Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Palena was not located near the much debated Connecticut Ave. service lane, so that old dog won't hunt. Unlike some other Cleveland Park restaurants, Palena did have an adjacent parking lot. What it also had, according to today's Post, was a substantial past due rent obligation to its landlord, Federal Realty (which it was unable to negotiate) and what the article referred to as complex financial difficulties. The restaurant world is a tough business, and commercial rents in this and other DC neighborhoods seem to have reached levels that even higher-end restaurants have trouble paying. in any case, there's probably more to the Palena story.

Do you know where Palena is? It's on the next block from the service lane. It's about as near as you can get without having an actual storefront on the service lane.

I know where Palena is located. It's almost at the end of the next block from the service lane. The park and shop with Petco is between Palena and the service lane. That's hardly "as near as you can get."

Anonymous wrote:I think Palena just ran its course. I never went to the cafe and don't know anyone who did, but I stopped in once to the market and it was like the old soviet safeway, half empty shelves in a very small space. I suspect he just never knew what to do with the Magruder's space. From the Washington Post, this is the fourth restaurant to close in the area recently with Ripple and Bardeo hanging on for now. Tough market presumably because those who can walk from the large apt buildings are more likely to go out drinking than to a decent restaurant, though I have to say, I was never particularly impressed with Palena (other than the chicken) or Dino or Ripple . . .

I thought I heard that the "market" was a front to open the café -- there are zoning requirements in Cleveland Park requiring there to be a certain amount of retail v. restaurants.

Anonymous wrote:Palena was not located near the much debated Connecticut Ave. service lane, so that old dog won't hunt. Unlike some other Cleveland Park restaurants, Palena did have an adjacent parking lot. What it also had, according to today's Post, was a substantial past due rent obligation to its landlord, Federal Realty (which it was unable to negotiate) and what the article referred to as complex financial difficulties. The restaurant world is a tough business, and commercial rents in this and other DC neighborhoods seem to have reached levels that even higher-end restaurants have trouble paying. in any case, there's probably more to the Palena story.

Do you know where Palena is? It's on the next block from the service lane. It's about as near as you can get without having an actual storefront on the service lane.

Anonymous wrote:I loved Palena, but parking in Cleveland Park is impossible. The parking lot adjacent to the former property probably has 40 spaces for 10+ shops. Unless we're going out during the week we avoid Cleveland Park because of the parking situation alone. What's with there being no valet parking in this area?

For me, the problem was the redline. No way would I take it unnecessarily, especially not on the weekend.

But really, Cleveland Park has bitten off its own tail. It had the chance to be a dining destination neighborhood but insisted on ridiculous permitting limitations that crushed the area. I hope they enjoy their vaccuum repair stores.

Anonymous wrote:I loved Palena, but parking in Cleveland Park is impossible. The parking lot adjacent to the former property probably has 40 spaces for 10+ shops. Unless we're going out during the week we avoid Cleveland Park because of the parking situation alone. What's with there being no valet parking in this area?

Some restaurants have valet parking. However, some of the fly-by-nigh valet services had to close up shop several years ago after DC enacted a city-wide regulation that they have an off-street location to park the cars. Before then, valets were ricocheting cars up and down the side streets from where they would find on-street spots.

You are correct that parking needs to be an option, even in an area next to a Metro stop. I am always struck by the smart growth ideologueswho claim that no off-street parking is needed anymore. Either they are just naive or they are carrying water for real estate interests that want to reduce their costs by avoiding having to build parking, and then figure that localities and businesses will just suck it up as more and more cars compete for limited curb space.

I loved Palena, but parking in Cleveland Park is impossible. The parking lot adjacent to the former property probably has 40 spaces for 10+ shops. Unless we're going out during the week we avoid Cleveland Park because of the parking situation alone. What's with there being no valet parking in this area?

I moved into Cleveland Park about 8 months ago and had no prior knowledge of Palena's reputation. I was quite surprised when one of my foodie friends cited it as one of the top restaurants in DC (food quality wise) based on the fact they had little to no curb appeal (prior to the coffee shop opening up). When walking by, all I saw was an empty "market" and a generally empty seating area (which came to life a bit with the coffee shop). The ambiance from the outside was severely lacking--they definitely did themselves a disservice in that department.

Bummer! My husband and I celebrated our engagement at Palena. I will miss it.

I think Palena just ran its course. I never went to the cafe and don't know anyone who did, but I stopped in once to the market and it was like the old soviet safeway, half empty shelves in a very small space. I suspect he just never knew what to do with the Magruder's space. From the Washington Post, this is the fourth restaurant to close in the area recently with Ripple and Bardeo hanging on for now. Tough market presumably because those who can walk from the large apt buildings are more likely to go out drinking than to a decent restaurant, though I have to say, I was never particularly impressed with Palena (other than the chicken) or Dino or Ripple . . .

Palena was not located near the much debated Connecticut Ave. service lane, so that old dog won't hunt. Unlike some other Cleveland Park restaurants, Palena did have an adjacent parking lot. What it also had, according to today's Post, was a substantial past due rent obligation to its landlord, Federal Realty (which it was unable to negotiate) and what the article referred to as complex financial difficulties. The restaurant world is a tough business, and commercial rents in this and other DC neighborhoods seem to have reached levels that even higher-end restaurants have trouble paying. in any case, there's probably more to the Palena story.

Ugh - we have an used $100 gift certificate! So bummed!

Glad I asked DH to take me there for my birthday in March. It has been one of my favorites for years and am sad to see it is gone.

Anonymous wrote:You must not be on the Cleveland Park listserv

(It has been clogged with dozens of posts brought on by this announcement...yay lets rehash the service lane for the 10 thousandth time!)

Right? And it's always the same people posting. I've never met any of the frequent posters, but I feel as though I know them well.

You must not be on the Cleveland Park listserv

(It has been clogged with dozens of posts brought on by this announcement...yay lets rehash the service lane for the 10 thousandth time!)

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/bestbites/food-restaurant-news/major-shutter-palena-closes-over-the-weekend.php

It closed over the weekend??