The Riemer Factor
The closure adds to the downward spiral of Bethesda's nighttime economy, which accelerated despite Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer's "nighttime economy" initiative, an overhyped effort that failed miserably. There are now less nightclubs open in downtown Bethesda than there were before Riemer's effort!
Many other businesses that once offered late night or 24-hour service either cut back their hours since Riemer's initiative, or closed altogether.
Food trucks that operated in the Woodmont Triangle after midnight were chased out of Bethesda permanently by Riemer's political operative/campaign contributor-turned-$150,000 County employee (nice private payoff at public taxpayer expense, right?), who was put in charge of banning, er, "helping" food trucks. 96% of food trucks went out of business, or never ventured again from DC into Bethesda, since receiving County Chief Innovation Officer Dan Hoffman's "help."
Union Jack's is the
9th nightspot to close
in downtown Bethesda
since Riemer took office
This is the ninth nightclub to close in downtown Bethesda since Riemer took office in 2010, a staggering figure. Despite bar owners' number one request - getting Montgomery County Government out of the liquor business, Riemer has flip-flopped and is a staunch defender of the County liquor monopoly. Where long lines of revelers once formed, crowds now disperse and streets are dark and quiet in late night Bethesda.
Riemer:
Only the little people
pay taxes
One can't expect Riemer to care much about small business owners, as his campaigns have bizarrely been bankrolled by Wall Street banks and health insurance companies, their K Street lobbyists, and pioneers in outsourcing American jobs to China, like Mitt Romney's Bain Capital ($500 check to Riemer) and the Danaher Corporation ($4000 check to Riemer). One of the American factories closed by the latter was right here in the state of Maryland, a state which has lost nearly half of its industrial jobs over the last decade.
Quid pro quo?
A U.S. Senate committee is currently investigating whether or not Riemer and the Montgomery County Council assisted Danaher's Mitch Rales in evading income, capital gains and estate taxes. In addition to tens of thousands in campaign contributions, Riemer and other County officials were treated to an extravagant evening at Rales' Potomac mansion, prior to assisting Rales in establishing a museum that has become a holding entity for $386,000,000-worth of stock, the City Paper reported.
"Throw the bums out!"
Some Bethesda restaurateurs have now become the biggest proponents of Robin Ficker's petition to allow County voters to approve term limits for County Councilmembers and County Executive. For Bethesda's beleaguered restaurant and bar owners, and those seeking nightlife in Bethesda, term limits can't come soon enough.
61 comments:
someone forgot to take his meds today
It's disappointing for another affordable place to close down in Woodmont Triangle. My friends and I went to UJ's a lot when we were in our twenty's but that was long time ago. The place was dirty, the crows were... Skanky. I can't say that I'll miss the sport so much as the nostalgia of when we actually had some good times there.
What makes Dyer's meltdown even more hilarious is that Union Jacks' replacement has already been announced.
And he still hasn't reported that Ike Leggett now supports privatizing the DLC.
What place is going in where Union was? Where was that reported? Have not seen that announced.
4:56: Maybe tying a string to your finger will help you remember.
5:10: BS on both. If it's been announced, what is it, wiseguy? Second, Leggett only said he would let the Council explain how they would pay for it. When he says he will forgo the $30 million without new taxes - simply by making that much in cuts - then you can say he favors privatization.
What would you propose Hans Reimer do differently? Force landlords to charge lower rents? It seems Bethesda is also no longer a destination for mid twenty year olds as there are many newer, more trendy places in DC and even Pike and Rose. Was it also perhaps that Union Jacks was just no longer cool? The more successful places currently like Brickside and Gringos have a markedly different style and draw a very different crowd than Union Jacks or Parva.
Can you online what you'd like to see both as incentives from the local government and types of restaurants?
Is it really a surprise that the lower-cost, basic venues are having a hard time? Rents are up and lots of affordable housing has given way to yet more "luxury condominiums". Bethesda is becoming a place only for the wealthy. Remember when those four schoolmates used to play amazing Beatle music in front of the burger shop on Woodmont on summer evenings? All gone. No more fun.
Don't be narrow minded. One can certainly support an idea in theory and work towards an actual plan. Not so easy as just flipping a switch.
Agreed. Besides, the nighttime economy task force simply put forth recommendations.
All the more reason Greenhill / Karr renovations hurt Bethesda even more by moving the rents up further and diminishing chances of assemblage with higher costs, now and future.
6:33: Given his record, I'd propose he step down. In the meantime, he needs to examine all of the laws, tax hikes and regulations he voted for over the last 5 years that raised the cost of doing business for small business owners. Maybe consider how not increasing the number of high-wage private sector jobs in the County has prevented the number of millennials from moving here who might have otherwise. And get to work getting government out of the liquor business. Oh, and telling us when he knew about the illegal activity going on in the DLC - before, or after, Election Day 2014?
There's no doubt that no one would confuse Union Jack's with Tao Las Vegas - or even Echostage in DC. But it's more than coincidence when 9 places go out of business, places that were reliably crowded night after night, to boot. Demand was there, but apparently exceeded by cost of doing business. Bad.
6:40: It was just a Facebook post, not like the Westbard hearing coverage they reheated in the microwave over there yesterday. Beep. beep beep.
I am confused. This site talks about being first over competitors all of the time. Why when someone else talks about it the other way around it gets deleted? There was no malice in the post. In fact it noted you were usually first.
That seems to be part of your disconnect, the people with the high paying jobs don't go to Union Jacks for $1 rail drinks from 10-11, they're going to Gringos, Brickside, even Caddies over places like Union Jacks. Urban Heights/Roof failed because their product sucked and Karr designed a crappy entrance to the upper levels from the street.
How would you, if elected of Reimer fix this, and what type of restaurants and "night clubs" would you like to see?
Interesting to hear about his record. Is there somewhere we can go read more about this beyond just your saying it? Would be good to know.
Is there a better candidate we know who wild have voted differently than him in the past and would do a better job in the future?
Would another candidate have succeeded in bringing in more high wage private sector jobs? What strategies did he employ that didn't work and what strategies would you suggest for past and future companies?
Participating in an ongoing investigation and not announcing it prior to his election may or
may not have been prudent, but most voters felt it wouldn't have changed any results. Most also thought it wasn't a big deal. Only one source really thought much otherwise about it.
What suggestions would you have made now and in the future to keep existing nightlife businesses in place and encourage more?
That entry way is so underwhelming and uninviting!! Terrible design.
Dyer, you are just a narrow-minded, thick-skulled, myopic, fool, who loves to whine and finger point at an elected (Democratic) body that doesn't see the world your way. List the nine establi!shments that are no longer and I guarantee you readers, myself included, will give you the "real" reason for the the demise of each. DARE YOU
Also list any openings and would Dyer credit the same institutions and people and policy and such that he blamed for the closings during the same time period?
So there's a real problem here that I see (as a lifetime Bethesda native). 6:50am actually has a good question -- what is the solution? If you were in Reimer's shoes, Dyer, what would be your plan of attack?
Why is Dyer deleting comments that mention that Ike Leggett now supports privatizing the DLC?
I think Dyer may have watched "A Night at the Roxbury" too many times gettin up at the club is not as cool as it used to be. Bethesda needs more lounge type hangouts where functioning, employed adults can mingle and talk (not yell) over craft cocktails.
7:16: Just gave a brief outline of that at 6:41 above.
7:18: Didn't happen. Only several spams regarding a competing website that's desperate for readers - ever wonder why they spam here, but I don't spam on their site? Think about it.
7:00: Nah, that's not the way it works. If you make all food trucks go out of business, you don't get credit for a hair salon opening. Hardly any of the bars were replaced with bars. The dead and dark streets speak for themselves.
Throw the bums out!
Why do you assume it's a competiting website desperate for readers? That's your opinion but I know I don't have anything to do with that site. References to that site get deleted but references to others don't. Inconsistent application of comment policy if even applicable.
Throw the bums out and replace them with who and what plan? It's like saying hope and change without offering a better suggestion.
Name the nine.
It was unnecessary to turn this into a Riemer-rant. Riemer (who I never voted for, and never will) is incompetent but I think people already know that.
Instead, if I were writing this post, I'd do a summary of the failed nightlife in that area recently. By my count, it's: Blackfinn, Steamers, Union Jacks, Parva, Urban Heights, Relic and I bet Hanaro will be next. Then on the other side, Parker's, Nest, and CO2 Lounge were all popular places for a drink after work and are now gone.
So what happened? Sure we can blame regulation and I'm sure that makes things annoying, but good nightlife places make such good money that it's STILL worth doing business despite the bureaucratic nonsense.
Years back, when I lived in DC and was younger and single, we'd sometimes come TO Bethesda to go out. There was that outdoor terrace across from the Farm Women's market that was packed on any warm summer weeknight evening. More recently, like 5 years ago, there would be crowds of people on Fairmont for Relic and Blackfinn, then go around the block and more people outside Hanaro, Union Jacks, and Caddie's. What happened? Was it effectively closing off those streets to build the new condo buildings that did it?
It seems to me like there's a lot of potential here, if just handled properly. What's the magic formula? I know it's not going to come from Riemer, but what is it?
"The Riemer Factor" Lol, Dyer must think Riemer is the most important person in the world.
Anyways, Union Jack's was terrible. It lasting for 10 years is the real travesty. I hope something better replaces it, but the rent is so damn high (or maybe the population is just too old?) that most interesting offerings choose to open in Silver Spring, instead.
Robert,
Your 6:41 response didn't address anything specific, it's easy to see and call out the problem, but having a clear and rational vision with specifics of how to fix a problem would be nice to hear as well as give people a reason to "throw the bums out"
Can you state the following:
1. What specifically would you do to increase the Bethesda Nightlife
2. What type of restaurants/bars/clubs would you go after and like to see, maybe give some examples?
Good point. It's easy to admonish someone else but without contributing any ideas of your own isn't constructive. We would really love to hear your ideas - and I don't mean that in a mean way. You have a lot of interesting things to say and perhaps you have some really good ideas that would work here.
Maybe he's saving his ideas for a political campaign. Seriously. You never know who can shake things up, but I'd guess that Dyer isn't a yes man and could make a difference. IMHO.
Any of you naysayers have your own solutions to Bethesda's nighttime economy?
There are so many excellent spots in DC that didn't exist a decade ago, and that's going to make it nearly impossible for Bethesda to really compete in the nightlife game. There are lots of factors involved, from high rent to high median age to Bethesda being far out on the red line, but it all come down to not enough people to support a popping scene. If you've got friend from all over the Metro area, it's much easier to get everyone together in a central location. Maybe development up the Pike will help somewhat in that regard, but Bethesda being bordered by a bunch of rich suburbs to the west and south isn't going to change, and it kills the vibe.
I say all this as someone who has been going out to clubs in the DC area for the past 20+ years. Successful nightlife in Bethesda will need to cater to a hyper local crowd.
I love how @ 8:26 PM says that "Dyer isn't a yes-man" but then immediately turns around and calls his critical readers "naysayers".
8:36AM What does one have to do with the other? You missed my point.
Not a yes man and not having any suggestions of his own isn't constructive.
Repeatedly shouting "throw the bums out" is not a substitute for a résumé.
Things like Union Jacks and Tommy Joe's are boring and lead to Bethesda being the butt of many jokes. Bethesda should stick to just being a snobby paradise that alienates 99% of the American population.
Who said it was?
But it IS what needs to happen.
@ 8:43 AM - the point is that @ 8:26 PM implied that Dyer's (perceived) adversaries simultaneously say "yes", and that's bad; they say "nay" (i.e. "no") and that's supposed to be bad, too
Sounds like "heads I win, tails you lose".
This is starting to get ridiculous. Woodmont Triangle is becoming a ghost town. For Bethesda at least.
Union Jack's was decent and I was able to host a large event there within a reasonable budget unlike just about everything else in Bethesda or Friendship Heights. People from all over the country came and had a great time. When you're picking up the tab you can't always spend $50 a person or guarantee a $2000 bill (ahem, Clyde's).
I suppose I am part of the problem for turning 40 this year.
All the 20 somethings that went to the many Bethesda bars in question are not pushing stroller and their 40s. They live in Germantown & Damascus so downtown Rockville is easier. Current 20 somethings are living downtown near U Street or H Street or Nats Park. We have a high rent area for people who are not big bar people any more. Surprised Union Jacks lasted so long, their lease must be up. TJoes is doomed in that space, too bad they could have possibly had UJ's more appropriate space. Another issue is parking in the southern Woodmont area, once the garage is filled up, good luck. We have driven away on many occasions.
This is spot on analysis. The parking though I've never found to be a problem. Better than DC and they handle it ok.
So what did Reimer do wrong and what would Dyer have done differently?
@10:24 One of my friends was on the nighttime task force mentioned in the post. His suggestion was they stop requiring payment up until 10pm on streets and in garages, as it can turn people off from coming there -- make it 7pm or something like that.
The only benefit of charging for parking until 10pm is that it makes more parking available, as indeed it does turn some people off. That said, parking in that part of Bethesda isn't too bad in my experience. The Woodmont and err.. garge on the same street at Union Jack's (forgot the name) can fill up, but the one on Rugby/Woodmont always seems to have spaces. That may change as half of the spaces will be handed over for police parking once they move their station over there.
Can anyone comment on the average age renting at some of the new buildings like Bainbridge? The people I see going in and out of there are usually in their 20's, but that's anecdotal.
The parking fees go to support the circulator. So basically a tax subsidizing the free bus.
As 11:09 said The only benefit of charging for parking until 10pm is that it makes more parking available." Which infers that it discourages people from parking, meaning fewer people dining in the evening -- less demand will mean fewer choices. In DC, when they extended parking to 10PM in some areas, they said it was to free up spaces. People complained that the limit of 2 hours was to short for evening activities -- so they made it unlimited. Free up spaces is just an excuse for MAKE MORE MONEY. In addition, the areas with meters create another problem in that you have to pre-pay for parking without any accurate estimate of how much time you may need for the evening activities.
@3:55pm I know the 10pm thing will never go away in Bethesda. It's used to fund the Bethesda Urban Partnership and their fancy fleet of landscaping and trash trucks. They would never vote to reduce their own funding in such a manner.
I'm not joking about their trucks either -- ever noticed they all seem totally new and shiny? My guess is they are like any government agency in a "spend or lose" situation. They have to spend at least as much as last year in order to justify next year's budget. There are no rewards for spending less one year.
Notice their 20-page annual report never ONCE mentions their budget and how they spend it. I guess they don't want the public to know how their money is spent:
http://www.bethesda.org/sites/default/files/u14/LoRes_BUP-AnnReport2015.pdf
Dyer, if you want to dig into something, try to track down spending and revenue numbers for BUP. I'll bet you Hans Riemer's best suit that there's something dirty in those books!
This is bizarre. Lot's of high density condos coming up in Bethesda--but fun spots--both DAYtime and nightlife are CLOSING.
What's going on???????
Truth to tell, I have no interest in reading Dyer campaigh-for-something-or-other literature. I'm outta here, for good.
TRITDH
4:12: But you're OK with Hans Riemer campaigning using the nightlife and liquor issues? You're OK with taxpayers having to fund printed "literature" defending proposals we overwhelmingly oppose like the Ambulance Fee, BRT and the County liquor monopoly? If you're OK with those, then this may well not be the news source for you.
It's up to Riemer if he chooses to campaign with it. Up to the voters of they choose to vote him in on that basis.
What's the actual rule? Last I heard the county is allow to self promote? Are there cases where this works out to be a good thing? What are our options - write in and ask for the law to be changed? What are the steps to take other than being angry here in a blog comments?
Downtown Bethesda =/= Montgomery County
Yeah, it's disappointing to see places like Union Jacks and Urban Heights close shop, but Silver Spring is moving in the exact opposite direction. "Nightlife" in Silver Spring 10 years ago was a joke, now there are tons of after-dark options. It's not H Street, U Street, or Adams Morgan, but its a lot better than it was and is still improving.
The Moribundly Sloth-Energy-Level Dyer quoth a sloth-level-energy, and tired, rant about the system and blah-blah-blah.
As usual Dyer whines and cries and complains, yet when pointedly asked (repeatedly) about what he would do different...does not really answer the question.
So 9 restaurants/bars/dives/blahblah have gone under in the last, what, 2-3 years? That a place goes out after a 10-year run probably is not a surprise, especially if demographic tastes have changed, development is going on, no one drives roaring drunk anymore at the risk of a DUI, etc. I mean, many of us have stated here repeatedly how cutthroat and fickle the restaurant biz is, if you make it 10 years then actually you did a lot better than probably 90% of the others than barely make it to 5.
And yet again of course His Moribundness patently ignores all of the other development that is going on in other parts of MoCo such as Crown Farm, Pike & Rose, much less the usual suspects of Silver Spring, various and sundry parts of Gaithersburg, etc. I guess he cannot get it in his skull that, no Virginia, downtown Bethesda is NOT the end-all and be-all of all the development and restaurant action that goes on around here, for better or for worse.
If that's the way that Dyer wants it....well that (proverbial) train left the station maybe 40-50 years ago when the Council at that time decided "hey wouldn't it be a great idea to destroy open space and pave over most of the MoCo countryside!!!"
And by the way...
"Some Bethesda restaurateurs have now become the biggest proponents of Robin Ficker's petition to allow County voters to approve term limits for County Councilmembers and County Executive. For Bethesda's beleaguered restaurant and bar owners, and those seeking nightlife in Bethesda, term limits can't come soon enough. "
Stupid effing Robin Ficker.
Attention morons: EVERY STINKING ELECTION DAY that comes around is your chance to term limit your reps!!!! If you don't take advantage of it, don't complain.
Yes.
Peter, we're talking about nightspots - bars and nightclubs. There aren't many of those in the new developments further upcounty. Many more than 9 restaurants have closed since 2010 in downtown Bethesda, but I'm focused on ones that fit the nightlife criteria.
Most restaurants in general fail in their first year. I think the fact that many of the bars that closed were open for at least several years is again a major red flag that the nighttime economy in downtown Bethesda is in trouble.
Term limits are the ideal antidote for low-information voters who either don't do their homework, or rely on biased information from the Post, Gazette, Sentinel, et al, when deciding who to vote for.
We've witnessed the repeated reelection of the same incompetent people with no significant accomplishments, and total incompetence managing the budget and delivering basic services.
Highly respected businesspeople such as the owner of Olazzo have had enough, and are joining the effort to finally term limit these clowns out of office.
Insulting the voters is not a winning campaign strategy.
Unless Dyer plans on launching a coup.
I went in yesterday and the bartenders confirmed that they will be reopening in a month. Today they are meeting with the new GM.
So you're calling voters dimwits now huh. And you want them to vote for you instead?
Reopening under the same name or something else? Different owners?
Re-opening with a different theme but I am not sure about the owners. The bartenders mentioned it was going to be a tough month for them financially. They are open thru Monday or Tuesday I think.
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