According to the listing, the restaurant makes more than $1 million in sales annually. The lease is 10 years, with 5 years optional at a rent of $6,500.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Mussel Bar appears to be for sale at Bethesda Row
According to the listing, the restaurant makes more than $1 million in sales annually. The lease is 10 years, with 5 years optional at a rent of $6,500.
I ate at SmashBurger yesterday. They're not going anywhere.
ReplyDeleteYeah but overrated.
DeleteRobert Weidmaier's whole empire is imploding. This is one of several recent closures. The next to go surely will be Villian's and Saints. This isn't the demographic for a live music bar it just isn't. The name sounds sort of cool but also sounds like two motorcycle gangs. People may finally be realizing that Bethesda restaurants just aren't good enough. This guy is a good chef apparently but I've been mostly underwhelmed. Clearly he grew too big too fast. They're done.
ReplyDelete5:04: They are if somebody leases their space.
ReplyDeleteYeah the property is listed for sublease. They apparently want out if they can get out. It's way too expensive though. $70 per square foot! In woodmont triangle!! No wonder businesses can't stay afloat very long here.
DeleteRecall that Union Jack's tried to find a buyer a while back too. Look what ended up happening there. It is a sign that change is coming. Eventually.
ReplyDeleteThe dominoes are crumbling for this company and the "partnership" with other places is the nail in the coffin. this is what happens when business people get involved with restaurants, they have no idea what customers want.
ReplyDeleteCOO of restaurant company told Bethesda Mag it's not their ad. https://twitter.com/BethesdaBeat/status/712625873275510784
ReplyDelete6:14: Whose ad is it, and why is it using a photo taken by Mussel Bar then?
Delete@ 6:14 AM - now that's what I call investigative reporting! :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, no way that's for real. The value of that space is many multiples of the amount they have listed.
ReplyDeleteThe space/location is worth a lot, but they're not selling the building (Weidmeir doesn't own the building). It's just the business that's for sale. You'd still have to take on the lease.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure this is Mussel Bar. The entryway looks different. The wine bottle thing on the ceiling is unique. If the weather holds up, my kids and I will walk along Bethesda Row peeking into restaurants until we find it.
ReplyDelete"walk along Bethesda Row peeking into restaurants"
ReplyDeleteHee hee hee
The photo is an official Mussel Bar photo. Maybe someone is using it, but why?
ReplyDeleteRestaurant owners say crazy things and never admit to shuttering. Even Chef Geoff had his "electrical" problems when he suddenly closed in Rockville recently.
Bethesda BBQ fooled another Bethesda blogger (hi Steve) for weeks claiming he wasn't closing.
And all of us remember how Dyer claimed that Smashburger was closing in January 2015.
ReplyDeleteThat's the Atlantic City location. It's closure is being widely reported.
ReplyDeleteVillain and Saints sounded interesting, but I lost my appetite after reading the Post profile. Not my crowd.
ReplyDelete"The photo with the ad is clearly taken inside of Mussel Bar at Bethesda Row."
ReplyDeleteSo you know that they're a chain, right? And they all have the same general look and design feel. There are currently three locations still standing.
@ 8:34 AM - BUSTED!
ReplyDelete+1
I will not rest until they bring back the Chateau Gesundheit to the spot where Villain & Saint is now.
ReplyDeleteSo, someone is selling their Bethesda restaurant and using a photo of a Mussel Bar location?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the purpose?
No, @8:42, another Mussel Bar location is selling. Nothing to do with Bethesda.
ReplyDelete8:49 AM The ad says Bethesda!
ReplyDeleteHere's the link to the image directly from Mussel Bar's website:
ReplyDeletehttp://musselbar.com/imageGen.ashx?image=/media/2330/Interior%20Dining.jpg&class=MbLocationGalleryImage
So if the ad says Bethesda, and we can see the photo is of Mussel Bar, then I think Dyer is on to something here.
We've heard denials from Wiedemaier before on closing, like for Urban Heights (now Tommy Joe's), which then indeed went on to close.
I think Dyer has this one right.
Yeah, we can't really trust what the owners say if all the evidence says otherwise (such as PizzaPass selling everything in their restaurant and claiming it wasn't closing. A couple of innocent bloggers fell for that one...same crew fell for the Bethesda BBQ deception)
ReplyDeleteThank goodness Mussel Bar is not closing. We have dinner picked up from there 3-4 times a month or so, and it is always delicious.
ReplyDeleteSo is Dyer counting this as a "night spot"?
ReplyDeleteOh, this is funny. On his Rockville blog, Dyer provides "sponsored content" for the soon-to-open Smashburger on Rockville Pike, but makes no mention of his rumors on this blog that their Bethesda restaurant will allegedly close.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rockvillenights.com/2016/03/smashburger-opening-in-rockville-on.html
3:51: I linked to the real estate listing offering their Bethesda space for lease. It is for lease, and that's not up for debate.
Delete8:49: Uh...there is only one Mussel Bar in Bethesda, and the photo used in the ad pictured IS THE RESTAURANT'S OWN PHOTO OF THE BETHESDA LOCATION taken before any other Mussel Bar location elsewhere opened. And the ad is offering a BETHESDA RESTAURANT for sale. So, what the heck are you talking about?
6:14/6:17: BM also reported that Bethesda Barbecue was coming back as a new concept, even as the kitchen contents and toilets were being pictured being carried out of the building on this website. How's that "deli" working out? And did Frank ever get his pizza at Pizza Pass? Baba Booey.
Someone will be expecting to buy Mussel Bar and it'll end up being Steamers using Mussel Bar's photo :)
ReplyDelete