.

Tenleytown and Van Ness are getting Main Street programs to help address the issues in those neighborhoods, but Chevy Chase doesn't have as much commercial and retail space to support a similar program.

At some point, isn't up to the property owners and merchants to take care of their front yards?

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one who doesn't want more chain stores? At all, nada? If chain store-loving PPs really are neighbors, then they know that 7 blocks away from Connecticut ave strip is every.single.chain store you can name.

And, the pp who said bread and chocolate = panera is an idiot and has no palate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God, please no Trader Joe's! If the Safeway needs to go at least replace it with another traditional supermarket and not with an upscale 7-11.

Maybe the Whole Foods will move out of its Tenley location to CCDC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God, please no Trader Joe's! If the Safeway needs to go at least replace it with another traditional supermarket and not with an upscale 7-11.

+1

[Anonymous]

Love it when the 1-percenters complain. Take it up with Buffy and Muffy at the country club.

[Anonymous]

Isn't this an issue for the property owners, not the tenants? Who owns these buildings and why aren't they being maintained?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else see the article on the front cover of this weeks NW Current about either Harris Tetter or Trader Joes moving into AU Park where the old Fresh Foods was? They are also getting an expanded and renovated Wagshals and new development in the old Chicken Out location. It feels like everyone is getting spruced up with renovations and redevelopment in NW except us. AU/Spring Valley, Tenleytown, VanNess, Cleveland Park - when will it happen for Chevy Chase?

I love the Chevy Chase shopping district. It's a diverse collection of neighborhood-oriented shops and restaurants and the Avalon is a gem. There are some things that could be done to spruce up the avenue, like planters, more benches and decorative lighting instead of the highway cobra lights. Mary Cheh has obtained DC money for other areas, so how about it, Mary?
But I would hate to see Chevy Chase become stark and soulless like Van Ness or a generic Clarendon/Rockville knock-off like Cathedral Commons on Wisconsin Ave.

[Anonymous]

OP, you bright young person!

Why don't you start something up?

We are right behind you (leaning back in armchair)...

[Anonymous]

The much anticipated Cathedral Commons has not turned out well. Hate to see something like that replace our neighborhoody center in Chevy Chase.