Anonymous wrote:Don't you keep up with local news?

Life sciences/tech campus

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/development/elrich-seeks-developer-to-build-white-flint-life-sciences-tech-campus/

Wait, what does White Flint have to do with Chevy Chase?

Don't you keep up with local news?

Life sciences/tech campus

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/development/elrich-seeks-developer-to-build-white-flint-life-sciences-tech-campus/

I would love it if they kept the facade and the escalators and turned the Lord and Taylor store into a library/ community space.

It would be amazing if one of those sites was turned into a huge family gym like the St James. It is so annoying that all gymnastics, ice skating etc are far out in the suburbs.

Anonymous wrote:Yep. I miss Woodies and Garfinkels, still. And I, too, have fond memories of the tea room at Lord and Taylor and shopping there for special dresses with my Mom.

So: Please, please support the Friendship Heights Saks. That’s one of the few remaining great shopping experiences from my childhood that’s still around.

I haven’t heard anything yet about plans for either of those spaces.

Yes! Please continue to support the Saks there.

(But good riddance to the Mazza parking garage, site of my first fender bender — God that was a terrible garage in a city of terrible garages.)

Cheesecake Factory and Maggiannos did a great job of drawing people to the area, and some of the other stores did as well. The loss of Borders, many years ago, and of Linens and Things really changed the neighborhood shopping patterns. The mix of stores now is not strong enough to pull in destination shoppers from other neighborhoods. Sadly, though, it also lacks a mix that meets the needs of residents.

I used to go to Borders multiple times a week, then make other stops on my way to the Giant. Now I’m going to other neighborhoods just to buy groceries— which means a lot fewer spontaneous stops at other shops along the way.

Anonymous wrote:Everything in that area dies.

Not really. I think the upscale stores that decamped for City Center were a mistake from the beginning, in that they badly misjudged the shopping culture of the neighborhood. Other stores did well for decades until they were purchased by companies more focused on real estate and profit than on running actual, profitable stores, or, like Saks-Jandel, had changes in ownership for other reasons but still ended up with owners who didn’t really want to run the store.

The whole area should be re-thought given it is on top of a metro and is bus transfer hub.

I just want the horrible surface parking lot/garage to be literally anything else! Right now it seems to be mostly used for drug deals like the one that went bad a few months ago.

Everything in that area dies.

Yep. I miss Woodies and Garfinkels, still. And I, too, have fond memories of the tea room at Lord and Taylor and shopping there for special dresses with my Mom.

So: Please, please support the Friendship Heights Saks. That’s one of the few remaining great shopping experiences from my childhood that’s still around.

I haven’t heard anything yet about plans for either of those spaces.

Mazza was always scheduled for redevelopment - I don't know what happens to TJ Maxx, but that is about the only thing that's left.

The redevelopment was housing and retail. no idea the current plan.

I bet Lord and Taylor also becomes housing. Here's hoping DC does something that allows that area to become more vibrant.

*Neimans

My mom used to take me to the tea room at L&T twice a year — the last day of school before winter break and the last day of school. I’m sad for the changes. I used to ride metro from school and my mom would pick me up at Mazza or we would go shopping at the Limited and Laura Ashley and Neumann and Raleighs. It’s definitely the end of an era for natives.

Just curious if anyone knows what will happen with that huge space? And Mazza Gallery? Seems like prime real estate but with stores closing, it is kind of depressing!

Hope the Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack stay put!