Looks like the "old" part of Bethesda that had all of the restaurants before Federal Realty built up Bethesda Ave will become the better part of down town. Who wants all of those National chains that make every town "anywhere USA." Bethesda needs to keep the local businesses unless it wants to become Rockville Pike. Sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parker's and Tara Thai, like many if not most Bethesda restaurants, get by on the fact that they serve food. Not good food. Just food.
They won't be missed.

You won't be missed either.

heehee! Burn. I will miss Parkers. But I am nostalgic for what Bethesda used to be. Not 20 years ago but like 10 where it got pretty fun before it got really obnoxious!

Anonymous wrote:Tara Thai was well below average at best. They still have the one on Rockville Pike.

And Vienna.

And Falls Church.

Tara Thai was good back in the day. Haven't been there in years, but many memories.

Anonymous wrote:Parker's and Tara Thai, like many if not most Bethesda restaurants, get by on the fact that they serve food. Not good food. Just food.
They won't be missed.

You won't be missed either.

Parker's and Tara Thai, like many if not most Bethesda restaurants, get by on the fact that they serve food. Not good food. Just food.
They won't be missed.

former employee here. it's not that they couldn't compete, it's because federal realty is not renewing their leases. the space is being combined for a big box retailer. that is how they treat their tenants. Parker's aka Dunmoors (sp) has been on bethesda ave for over 20 years. Tara thai has 8 or 9 other locations but Bethesda was their first. No one is leaving by choice.

federal realty will see how their high rents destroy this area.

before too long Barnes and Noble will be gone and then what?

Parker's is going to relocate to the other side of Bethesda that has some sort of night life and tara thai well this is the best thing for them,.

Tara Thai was well below average at best. They still have the one on Rockville Pike.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like they can't afford/don't want to afford a new lease. It makes me really sad when buildings do this to all their tenants. You just end up with the same old huge chains that can afford the exorbitant leases. Parkers had good skinny skinny french fries. Lots of good memories!

Federal Realty's rents at Bethesda Row are exorbitant and when even local chains like Tara Thai can't compete it's ridiculous.

I agree. I much prefer the developments that leave room for old tenants along with the new ones (and sometimes that means pricing the older tenants rents differently, which is no different than any other business that has different pricing structures for different types of clients). I am a long time loyal Parkers fan - I still remember reuniting with BCC high school friends there for drinks after we had all gone separate ways for college (it was one of those places that had a big crowd over thanksgiving weekend). Now I take my family there - it is relaxing, can seat larger groups without being on top of one another, the servers are friendly, while not a sports bar you can watch sports. Was the food amazing no but it was fine for what it was (I have never understood why peoe prefer Cafe Deluxe - it is the same standard of food). Color me disappointed and one less reason to fight the traffic and poor parking on Bethesda Ave ... and the shiny new quasi-chain that moves in will be one more reason no one who lives in Bethesda is actually eating in Bethesda ...

Sounds like they can't afford/don't want to afford a new lease. It makes me really sad when buildings do this to all their tenants. You just end up with the same old huge chains that can afford the exorbitant leases. Parkers had good skinny skinny french fries. Lots of good memories!

Both mediocre at best.

.

Both closing at the end of the month - hoping something decent moves in.

http://bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2015/Tara-Thai-Parkers-to-Close-in-Bethesda/