Why is Friendship Heights so empty and lame?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is empty and lame because the highrises are too far from Wisconsin Ave. It needs residential over commercial on Wisconsin. They should also figure out a way to add street level commercial where the high-rises are.

Some of those high rises have been there since the early 1970’s — when the neighborhood was arguably vibrant, and far from empty, with much more of a pedestrian presence. So, quite a bit changed, and it wasn’t the high rises. I’m suggesting that there has been a domino effect in the mix of businesses. Stopping at one business used to mean making multiple stops — at least sometimes. As it is now, if you rely on the internet or leave the neighborhood for one purchase, there’s no spillover to other businesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a hardware store at Tenley. Hechingers. It was in the place where that CVS is located. It was a local chain from MD and it was pretty much like Lowes and Home Depot. I think they moved over to the lower level of the old Sears across the street at one point. Strosniders is ok, but its Bethesda. There was an ACE Hardware located where Amazon Fresh is at one point. Before that it was a Blockbuster Video. There was a Hudson Trail Outfitters up at Tenley as well. Kind of a nicer version of REI so you could get all your outdoor gear and biking/kayaking stuff without the drive out to MD. It was a shame they closed all their stores.

I think hechingers was where the Target is now .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a hardware store at Tenley. Hechingers. It was in the place where that CVS is located. It was a local chain from MD and it was pretty much like Lowes and Home Depot. I think they moved over to the lower level of the old Sears across the street at one point. Strosniders is ok, but its Bethesda. There was an ACE Hardware located where Amazon Fresh is at one point. Before that it was a Blockbuster Video. There was a Hudson Trail Outfitters up at Tenley as well. Kind of a nicer version of REI so you could get all your outdoor gear and biking/kayaking stuff without the drive out to MD. It was a shame they closed all their stores.

I think hechingers was where the Target is now .

It was at both.

[Anonymous]

Why does Maryland get to have the taller buildings?

[Anonymous]

The residential/commercial complex replacing Mazza Gallerie will be ready in a few months.

Trader Joe’s is opening across Wisconsin Avenue in a month or two.

Rumor has it that that big box Trone wine store is opening at Mazza but neighbors don’t want it and are protesting due to the impact on Rodman’s, Magruder’s and that wine store down by Van Ness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The residential/commercial complex replacing Mazza Gallerie will be ready in a few months.

Trader Joe’s is opening across Wisconsin Avenue in a month or two.

Rumor has it that that big box Trone wine store is opening at Mazza but neighbors don’t want it and are protesting due to the impact on Rodman’s, Magruder’s and that wine store down by Van Ness.

Very welcome news re: the Trader Joe’s. I’m really looking forward to having a TJ’s that I can walk to — and a neighborhood option for groceries that is not owned by Amazon.

As an update, the Heights Food Hall was pretty empty the last two times I went there, and my favorite stall — Supreme Barbecue— has closed. I continue to be disappointed that the management never really reached out to the neighborhood to promote what they offer. If you build it, we will come — but only if we know what you offer and that you’re open. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

An ice rink will fix everything. Make Friendship Heights Great Again!
/s

[Anonymous]

Ice rink would actually be pretty popular, I suspect (I wouldn't use it, personally, but my kids like ice skating and have a ton of friends who play hockey).

What would actually do insane business there is an indoor soccer field complex like the St. James (or maybe I'm just imagining how convenient it would be if my kids could walk to practice AND it wasn't snowed out or moved to alternate locations during this winter...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The residential/commercial complex replacing Mazza Gallerie will be ready in a few months.

Trader Joe’s is opening across Wisconsin Avenue in a month or two.

Rumor has it that that big box Trone wine store is opening at Mazza but neighbors don’t want it and are protesting due to the impact on Rodman’s, Magruder’s and that wine store down by Van Ness.

Very welcome news re: the Trader Joe’s. I’m really looking forward to having a TJ’s that I can walk to — and a neighborhood option for groceries that is not owned by Amazon.

As an update, the Heights Food Hall was pretty empty the last two times I went there, and my favorite stall — Supreme Barbecue— has closed. I continue to be disappointed that the management never really reached out to the neighborhood to promote what they offer. If you build it, we will come — but only if we know what you offer and that you’re open. Sigh.

That food hall will be closed within a year, I'm going to guess. It's been completely empty every time I've checked it out. It's a terrible location with almost zero visibility to anyone who doesn't live in one of the surrounding buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The residential/commercial complex replacing Mazza Gallerie will be ready in a few months.

Trader Joe’s is opening across Wisconsin Avenue in a month or two.

Rumor has it that that big box Trone wine store is opening at Mazza but neighbors don’t want it and are protesting due to the impact on Rodman’s, Magruder’s and that wine store down by Van Ness.

Very welcome news re: the Trader Joe’s. I’m really looking forward to having a TJ’s that I can walk to — and a neighborhood option for groceries that is not owned by Amazon.

As an update, the Heights Food Hall was pretty empty the last two times I went there, and my favorite stall — Supreme Barbecue— has closed. I continue to be disappointed that the management never really reached out to the neighborhood to promote what they offer. If you build it, we will come — but only if we know what you offer and that you’re open. Sigh.

That food hall will be closed within a year, I'm going to guess. It's been completely empty every time I've checked it out. It's a terrible location with almost zero visibility to anyone who doesn't live in one of the surrounding buildings.

What’s truly unfortunate is that it also has zero visibility to those of us who actually DO live in one of the surrounding buildings. I frequently walk through the plaza area where the shops like Bloomingdale’s and Sephora are, and I shop multiple times a week at the Whole Foods on the lower level. There really isn’t any way that I would know that the food hall is open — and I’m using the area as a pedestrian. Someone driving in the area wouldn’t even realize that the food hall is there. The space that used to be the entrance to PF Chang’s still looks empty — and that’s the most visible part of the building to pedestrians. It’s really crazy. There are thousands of households within walking distance of this food hall — and despite years of planning, and a real need for restaurant options, the project will probably fail — because of a lack of outreach to the surrounding community. I’m pretty upset about this — especially since it would be pretty easy to reach out to the very dense community living nearby in Friendship Heights Village — and they just haven’t done anything.

[Anonymous]

Friendship heights is a weird combination of too expensive and too dead.
Why would a young person choose to live there without as many amenities as other neighborhoods? What families can afford those detached SFHs? So you get retirees there mostly.would more townhouses and a park help?

[Anonymous]

I think destinations — that then encourage patronizing nearby buildings — would help. FH used to be a major shopping destination, with multiple department stores, and that, plus movie theaters supported the restaurants and smaller shops. So maybe a swimming pool, a skating rink, something like that. Even publicizing The Heights food hall and having activities there. Post COVID, though, it’s hard to imagine things that will consistently draw people out. Honestly, I think what would work is a Politics and Prose. Even if it had to be subsidized, it would provide customers for other businesses. The weird thing though is reluctance to publicize what’s already there. There’s some sort of restaurant/ bar in the old Chadwick’s space, it there’s no menu outside — or anything else that would give me good reasons to notice them or to venture instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The residential/commercial complex replacing Mazza Gallerie will be ready in a few months.

Trader Joe’s is opening across Wisconsin Avenue in a month or two.

Rumor has it that that big box Trone wine store is opening at Mazza but neighbors don’t want it and are protesting due to the impact on Rodman’s, Magruder’s and that wine store down by Van Ness.

Very welcome news re: the Trader Joe’s. I’m really looking forward to having a TJ’s that I can walk to — and a neighborhood option for groceries that is not owned by Amazon.

As an update, the Heights Food Hall was pretty empty the last two times I went there, and my favorite stall — Supreme Barbecue— has closed. I continue to be disappointed that the management never really reached out to the neighborhood to promote what they offer. If you build it, we will come — but only if we know what you offer and that you’re open. Sigh.

I didn't even know it was there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The residential/commercial complex replacing Mazza Gallerie will be ready in a few months.

Trader Joe’s is opening across Wisconsin Avenue in a month or two.

Rumor has it that that big box Trone wine store is opening at Mazza but neighbors don’t want it and are protesting due to the impact on Rodman’s, Magruder’s and that wine store down by Van Ness.

Very welcome news re: the Trader Joe’s. I’m really looking forward to having a TJ’s that I can walk to — and a neighborhood option for groceries that is not owned by Amazon.

As an update, the Heights Food Hall was pretty empty the last two times I went there, and my favorite stall — Supreme Barbecue— has closed. I continue to be disappointed that the management never really reached out to the neighborhood to promote what they offer. If you build it, we will come — but only if we know what you offer and that you’re open. Sigh.

That food hall will be closed within a year, I'm going to guess. It's been completely empty every time I've checked it out. It's a terrible location with almost zero visibility to anyone who doesn't live in one of the surrounding buildings.

Where is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The residential/commercial complex replacing Mazza Gallerie will be ready in a few months.

Trader Joe’s is opening across Wisconsin Avenue in a month or two.

Rumor has it that that big box Trone wine store is opening at Mazza but neighbors don’t want it and are protesting due to the impact on Rodman’s, Magruder’s and that wine store down by Van Ness.

Very welcome news re: the Trader Joe’s. I’m really looking forward to having a TJ’s that I can walk to — and a neighborhood option for groceries that is not owned by Amazon.

As an update, the Heights Food Hall was pretty empty the last two times I went there, and my favorite stall — Supreme Barbecue— has closed. I continue to be disappointed that the management never really reached out to the neighborhood to promote what they offer. If you build it, we will come — but only if we know what you offer and that you’re open. Sigh.

That food hall will be closed within a year, I'm going to guess. It's been completely empty every time I've checked it out. It's a terrible location with almost zero visibility to anyone who doesn't live in one of the surrounding buildings.

Where is it?

Where the PF Chang's and Anthropologie used to be, above the Whole Foods.