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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really think the Safeway would be fine if they could revamp the deli, cheese, and seafood section. Its basically just the far left side of the store that's a disaster. The rest is decent for the size of the building.

I also wish the cashiers would prioritize speed over friendliness, but I'm a Bostoner.

Their produces is either missing or terrible most of the time. It's a small store, so it's never going to have everything, but when you go shopping on a weeknight evening and they are out of APPLES, it makes the mind reel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think the Safeway would be fine if they could revamp the deli, cheese, and seafood section. Its basically just the far left side of the store that's a disaster. The rest is decent for the size of the building.

I also wish the cashiers would prioritize speed over friendliness, but I'm a Bostoner.

Their produces is either missing or terrible most of the time. It's a small store, so it's never going to have everything, but when you go shopping on a weeknight evening and they are out of APPLES, it makes the mind reel.

I've had that experience too, I've just also had it at every nearby grocery except maybe Whole Foods. Since that section of CT is not going to have a Cathedral Commons sized Giant, I'm not sure any other supermarket would really solve the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think the Safeway would be fine if they could revamp the deli, cheese, and seafood section. Its basically just the far left side of the store that's a disaster. The rest is decent for the size of the building.

I also wish the cashiers would prioritize speed over friendliness, but I'm a Bostoner.

Their produces is either missing or terrible most of the time. It's a small store, so it's never going to have everything, but when you go shopping on a weeknight evening and they are out of APPLES, it makes the mind reel.

I've had that experience too, I've just also had it at every nearby grocery except maybe Whole Foods. [b]Since that section of CT is not going to have a Cathedral Commons sized Giant,[b] I'm not sure any other supermarket would really solve the problem.

Like that solves any problems. I tried shopping at the giant Giant for a while, and find it just too large. And while they have more stuff, the quality isn't that great and the prices of organics and certain other items are actually higher than Whole Foods. It may be a new store, but there's a certain sketchy vibe. Having to run the gauntlet of store workers taking a smoking break at the front door is a downer.

Sigh -- it's still a Giant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's just get a decent grocery store and call it a day

It would be great if they renovated the Safeway, but not at the price of building another mediocre Cathedral Commons on the end of Morrison Street!

[Anonymous]

The problem with this strip is that surrounding residents in CCDC - - at least the ones who have time and inclination to make their voices heard - - resist ANY change. The CC listserve periodically gets questions like OP's, which are SHOT DOWN immediately by residents with various fearmongering about change. There have been wars on the listserve about Pumpernickels when someone complained about it. Similarly, when anyone suggests the need for traffic lights at Chevy Chase Circle (numerous collisions a week, some quite serious), the knives come out. Also the empty bus depot - thou shall not be named!!! Once someone suggested making it into a fun coffee shop/cafe and there was a collective spaz in response, including a suggestion instead to turn it into a museum of Chevy Chase (SNORE). People will even DEFEND the status of the Safeway, though I confess I can't even follow that logic.

Yes, the Diner sucks, Blue 44 is mediocre, Macon is uneven and Bread & Chocolate is tired and not great. But don't expect change any time soon. We were lucky enough to get Jetties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with this strip is that surrounding residents in CCDC - - at least the ones who have time and inclination to make their voices heard - - resist ANY change. The CC listserve periodically gets questions like OP's, which are SHOT DOWN immediately by residents with various fearmongering about change. There have been wars on the listserve about Pumpernickels when someone complained about it. Similarly, when anyone suggests the need for traffic lights at Chevy Chase Circle (numerous collisions a week, some quite serious), the knives come out. Also the empty bus depot - thou shall not be named!!! Once someone suggested making it into a fun coffee shop/cafe and there was a collective spaz in response, including a suggestion instead to turn it into a museum of Chevy Chase (SNORE). People will even DEFEND the status of the Safeway, though I confess I can't even follow that logic.

Yes, the Diner sucks, Blue 44 is mediocre, Macon is uneven and Bread & Chocolate is tired and not great. But don't expect change any time soon. We were lucky enough to get Jetties.

My favorite was the uproar over demolishing the little, 1950s, vinyl-sided cape house on Livingston, claiming it was an architectural treasure.

Sometimes I just want to lead an uprising against MR and that listserv!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's just get a decent grocery store and call it a day

It would be great if they renovated the Safeway, but not at the price of building another mediocre Cathedral Commons on the end of Morrison Street!

+100%. No more Cathedral Commons in upper NW, thank you!

[Anonymous]

To be fair, the Great Pumpernickel Debate wasn't over whether change was appropriate, but over whether the owners were racist or just New Yorkers. And traffic lights in the circle are a dumb idea for reasons entirely unrelated to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, the Great Pumpernickel Debate wasn't over whether change was appropriate, but over whether the owners were racist or just New Yorkers. And traffic lights in the circle are a dumb idea for reasons entirely unrelated to change.

I missed the circle-light debate. Quite happy I did. Sounds like a doozy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's just get a decent grocery store and call it a day

It would be great if they renovated the Safeway, but not at the price of building another mediocre Cathedral Commons on the end of Morrison Street!

+100%. No more Cathedral Commons in upper NW, thank you!

In the good old days, the architects who designed Cathedral Commons would have been tarred-n-feathered. Such a great spot for such an unappealing eye sore.

[Anonymous]

I was just walking up there today and looking at all the weeds in the flower boxes - shame on those businesses! Why can't it look like Oakland with bright stores and flower boxes - there's a middle ground between independent crappy and chains. Further, these are independents and chains both who aren't pulling weeds and picking up trash.

We do use it for convenience, but rarely eat there. It would look a lot more inviting to have people sitting outside eating and shopping, but it's pretty depressing.

I had to laugh at the person on page 1 who said that these businesses support local schools. I ran our elementary school auction many years ago and we were begging these independents to give something. A couple of the bigger outfits were great, but the majority - not. If they were hurting, it seems smart to give a measly $25 to get someone in your store who will likely spend more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just walking up there today and looking at all the weeds in the flower boxes - shame on those businesses! Why can't it look like Oakland with bright stores and flower boxes - there's a middle ground between independent crappy and chains. Further, these are independents and chains both who aren't pulling weeds and picking up trash.

We do use it for convenience, but rarely eat there. It would look a lot more inviting to have people sitting outside eating and shopping, but it's pretty depressing.

I had to laugh at the person on page 1 who said that these businesses support local schools. I ran our elementary school auction many years ago and we were begging these independents to give something. A couple of the bigger outfits were great, but the majority - not. If they were hurting, it seems smart to give a measly $25 to get someone in your store who will likely spend more.

That may be, but many of these schools DO support Lafayette.

[Anonymous]

I know when 8th Street, SE on Capitol Hill went through a big neighborhood improvement effort. The district gave tax incentives to business/building owners who renovated their store fronts. Nothing was torn down, just renovated tastefully and historically. The city lay nice brick sidewalks, planted new trees, new street lights, and hanging flower containers. It brought a commercial strip that was pretty much dead (not to mention unsafe and totally run down) back to life. Tons of neighbors walk the strip to shop and eat. Lots of outdoor cafes and fun spots for dinner or lunch. Anyway, I know Capitol Hill is very different from Connecticut Ave, but thought it was a nice example of how things can improve in a good way. Not all improvement is bad, some can be very nice and a great bonus for the neighborhood.

As an aside, I love the idea of businesses being called to task over pulling the weeds in front of their stores (which by the way, would take 5 mins if done regularly) and adding hanging flower pots to the light posts is a great neighborhood initiative idea.

[Anonymous]

8th Street SE is in a historic district (Capitol Hill) and Barracks Row has the most successful Main Street organization in the District. There is funding for facade improvements in Chevy Chase, but that won't be enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's just get a decent grocery store and call it a day

It would be great if they renovated the Safeway, but not at the price of building another mediocre Cathedral Commons on the end of Morrison Street!

+100%. No more Cathedral Commons in upper NW, thank you!

In the good old days, the architects who designed Cathedral Commons would have been tarred-n-feathered. Such a great spot for such an unappealing eye sore.

whatves guys - i can think of a lot more places in cathedral commons that l'd rather go to than the strip in CC. really don't understand the hate - there's way more retail that I would actually use there.