What’s up (or down) with Friendship Heights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What will happen to the two Trader Joe’s in Bethesda, especially the one and the same complex as “little” Target? It’s always full no matter what time of day or evening but hard to imagine the need for three down a one mile stretch of Wisconsin.

Well, 2-mile stretch, but I agree, and assume that the little TJ's in that nightmare of a shopping center will close when the new one opens in Chevy Chase Pavilion. It being full most of the time isn't saying much, because it doesn't take a lot of people to fill it up.

I remember when that TJ's was the only one around. We drove over from Takoma Park then. It was a nightmare to navigate that place. Both in a car and walking through the store with a cart.

I'd be shocked if Trader Joe's hadn't done the research to make sure all three could succeed.

If you add in the one in Glover Park, there soon will be four TJ’s in a 4.5-mile stretch of Wisconsin Avenue.

So? How many Giants are in a similar stretch? Or Safeways? TJs are always packed, so I am sure the one in FH will do well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ Maxx and Marshall's have the same parent company.

Parent company is betting on improved results in a revived location.

If there's only 1 of the 2, instead of both, that's not a big financial add to the community. Just stronger results for the parent corporation.

TJ Maxx has been doing pretty well with the kind of shopper who browses as a pastime and buys more than expected. I do shop at TJ Maxx myself. However, it's pretty downscale. I've never been to any of the rumored high-end TJ Maxxes that have real designer stuff. This isn't going to get FH to where it used to be.

There's Tiffany, Saks, Brooks Brothers and a Porsche showroom in FH. Fancy enough for you?

Don't you find it odd to have a TJ Maxx near a Saks?

Saks to TJ Maxx in Tysons -- 0.9 miles
Saks to TJ Maxx in FH -- 0.4 miles

These are not materially different to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What will happen to the two Trader Joe’s in Bethesda, especially the one and the same complex as “little” Target? It’s always full no matter what time of day or evening but hard to imagine the need for three down a one mile stretch of Wisconsin.

Well, 2-mile stretch, but I agree, and assume that the little TJ's in that nightmare of a shopping center will close when the new one opens in Chevy Chase Pavilion. It being full most of the time isn't saying much, because it doesn't take a lot of people to fill it up.

I remember when that TJ's was the only one around. We drove over from Takoma Park then. It was a nightmare to navigate that place. Both in a car and walking through the store with a cart.

I'd be shocked if Trader Joe's hadn't done the research to make sure all three could succeed.

If you add in the one in Glover Park, there soon will be four TJ’s in a 4.5-mile stretch of Wisconsin Avenue.

So? How many Giants are in a similar stretch? Or Safeways? TJs are always packed, so I am sure the one in FH will do well.

If TJ’s leases ample parking at Chevy Chase Pavilion and enforces customers-only, why would anyone still want to drive to the shopping center with Target? Walkers aren’t enough to keep it open. So like I said above, I assume the new TJ’s will replace that one sooner than later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What will happen to the two Trader Joe’s in Bethesda, especially the one and the same complex as “little” Target? It’s always full no matter what time of day or evening but hard to imagine the need for three down a one mile stretch of Wisconsin.

Well, 2-mile stretch, but I agree, and assume that the little TJ's in that nightmare of a shopping center will close when the new one opens in Chevy Chase Pavilion. It being full most of the time isn't saying much, because it doesn't take a lot of people to fill it up.

I remember when that TJ's was the only one around. We drove over from Takoma Park then. It was a nightmare to navigate that place. Both in a car and walking through the store with a cart.

I'd be shocked if Trader Joe's hadn't done the research to make sure all three could succeed.

If you add in the one in Glover Park, there soon will be four TJ’s in a 4.5-mile stretch of Wisconsin Avenue.

So? How many Giants are in a similar stretch? Or Safeways? TJs are always packed, so I am sure the one in FH will do well.

If TJ’s leases ample parking at Chevy Chase Pavilion and enforces customers-only, why would anyone still want to drive to the shopping center with Target? Walkers aren’t enough to keep it open. So like I said above, I assume the new TJ’s will replace that one sooner than later.

TJ’s never have good parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What will happen to the two Trader Joe’s in Bethesda, especially the one and the same complex as “little” Target? It’s always full no matter what time of day or evening but hard to imagine the need for three down a one mile stretch of Wisconsin.

Well, 2-mile stretch, but I agree, and assume that the little TJ's in that nightmare of a shopping center will close when the new one opens in Chevy Chase Pavilion. It being full most of the time isn't saying much, because it doesn't take a lot of people to fill it up.

I remember when that TJ's was the only one around. We drove over from Takoma Park then. It was a nightmare to navigate that place. Both in a car and walking through the store with a cart.

I'd be shocked if Trader Joe's hadn't done the research to make sure all three could succeed.

If you add in the one in Glover Park, there soon will be four TJ’s in a 4.5-mile stretch of Wisconsin Avenue.

So? How many Giants are in a similar stretch? Or Safeways? TJs are always packed, so I am sure the one in FH will do well.

I'm going to guess people who don't live near *any* grocery store would love to have just one TJ's, much less one approximately every mile of one road over a four-mile stretch. That's 7/11-type saturation. And that isn't even counting all the Giants/Safeways/Whole Foods/Wegmans in the same area.

[Anonymous]

Everyone thought the new TJs north of the TJs with the target was going to close the smaller one. It didn’t. I don’t think the one in FH will either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are the plans to move the bus depot to the L&T space and redevelop the current depot space right on Wisconsin?

Metro budget cuts. Will not be happening any time soon. I think 2 other bus garages are in construction currently, both zero emission iirc. So similar to what they’ve proposed for FH, but years ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are the plans to move the bus depot to the L&T space and redevelop the current depot space right on Wisconsin?

It seems as if the last project update was more than two years ago. I have no idea where it stands.

I do know that a whole lot of alleged YIMBYs in the neighborhood have turned into NIMBYs over the plan.

How can you be a NIMBY over a plan to relocate something 1/2 block away? It's already in your backyard.

Or are the NIMBY's not happy about the new development that will replace it?

That is literally the definition of a NIMBY. Someone who is hell bent on not allowing something to move 1/2 block, if it’s just the tiniest bit closer to THEIR house, even though it’s for the greater good of the neighborhood/ city/ planet. And yes there are many in this (my) neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friendship Heights is the best kept secret/best place to raise kids. Best childcare/preschool options. Best schools. Best playgrounds. Best commute options. Best groceries. Best shopping too, but really it's about online shopping and not having the packages stolen from your porch.

Fake news. Name said playgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friendship Heights is the best kept secret/best place to raise kids. Best childcare/preschool options. Best schools. Best playgrounds. Best commute options. Best groceries. Best shopping too, but really it's about online shopping and not having the packages stolen from your porch.

Fake news. Name said playgrounds.

Have you lost it?
Brookdale neighborhood playground, Livingston with the splash pad, Willard in the woods and creek, and Fort Bayard are right there. Add Norwood, Lafayette and Chevy Chase, plus the schools private and public playgrounds and you're good to go!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friendship Heights is the best kept secret/best place to raise kids. Best childcare/preschool options. Best schools. Best playgrounds. Best commute options. Best groceries. Best shopping too, but really it's about online shopping and not having the packages stolen from your porch.

Fake news. Name said playgrounds.

Have you lost it?
Brookdale neighborhood playground, Livingston with the splash pad, Willard in the woods and creek, and Fort Bayard are right there. Add Norwood, Lafayette and Chevy Chase, plus the schools private and public playgrounds and you're good to go!

Yeah but have you considered the fact that the person you're responding to is probably a clinically insane helicopter parent who would never even consider letting their precious Greyyydynn walk 3 blocks on their own to a playground?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What will happen to the two Trader Joe’s in Bethesda, especially the one and the same complex as “little” Target? It’s always full no matter what time of day or evening but hard to imagine the need for three down a one mild stretch of Wisconsin.

I think it will close. I was chatting with a manager there who said they are significantly less busy than the other Trader Joe's nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What will happen to the two Trader Joe’s in Bethesda, especially the one and the same complex as “little” Target? It’s always full no matter what time of day or evening but hard to imagine the need for three down a one mild stretch of Wisconsin.

I think it will close. I was chatting with a manager there who said they are significantly less busy than the other Trader Joe's nearby.

Maybe they should stop issuing $90 parking tickets* to their customers

* i know TJ isn't giving out tickets but their garage is so tight and confusing. It's just a total nightmare even without that stupid parking app that doesn't work and the tickets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What will happen to the two Trader Joe’s in Bethesda, especially the one and the same complex as “little” Target? It’s always full no matter what time of day or evening but hard to imagine the need for three down a one mild stretch of Wisconsin.

I think it will close. I was chatting with a manager there who said they are significantly less busy than the other Trader Joe's nearby.

Maybe they’re keeping it open to keep the crew together for the new store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friendship Heights is the best kept secret/best place to raise kids. Best childcare/preschool options. Best schools. Best playgrounds. Best commute options. Best groceries. Best shopping too, but really it's about online shopping and not having the packages stolen from your porch.

Fake news. Name said playgrounds.

Have you lost it?
Brookdale neighborhood playground, Livingston with the splash pad, Willard in the woods and creek, and Fort Bayard are right there. Add Norwood, Lafayette and Chevy Chase, plus the schools private and public playgrounds and you're good to go!

Livingston is the most convenient and lively of those parks listed. It is one that our children actually enjoy. The park is showing signs of age though.

Norwood is further away (drivable vs. walkable) and less lively, but has nice infrastructure and grounds. Unfortunately it is only usable several months of the year. Gnats and mosquitos and exposure to sun make the park unpleasant from spring to fall.

Brookdale and Willard are fine but only usable 1-2 months of the year. The gnats and mosquitos are the worst in the FH area. You will literally eat gnats everytime you play at Brookdale.

Fort Bayard playground typically only sees a handful of nannies during the day. The playground infrastructure is limited and is showing signs of age. The surrounding park is fun to roam but unusable due to bugs most of the year.

Layfayette is hardly in Friendship Heights. It is nice, but it is a hike across CT and up the hill. Not walkable for most FH residents. Again, gnats and mosquitos are bad.