Reply to Why is Friendship Heights so empty and lame?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]why so much big box outlet stuff? Its so cheesy and unappealing.[/quote]

It might be unappealing to you, but these are often destination trips that bring people in — and then many of those people also shop, eat, and spend money at the smaller shops and restaurants.  Originally, Friendship Heights was an upscale shopping destination, with the first Saks and the first Lord and Taylor in the area, plus Woodies.  Restaurants and smaller shops grew to support the destination shoppers.  Then the Mazza Gallery — with Neiman Marcus, restaurants, William’s-Sonoma, and movie theaters expanded the audiences for the neighborhood as a destination.   Places like Borders, Linens N Things, and the strip of stores where the GAP is appealed to different types of shoppers, so: Mom could go to Saks, Sis could go to the Limited, Dad could shop at Brooks Brothers, and Chip could go to Borders and the music store, and refresh himself at McDonalds.

The growth of Tyson made doing all of this easier on the Virginia side.  White Flint and Montgomery Mall developed as destinations on the Maryland side. The “Rodeo Drive” strip of shops was a horrible fit for the neighborhood— despite the demographics.  As leases ended, shops fled to Bethesda (the Pottery Barn/ William’s Sonoma group) and City Center (The upscale transplants.)  There really was enough to interest shoppers until internet shopping grew popular and successful department stores got trashed by buyers who saddled them with debt, and, eventually, like dominos, things tumbled.

It’s a lovely, convenient neighborhood that needs to find it’s footing as something other than a shopping destination. [/quote]

Suggestions for what this could be if not shopping destination? Agree it can’t compete with nearby Bethesda row. But the infrastructure is there to support large scale retail / transit hub, hard to imagine it as a cozy neighborhood vibe with small local stores alone a Main Street. Wisconsin will stay a major transit thoroughfare that makes it hard to support pedestrian traffic. The roads and large scale (ugly) retail buildings aren’t going away any time soon. [/quote]

I remember that area throughout the time the PP describes. The movie theater was great, there were hair salons, that great Spanish restaurant for a while.... The galleria with Zara, Starbucks, world market, j crew. It was a fun eating shopping destination. The only thing they could add on is a little more "strolling vibe". More outdoor seating, planters, benches and fountains and pop up stuff like music. A books store would be great..I hope Rodman's stays - I've never gone in, but my family shops there and it's an institution. They need to bring back more interesting stuff than big box. I didn't mind the barneys. Jimmy Choo was out of my reach, but was fun to look at sale stuff a Barneys.[/quote]

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