Downtown Bethesda: Where did it all go wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a SFH in the downtown. I love Bethesda because it's walkable and I have my favorite Indian restaurant there (plus one homey Japanese restaurant and a French bakery I like), but I agree that rents are too high for the kind of stores you're pining for. It's a shame, because with a little incentivce and live music, Bethesda could go from meh to wonderful!

Please give your recommendation for the Indian, Japanese and French places.

Not PP, but we like Kadhai and Fresh Baguette.

For those closer to DC; Fresh Baguette has a location next to social safeway in georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At vamoose bus today the Starbucks and a few stores on East West highway by Wisconsin are boarded up. A ghost town

Actually the Starbucks is opening a larger store right across the street.

[Anonymous]

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?

I live in Lyon village and in some ways the same thing has happened. When the areas get popular the commercial rents increase and it is hard for non-chains to stay in business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm basic. I love Bethesda Row and enjoy it very much for what it is; it's a nice atmosphere; on a nice night, I enjoy grabbing some beers and oysters and fries, and following it up w/ some ice cream and enjoying the generic yuppieness of my surroundings.

many other do too. the market has spoken.

Agree. I grew up in Bethesda and I like the new Bethesda. Old Bethesda Ave was some auto body shops and a cement plant. It was not charming brownstones. The Bradley Shopping center was the destination. The Woodmont area is less changed, but still an upgrade compared to what it used to be.

I think Bethesda suffers from the layout - not many people would walk from Bethesda Ave to Woodmont, so you go to one or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm basic. I love Bethesda Row and enjoy it very much for what it is; it's a nice atmosphere; on a nice night, I enjoy grabbing some beers and oysters and fries, and following it up w/ some ice cream and enjoying the generic yuppieness of my surroundings.

many other do too. the market has spoken.

Agree. I grew up in Bethesda and I like the new Bethesda. Old Bethesda Ave was some auto body shops and a cement plant. It was not charming brownstones. The Bradley Shopping center was the destination. The Woodmont area is less changed, but still an upgrade compared to what it used to be.

I think Bethesda suffers from the layout - not many people would walk from Bethesda Ave to Woodmont, so you go to one or the other.

I agree-it would be nice if there was a “trail” of restaurants/retail that would entice pedestrians from one end to the other. I actually like Bethesda Row because it has a lot of stores I frequent, but I hate how jam-packed that street is and time consuming to get into the parking garage.

[Anonymous]

Bethesda is nicer than any similar place in Arlington or Fairfax. It’s never going to be “hip” or “trendy,” but it’s good for what it is. Go spend some time in Crystal City or Clarendon and I think you’ll appreciate Bethesda more for what it is. It’s a good mix of mom and pop restaurants and local chains in Woodmont and national chains in Bethesda Row. I don’t see how you could complain about a place with Phillz, Fish Taco, and Spanish Diner on the same side of one block.

It’s only going to get more restaurants with all the new development coming in. When the Purple Line comes in there will be dozens more options as well.

[Anonymous]

Not to sound too much like a jerk, but also look at the people in Frederick, compared to the people in Bethesda.

I'm not judging one group as better or worse than other, but there's def a difference in personality type of people who live or socialize there.

The people in Bethesda just feel more comfortable in a chain (like other people have said, it only appeals to tweens and senior citizens).

The folks in Frederick wouldn't patronize those places.

For example, for all the great restaurants in Frederick, can you imagine 3 tattoo shops all thriving in downtown Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At vamoose bus today the Starbucks and a few stores on East West highway by Wisconsin are boarded up. A ghost town

Huh? That whole block on both sides is being redeveloped with tall buildings - office and residential with retail. Starbucks is still open and another one is opening as well. There are two new restaurants coming next to the new Starbucks. You're passing through on a Vamoose bus and didn't see any of the construction???!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm basic. I love Bethesda Row and enjoy it very much for what it is; it's a nice atmosphere; on a nice night, I enjoy grabbing some beers and oysters and fries, and following it up w/ some ice cream and enjoying the generic yuppieness of my surroundings.

many other do too. the market has spoken.

Agree. I grew up in Bethesda and I like the new Bethesda. Old Bethesda Ave was some auto body shops and a cement plant. It was not charming brownstones. The Bradley Shopping center was the destination. The Woodmont area is less changed, but still an upgrade compared to what it used to be.

I think Bethesda suffers from the layout - not many people would walk from Bethesda Ave to Woodmont, so you go to one or the other.

Agreed. "Old" Bethesda (as someone else who grew up there) was so dumpy and weird. I'll take Bethesda Row over that rundown Giant and its parking lot any day.

I agree with PP that it's better than similar areas in NoVA, too. Clarendon? Pfft. So bland.

[Anonymous]

Or a month ago “at least it’s not Silver Spring”.

[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?

I live in Lyon village and in some ways the same thing has happened. When the areas get popular the commercial rents increase and it is hard for non-chains to stay in business.

I fear this is the unavoidable destiny of Maple Ave in Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to sound too much like a jerk, but also look at the people in Frederick, compared to the people in Bethesda.

I'm not judging one group as better or worse than other, but there's def a difference in personality type of people who live or socialize there.

The people in Bethesda just feel more comfortable in a chain (like other people have said, it only appeals to tweens and senior citizens).

The folks in Frederick wouldn't patronize those places.

For example, for all the great restaurants in Frederick, can you imagine 3 tattoo shops all thriving in downtown Bethesda?

This thread is started on the absurd notion that downtown Frederick is more desirable than Bethesda. I don’t care if they’re local or national chains, I would take Medium Rare, Anthony’s, Fish Taco, Phillz, Spanish Diner, Fresh Baguette, and even Guapos over almost every comparable restaurant in Frederick. Frederick is interesting for about two hours until you wake up and realize how depressing and provincial it is. OP is acting like it’s Flatbush or Ridgewood and is full of incomparable, unique boutiques and restaurants that everyone’s clamoring to visit. They’re not. It’s just Frederick.

[Anonymous]

I live close to downtown Bethesda. Our favorite place is Gringos & Mariachis. It feels like one of the restaurants that could easily be a good neighborhood haunt in DC on U St or 14th. We like Alatri Bros as well but feel that there are way too many pizza places in downtown Bethesda. Jaleo was okay but the service and quality really sucked at that the end. We agree that Passage to India is worth the trip. Barrel & Crow is just fine but nothing special. We enjoy making weekly trips to Pesca Deli and the Butchers' Alley on Bethesda Ave but that's for cooking at home rather than eating out. I wish there were better options --I'm surprised Bethesda doesn't have a better BBQ option (like Black Hog BBQ in Frederick) or a good craft brewery/outpost (Rock Bottom is terrible).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to sound too much like a jerk, but also look at the people in Frederick, compared to the people in Bethesda.

I'm not judging one group as better or worse than other, but there's def a difference in personality type of people who live or socialize there.

The people in Bethesda just feel more comfortable in a chain (like other people have said, it only appeals to tweens and senior citizens).

The folks in Frederick wouldn't patronize those places.

For example, for all the great restaurants in Frederick, can you imagine 3 tattoo shops all thriving in downtown Bethesda?

This thread is started on the absurd notion that downtown Frederick is more desirable than Bethesda. I don’t care if they’re local or national chains, I would take Medium Rare, Anthony’s, Fish Taco, Phillz, Spanish Diner, Fresh Baguette, and even Guapos over almost every comparable restaurant in Frederick. Frederick is interesting for about two hours until you wake up and realize how depressing and provincial it is. OP is acting like it’s Flatbush or Ridgewood and is full of incomparable, unique boutiques and restaurants that everyone’s clamoring to visit. They’re not. It’s just Frederick.

Bethesda is more upscale. Frederick is charming but after a couple of hours, you're kind of over it. The downtown is small and there are only a couple of restaurants and few stores worth checking out. The rest to me are just tattoo shops. And yes, look at the people wandering around there and you'll see the difference that I'm talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live close to downtown Bethesda. Our favorite place is Gringos & Mariachis. It feels like one of the restaurants that could easily be a good neighborhood haunt in DC on U St or 14th. We like Alatri Bros as well but feel that there are way too many pizza places in downtown Bethesda. Jaleo was okay but the service and quality really sucked at that the end. We agree that Passage to India is worth the trip. Barrel & Crow is just fine but nothing special. We enjoy making weekly trips to Pesca Deli and the Butchers' Alley on Bethesda Ave but that's for cooking at home rather than eating out. I wish there were better options --I'm surprised Bethesda doesn't have a better BBQ option (like Black Hog BBQ in Frederick) or a good craft brewery/outpost (Rock Bottom is terrible).

Craft brews can't afford Bethesda. That's why there are three in DTSS and none in Bethesda.