Thursday, February 12, 2015

NEW BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT TO BE CALLED URBAN HEIGHTS

Chef Robert Wiedmaier's RW Restaurant Group is taking over the rooftop restaurant space at the corner of Cordell and Norfolk Avenues in downtown Bethesda, and they have now chosen the name Urban Heights for the new venture. Wiedmaier is known for a diverse portfolio of restaurants, including the famed Marcel's in the District, and two Bethesda restaurants - Mussel Bar and Wildwood Kitchen.

The rooftop was previously occupied by ROOF. While Urban Heights' menu and cuisine have not yet been announced publicly, the name does play up the hopes one originally had for the rooftop, as a nightlife destination in the rapidly-transforming Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. A fizzled "Nighttime Economy" initiative by Montgomery County instead left Roof and several other nightspots shuttered, and found popular late-night hangout Barnes and Noble closing its doors an hour earlier most nights.

With the success of Mussel Bar's cross of casual atmosphere with serious cuisine, Wiedmaier might just be the man to make this rooftop the place to be and be seen.

56 comments:

Anonymous said...

"A fizzled "Nighttime Economy" initiative by Montgomery County instead left Roof and several other nightspots shuttered,"

I love how Robert Dyer makes declarations about why businesses close as if he knows anything or talked to anyone about it.

Robert Dyer said...

5:06: Uh, they usually close when they don't have enough income to pay the rent. As if Hans Riemer "knows anything about business." He's never run one. He does have Mitt Romney and Bain Capital behind him, so he knows about shipping jobs overseas.

Anonymous said...

What initiatives of the nighttime economy task force caused Roof to close?

Anonymous said...

"He does have Mitt Romney and Bain Capital behind him, so he knows about shipping jobs overseas."

What?!? Care to explain this? And if true, I would think that would be selling point from your perspective.

Anonymous said...

I believe the Tysons Corner Center B&N also reduced its late-night hours around the same time as Bethesda Row's did. Possibly other locations, too. It seems that particular decision had nothing to do with this Montgomery County "nighttime economy" business.

Robert Dyer said...

5:57: He had a $500 campaign contribution from Mitt Romney's Bain Capital, and thousands from Danaher Corporation, two pioneers in outsourcing American jobs to China. Hardly a selling point for a self-proclaimed "progressive Democrat." So progressive, he's behind Clinton and not Elizabeth Warren. #FakeProgressive

Robert Dyer said...

5:39: The "efforts" failed to stimulate the "nighttime economy." As the shuttered nightspots all over town attest to. They were open when Hans took office, and now they're all closed.

Anonymous said...

"They were open when Hans took office, and now they're all closed."

You are blaming a county councilman for the closing of restaurants?

I guess that makes sense, as no restaurants ever closed in Bethesda before Hans Riemer took over.

Anonymous said...

When did the task force release their recommendations? What policies specifically made Roof fail?

Lots of things happened when Hans or anyone was in office. Doesn't mean they made it happen. Good or bad.

That's just poor rationale. I expect better of you, Dyer. You are better than blanket generalization. Show us you are better. We have faith in you!

Anonymous said...

Fact is Riemer said the nightlife economy was his major accomplishment in his first term.

No one really knows what he accomplished, but he thinks he did something.

Enough about Riemer however, I'm excited about Urban Heights.

Anonymous said...

Fact is Riemer said the nightlife economy was his major accomplishment in his first term.

No one really knows what he accomplished, but he thinks he did something.

Enough about Riemer however, I'm excited about Urban Heights.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Bethesda should open up a Taco Bell or maybe just a place that has a microwave and a freezer full of crappy frozen meals, based on this blog that seems to be what Robert would enjoy. Oh how I wish he had received more than 100 votes in his "fizzled" attempt at running for office. (btw, fizzled is a very generous term in this case)

Patty said...

So, Robert, if the task force initiatives didn't do anything then the closing happened due to no fault of the task force. Right?

Anonymous said...

I blame Hans Riemer's failed nighttime economy task force for Robert Dyer's failed election bid.

It makes almost as much sense as this post.

Anonymous said...

Why so much hate for dyer?!?!?! So many trolls......

Anonymous said...

Don't confuse criticism with hate. That's lazy, kind of like Robert's comparisons.

Anonymous said...

Once Dyer starts his litany, he just can't stop. "Club closing" leads to "nighttime economy" leads to "Hans Riemer" leads to "Mitt Romney and Bain Capital".

"A $500 campaign contribution"

LOL, like that makes him a slave for life. A fraction of 1% of his total contributions.

Dyer's obsession with the "nighttime economy" seems to reflect his failures in the daytime economy.

Anonymous said...

I also love how Dyer counts clubs that close and then re-open under a new name and management as a "loss of clubs".

Anonymous said...

That's the ticket Bobby boy, blame the gubbment for the failure of entrepreneurs with no real plan. You couldn't get elected dog catcher, so stop throwing stones.

Anonymous said...

Good scoop Dyer, checking the ol' liquor license applications posted today.

Anonymous said...

Roof: Site was previously a furniture repair shop.

Parva: Previously an Indian restaurant.

Again, Dyer has great difficulty with the concept of "NET loss".

Anonymous said...

Do you have a link to that quote?

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure why Dyer has to bring Riemer into this all the time.

I think the county should stop charging for parking up until 10pm in Bethesda. How about up until 7pm? That could stimulate more people to come in since parking would be free.

Anonymous said...

I feel like the failed nighttime economy is due to lack of 20s-30s living in the area. It's hard to budget blowing $40-60 a night out in Bethesda when rents are above $1500 for places not on battery lane. Put up some more high priced condos that are barely full.

Anonymous said...

9:28AM: The real question is why Riemer keeps bringing himself into Bethesda issues.

Riemer touts his Nightlife Economy taskforce, but those of us in the downtown have seen no tangible benefits yet.

We can't even buy a bottle of wine at the grocery store.

Anonymous said...

"We can't even buy a bottle of wine at the grocery store."

That's due to the laws of the state of Maryland, not Montgomery County.

Anonymous said...

Good point! Right, Dyer?

Anonymous said...

It's what he's saying that doesn't make any sense. Folks are just trying to understand his perspective and get some answers to which none are forthcoming.

Anonymous said...

I like that idea! Let's figure out the ramifications and analysis though for it.

Anonymous said...

Um 9:47 - because he is our elected representative?

Anonymous said...

9:59 AM Exactly. That's why he's in Dyer's report.

Anonymous said...

1500 off battery is a stretch.

Anonymous said...

So why doesn't Robert ever reply to things he cannot give a good answer for?

Anonymous said...

@12:51 PM: Right, $1500 maybe 15 years ago.

1 bedrooms in the new buildings start at $2,500 last I checked. I have no idea how folks afford that. Presumably the folks living in these places aren't paying full price out of their own pocket.

Lack of 20s-30s is due to lack of jobs primarily.

Anonymous said...

@ 9:47 PM - Please explain to me what being able to buy a bottle of wine at a grocery store, for consumption at home, has to do with "the nighttime economy"?

Anonymous said...

Riemer has disappointed us.
The Nightlife taskforce and banning stuff are his major works over 5 years.

Maybe Bob can make a good councilman out of Riemer yet? If Riemer could focus on something productive, like a jobs or an economic development task force.

Anonymous said...

"Banning stuff" Huh?

"Maybe Bob can make a good councilman out of Riemer yet?"

Dyer's Little Toady again.

"If Dyer could focus on something productive, like a job..."

Fixed it for you.

Robert Dyer said...

Patty, the fault is that the NE initiative was trumpeted by certain councilmembers as improving and stimulating the nighttime economy. It did neither, failing to improve conditions for those nightspots that ultimately closed. They took on responsibility the minute they overhyped their initiative.

Robert Dyer said...

6:45: We absolutely do need a Taco Bell in Bethesda. I have good news about your wish - I did get more than 100 votes. Baba Booey.

Robert Dyer said...

7:46: Whoops, you left out the tens of thousands Hans got from Wall Street bank lobbyists and health insurance companies and lobbyists. $500 from Mitt Romney and Bain Capital is symbolic beyond the dollar amount. Would you accept $500 from Bain Capital? Your answer would speak for itself. "Corporations are people, my friend!" - Hans Romney

Robert Dyer said...

8:30: Your math is off.

Robert Dyer said...

7:51: Ri-Ra, BlackFinn, Relic and Roof have reopened? What dimension are you in, and what did you smoke to get there? Urban Heights is not " new name & management," it's an entirely separate business that leased space.

Anonymous said...

We have hope that Bob can make a good councilman out of Riemer yet.

I'm not totally giving up on Hans like the Post did.

Robert Dyer said...

1:36: "Hans' little toady." How's it feel to work for Mitt Romney and Bain Capital?

Anonymous said...

It sounds like an effort that didn't work. Doesn't put blame on the new efforts for making the businesses fail that were still under the old rules?

Anonymous said...

The "efforts" failed to stimulate the "nighttime economy." As the shuttered nightspots all over town attest to. They were open when Hans took office, and now they're all closed."

So any good and bad things that happened during Hans tenure is his fault, I'll go with that for now. But I still don't follow your logic that an initiative that tried to help that you say failed after a few months is the reason for the closing. Nothing changed. The closing isn't the fault of the new initiatives. Basic logic flow...

Anonymous said...

"They were open when Hans took office, and now they're all closed."

LOL, the building that briefly housed Roof didn't exist until 2014. And the Parva was an Indian restaurant when Riemer entered office.

Robert Dyer said...

7:40: Too bad they were just in time for Hans Riemer's failed Nighttime Economy Task Force.

Anonymous said...

Haha. You mean too bad they couldn't stick it out and try to implement some of the nighttime economy task force's immediate and long term recommendations.

Anonymous said...

Dyer is stuck in an infinite loop again.

Robert Dyer said...

6:17: Kind of like Hans Riemer working for his outsourcing pioneer sugar daddy Mitch Rales on the council - an "infinite loop" of Pay-to-Play.

Anonymous said...

I'm reminded of the time that rocket blew up because of a misplaced punctuation in the Fortran code.

Anonymous said...

7:01 PM -

"So any good and bad things that happened during Hans tenure is his fault"

No, the good things that happened during Dyer's two unelected terms on the Council are Dyer's fault, you hater.

Robert Dyer said...

7:19: Given that we found MoCo government still running on Windows 2000, 4 years after Hans "Cybersecurity Guru" Riemer took office, that's actually a good analogy.

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