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Saturday, April 25, 2015

Restarting the Shake Shack Watch in Bethesda (Photos) #DC

I'm restarting my Shake Shack Watch in downtown Bethesda. Or maybe just doubling down on it with a second property in play. Douglas Development, which has secured a Shake Shack in the past at a property in the District, now has a restaurant space at 4731-A Elm Street available for lease.

This property is adjacent to Federal Realty's popular Bethesda Row development, and gets foot traffic from people walking to and from the Regal Bethesda 10 Theaters on nights and weekends. Neighbors Potbelly and The Barking Dog have been stable and successful for years.

4731 also has 6,592 SF of space, double the size of most Shake Shack locations. It just seems long overdue, and inevitable that Shake Shack would open a location in downtown Bethesda. What's taking so long for them to expand here is mystifying. The long wait continues...

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13 comments:

  1. Flynn1:35 PM

    Kraze Burger a couple doors down didn't do too well. Hopefully a Shake Shack would have a better draw. Maybe activate that block a bit more too and connect it more to Bethesda Row.

    Does FRIT still plan to renovate that parking lot? It would be helpful to connect the theater and the retail on that block too, as well as to Wisconsjn.

    I know Apex declined redevelopment but they certainly could liven up the street scape a bit and connect the theater more to Bethesda Row also. Probably do more business too.

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    1. Robert Dyer4:32 PM

      Flynn, are you talking about the parking structure across from The Barking Dog? If so, I believe that is part of JBG's property, and will be demolished for a building when that goes forward. If there is retail in the ground floor, it should help to connect the Apex Building better to Bethesda Row. I think the failure of Kraze was more due to the company's problems more than this particular location. As you know, Shake Shack is in a very strong position financially these days.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous2:03 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. Robert Dyer4:26 PM

      2:03: Actually, it was discussed in my comments section prior to that report.

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    2. Flynn9:26 PM

      What did 2:03 say? Your response doesn't make any sense since we don't know what 2:03 said!

      Delete
  3. Anonymous3:01 PM

    2:03PM: Drop the hate of Dyer a little, it's not a good look for you. Everyone other than you is happy that we have Dyer reporting on Bethesda news on a daily basis.

    1:35PM: Dyer had a report last year about a potential brewpub/restaurant space further up Elm that would liven up that area between Bethesda Row and the theater.

    http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2014/08/hypothetical-bethesda-brewpub-could.html

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  4. Anonymous3:15 PM

    I just love hypothetical Bethesda brewpubs.

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  5. Anonymous4:56 PM

    Why is Dyer afraid to type the name of the establishment that just closed?

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  6. Anonymous6:57 PM

    Why dO you think Kraze's closing was due to corporate problems? They are still in Montgomery Mall and seem to be doing at least OK there.

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    1. Flynn9:27 PM

      That is a good point, actually. What info do you have about the company's "problems"? Curious, we would love to know!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous4:48 PM

    Panas Panas Panas Panas Panas

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  8. Chase8:06 PM

    For the sake of my waistline, no shake shack!

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  9. Anonymous7:07 AM

    Considering their Dupont and Penn Quarter locations, Shake Shake seems to prefer high visibility corner locations. I don't think this mid-block space is prime enough for them. I could be wrong though.

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