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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, DC desperately needs some nice hip family friendly restaurants. Something that both parents and kids can enjoy. Something hip enough that parents aren't mortified to go to - with good food and drink for all. Maybe a nice updated and casual pizza place or similar. There are so many nights my family would love to grab a bite out close by or meet friends for Friday night dinner with kids. Comet is good, but it is always such a mob scene and not walkable from the circle. Seems like it is so popular a little competition might be good and needed up in Chevy Chase, DC. Seems like it would be a good idea for the old Chinese restaurant location - or get rid of the Bread and Chocolate next door and renovate that to be a cool family friendly restaurant - certainly has the large indoor and outdoor space to be focal point/flagship/cornerstone of the block.

Do you eat any of you go to Blue 44? Because it fits this description perfectly in my opinion.

I hate the decor of Blue 44. It's so dark and dingy. I would love a Pete's, Cactus Cantina, or Lebanese Taverna. I would also love it if the Diner underwent a major reno. That place smells like piss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And why is there a seeming proliferation of "For Rent" signs on the many apartment buildings as you go up Conn Ave (Woodley and above)? Have the traditional younger renters moved on to trendier neighborhoods? Or is it a sign of the decline of Metro? No doubt I am 10+ years behind the times, as always ...

I am guessing that this is the case. It used to be that young professionals would rent up Connecticut Ave as other parts of the city were not as desirable. Now with the proliferation if new housing and trendy neighborhoods, while still desirable, it isn't the same. Look at Cleveland Park. Why would any restauranteur want to open there when there are slots on 14th Street, H Street, Navy Yard, Wharf etc which are, or will be teaming with people, but for daytime lunch and evening dinner?

BINGO! Restaurants are looking for dense street traffic with disposable income. Sorry, but families can't support these restaurants. They need working professionals or tourists during lunch and childless households during happy hour and dinner. This doesn't mean they can't "cater" to families. They just need the other traffic to pay the bills.

Then how does Pete's make money? Or Cactus Cantina and Pizzeria Paradiso before Cathedral Commons?

BTW, I'm another vote for locally-owned restaurants and a vote against putting money into sidewalks and curbs -- do you really even look at these?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And why is there a seeming proliferation of "For Rent" signs on the many apartment buildings as you go up Conn Ave (Woodley and above)? Have the traditional younger renters moved on to trendier neighborhoods? Or is it a sign of the decline of Metro? No doubt I am 10+ years behind the times, as always ...

I am guessing that this is the case. It used to be that young professionals would rent up Connecticut Ave as other parts of the city were not as desirable. Now with the proliferation if new housing and trendy neighborhoods, while still desirable, it isn't the same. Look at Cleveland Park. Why would any restauranteur want to open there when there are slots on 14th Street, H Street, Navy Yard, Wharf etc which are, or will be teaming with people, but for daytime lunch and evening dinner?

BINGO! Restaurants are looking for dense street traffic with disposable income. Sorry, but families can't support these restaurants. They need working professionals or tourists during lunch and childless households during happy hour and dinner. This doesn't mean they can't "cater" to families. They just need the other traffic to pay the bills.

Then how does Pete's make money? Or Cactus Cantina and Pizzeria Paradiso before Cathedral Commons?

BTW, I'm another vote for locally-owned restaurants and a vote against putting money into sidewalks and curbs -- do you really even look at these?

Your examples:

1. A pizza chain that offers pick up on a busy thoroughfare;
2. A restaurant with good margaritas near a college campus;
3. A restaurant with limited seating that is critically acclaimed.

The first two are awful examples. The third one could maybe work in the village. All you need to do is come up with a new concept and execute it perfectly. Easy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, DC desperately needs some nice hip family friendly restaurants. Something that both parents and kids can enjoy. Something hip enough that parents aren't mortified to go to - with good food and drink for all. Maybe a nice updated and casual pizza place or similar. There are so many nights my family would love to grab a bite out close by or meet friends for Friday night dinner with kids. Comet is good, but it is always such a mob scene and not walkable from the circle. Seems like it is so popular a little competition might be good and needed up in Chevy Chase, DC. Seems like it would be a good idea for the old Chinese restaurant location - or get rid of the Bread and Chocolate next door and renovate that to be a cool family friendly restaurant - certainly has the large indoor and outdoor space to be focal point/flagship/cornerstone of the block.

Do you eat any of you go to Blue 44? Because it fits this description perfectly in my opinion.

I hate the decor of Blue 44. It's so dark and dingy. I would love a Pete's, Cactus Cantina, or Lebanese Taverna. I would also love it if the Diner underwent a major reno. That place smells like piss.

I have been to Blue 44 once despite living a short walk from it. Intellectually, I think I SHOULD love it. It is extremely well-executed food and the most talented chef in the village. It is also colossally boring food and ok decor. It reminds me of someone who got an A+ at the CIA and just decided to cook the CIA textbook for a living. It may objectively be the best restaurant in the village but I just have no desire to eat there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And why is there a seeming proliferation of "For Rent" signs on the many apartment buildings as you go up Conn Ave (Woodley and above)? Have the traditional younger renters moved on to trendier neighborhoods? Or is it a sign of the decline of Metro? No doubt I am 10+ years behind the times, as always ...

I am guessing that this is the case. It used to be that young professionals would rent up Connecticut Ave as other parts of the city were not as desirable. Now with the proliferation if new housing and trendy neighborhoods, while still desirable, it isn't the same. Look at Cleveland Park. Why would any restauranteur want to open there when there are slots on 14th Street, H Street, Navy Yard, Wharf etc which are, or will be teaming with people, but for daytime lunch and evening dinner?

BINGO! Restaurants are looking for dense street traffic with disposable income. Sorry, but families can't support these restaurants. They need working professionals or tourists during lunch and childless households during happy hour and dinner. This doesn't mean they can't "cater" to families. They just need the other traffic to pay the bills.

Then how does Pete's make money? Or Cactus Cantina and Pizzeria Paradiso before Cathedral Commons?

BTW, I'm another vote for locally-owned restaurants and a vote against putting money into sidewalks and curbs -- do you really even look at these?

Your examples:

1. A pizza chain that offers pick up on a busy thoroughfare;
2. A restaurant with good margaritas near a college campus;
3. A restaurant with limited seating that is critically acclaimed.

The first two are awful examples. The third one could maybe work in the village. All you need to do is come up with a new concept and execute it perfectly. Easy!

I'd argue Macon is #3 on Conn. I also disagree that CCDC can't support restaurants...that's basically all there is on the avenue.

[Anonymous]

Blue 44 is fine, but there needs to be more than one decent, or three if you count Macon and Jetties, options on the Avenue. A few more updated options would encourage more people to come out and increase foot traffic. Imagine if we had a few options similar to Little Red Fox, Bullfrog Bagels, Cava Mezze, Matchbox Pizza, Bread Furst, Guapos, Dolcezza, a good salad joint like Chop't or Sweetgreen, or burger joint like Good Stuff Eatery. Having better eateries would bring people out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which would increase window shopping and ultimately better shopping options as well. The Avenue has a lot of valuable real-estate that is in desperate need of an overhaul. There is plenty of money in Chevy Chase to support better options, but right now no one wants to walk down Connecticut with limited and unattractive options like the greasy diner, dirty bagel shop, outdated Bread and Chocolate, and bad clothing and jewelry - not to mention the weeds and patchy sidewalks. It would be nice to see more updated shopping options as well like Periwinkle, Full of Beans, and Core 72. Better options equals more foot traffic which equals great revenue which increases popularity and home prices go up. A win win for all who work and live in Chevy Chase!

[Anonymous]

Basically all of the potential replacements you identified are places I don't particularly like and would not frequent. I'm not saying my taste is somehow better than yours, but I think it highlights the fact that it's a little simplistic to think that your particular vision would be well-received (except for the one that already exists .5 miles down the road).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blue 44 is fine, but there needs to be more than one decent, or three if you count Macon and Jetties, options on the Avenue. A few more updated options would encourage more people to come out and increase foot traffic. Imagine if we had a few options similar to Little Red Fox, Bullfrog Bagels, Cava Mezze, Matchbox Pizza, Bread Furst, Guapos, Dolcezza, a good salad joint like Chop't or Sweetgreen, or burger joint like Good Stuff Eatery. Having better eateries would bring people out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which would increase window shopping and ultimately better shopping options as well. The Avenue has a lot of valuable real-estate that is in desperate need of an overhaul. There is plenty of money in Chevy Chase to support better options, but right now no one wants to walk down Connecticut with limited and unattractive options like the greasy diner, dirty bagel shop, outdated Bread and Chocolate, and bad clothing and jewelry - not to mention the weeds and patchy sidewalks. It would be nice to see more updated shopping options as well like Periwinkle, Full of Beans, and Core 72. Better options equals more foot traffic which equals great revenue which increases popularity and home prices go up. A win win for all who work and live in Chevy Chase!

I agree with this. What I would give to shut down that diner!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And why is there a seeming proliferation of "For Rent" signs on the many apartment buildings as you go up Conn Ave (Woodley and above)? Have the traditional younger renters moved on to trendier neighborhoods? Or is it a sign of the decline of Metro? No doubt I am 10+ years behind the times, as always ...

I am guessing that this is the case. It used to be that young professionals would rent up Connecticut Ave as other parts of the city were not as desirable. Now with the proliferation if new housing and trendy neighborhoods, while still desirable, it isn't the same. Look at Cleveland Park. Why would any restauranteur want to open there when there are slots on 14th Street, H Street, Navy Yard, Wharf etc which are, or will be teaming with people, but for daytime lunch and evening dinner?

BINGO! Restaurants are looking for dense street traffic with disposable income. Sorry, but families can't support these restaurants. They need working professionals or tourists during lunch and childless households during happy hour and dinner. This doesn't mean they can't "cater" to families. They just need the other traffic to pay the bills.

Then how does Pete's make money? Or Cactus Cantina and Pizzeria Paradiso before Cathedral Commons?

BTW, I'm another vote for locally-owned restaurants and a vote against putting money into sidewalks and curbs -- do you really even look at these?

Your examples:

1. A pizza chain that offers pick up on a busy thoroughfare;
2. A restaurant with good margaritas near a college campus;
3. A restaurant with limited seating that is critically acclaimed.

The first two are awful examples. The third one could maybe work in the village. All you need to do is come up with a new concept and execute it perfectly. Easy!

I'd argue Macon is #3 on Conn. I also disagree that CCDC can't support restaurants...that's basically all there is on the avenue.

I agree that it could support several more restaurants like Macon, particularly if a Macon-type restaurant replaced Parthenon and Arucola. I just don't think "get excellent restaurants people will travel for" is a development strategy. And I don't agree with PPs who seem to think it can accommodate either a huge Maxican restaurant that relies on volume or several places that rely on regular business lunch and foot traffic crowds. That's unrealistic.

[Anonymous]

The bottom line is that the strip mostly caters to families who are not core to lunch and breakfast traffic, and seniors who generally don't want to pay 'downtown" rates like Little Red Fox is charging.

As such, Jetties does well for lunch each day, because it is better than anything else on the strip. Macon and Blue44 do well because they are generally destination type places, though B44 is more of a neighborhood joint.

For the life of me, the only reason I can think of that Arucola, the diner and Parthenon do ok is because they are there. I am really hopeful that the new Italian place at Park Van Ness put the nail in Arucola's coffin.

The whole strip is tired and can use a retail upgarde. Keep the best of what is there and improve everything else. How you do that without some sort of office space or other means by which to get people on to the strip during the average weekday is a guess.

[Anonymous]

... and better parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is that the strip mostly caters to families who are not core to lunch and breakfast traffic, and seniors who generally don't want to pay 'downtown" rates like Little Red Fox is charging.

As such, Jetties does well for lunch each day, because it is better than anything else on the strip. Macon and Blue44 do well because they are generally destination type places, though B44 is more of a neighborhood joint.

For the life of me, the only reason I can think of that Arucola, the diner and Parthenon do ok is because they are there. I am really hopeful that the new Italian place at Park Van Ness put the nail in Arucola's coffin.

The whole strip is tired and can use a retail upgarde. Keep the best of what is there and improve everything else. How you do that without some sort of office space or other means by which to get people on to the strip during the average weekday is a guess.

The thing is, the strip is buzzing during the day! I have no idea who spends their time there, but parking can be oddly brutal at 11 a.m. on a tuesday.

[Anonymous]

11:29, It's a little "simplistic" of you to think those are the exact places that need to go into spots on Connecticut Ave. I said "similar" options. Do you prefer what is there currently? When making suggestions on a discussion thread like this it is good to use examples that people are familiar with. New independent restaurants are good also, but hard to use as examples when they don't exist yet. Instead of knocking what others suggest would help improve the strip, why don't you make some suggestions that you think would work? Obviously diversity in options is a good way to appeal to the masses. Let's just hope you don't suggest Chick-Fil-A with your "good taste".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:29, It's a little "simplistic" of you to think those are the exact places that need to go into spots on Connecticut Ave. I said "similar" options. Do you prefer what is there currently? When making suggestions on a discussion thread like this it is good to use examples that people are familiar with. New independent restaurants are good also, but hard to use as examples when they don't exist yet. Instead of knocking what others suggest would help improve the strip, why don't you make some suggestions that you think would work? Obviously diversity in options is a good way to appeal to the masses. Let's just hope you don't suggest Chick-Fil-A with your "good taste".

7-11 was on the corner there for many years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, DC desperately needs some nice hip family friendly restaurants. Something that both parents and kids can enjoy. Something hip enough that parents aren't mortified to go to - with good food and drink for all. Maybe a nice updated and casual pizza place or similar. There are so many nights my family would love to grab a bite out close by or meet friends for Friday night dinner with kids. Comet is good, but it is always such a mob scene and not walkable from the circle. Seems like it is so popular a little competition might be good and needed up in Chevy Chase, DC. Seems like it would be a good idea for the old Chinese restaurant location - or get rid of the Bread and Chocolate next door and renovate that to be a cool family friendly restaurant - certainly has the large indoor and outdoor space to be focal point/flagship/cornerstone of the block.

Do you eat any of you go to Blue 44? Because it fits this description perfectly in my opinion.

I hate the decor of Blue 44. It's so dark and dingy. I would love a Pete's, Cactus Cantina, or Lebanese Taverna. I would also love it if the Diner underwent a major reno. That place smells like piss.

I have been to Blue 44 once despite living a short walk from it. Intellectually, I think I SHOULD love it. It is extremely well-executed food and the most talented chef in the village. It is also colossally boring food and ok decor. It reminds me of someone who got an A+ at the CIA and just decided to cook the CIA textbook for a living. It may objectively be the best restaurant in the village but I just have no desire to eat there.

I would have never in a million years guessed that the chef was "talented." The food is very, very unexceptional. And the service is s-l-o-w