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Sunday, September 10, 2017
Suma Restaurant + Bar closes temporarily "due to renovations"
Suma Restaurant + Bar at 4921 Bethesda Avenue has been closed for several days. A sign posted on the door says the closure is "due to renovations," and that the restaurant will re-open "next month." Suma opened in May 2016.
Every time I drive by there in the evening on my way back from Giant, it's pretty empty in there. They had a lot more customers back when it was Nest.
I think the location itself is great -- just off Bethesda Row and with a non-chain feel to it. The other restaurants on the same block (Penang, Crab House) have no shortage of customers.
It's probably poor marketing and promotion on their part. I had the food a few weeks after they opened and thought it was good. They were also the only place I've seen to offer a oyster shooter flight -- 6 oysters on the half shell paired with 6 different shots.
That place is a piece of crap. Nothing but window dressing with no substance. Surprised it's lasted as long as it has. Robert knows, as we all do, that temporary closure is code for permanent closure. Goodbye to yet another shitty Bethesda restaurant. Maybe more will close so finally we may get anything close to as good as the places in DC. How many you ask? Probably 200 restaurants at all price points in the last few years that blow away nearly everything we have in Bethesda and surrounding. Drives me crazy.
@7:51 Nest definitely had a following and was more full, but they didn't actually make money. The new owner (once it was called Suma.. actually it had some tropica/beach name in between but never opened under that name) used her husband's money and thought it would be cool to own a restaurant, but had no experience in the industry at all. At least she hired people with experience, from Mussel Bar it was I believe, but probably didn't bring on experienced people to promote the place.
This is what happens when you have bored housewives who think they know what it takes to be int eh restaurant business. The original Nest owners are laughing at those who followed thinking it is easy.
11:50 - Owns the building is key to that chocolate shop. They are sitting on a gold mine and that building they own will be torn down along with the open lot next to it. It's not easy to buy a building in downtown Bethesda in 2016 but if you can, you are eventually going to rake it in on profits.
Previous Chef was good before he left. Front of the house management was sloppy, untucked shirts from management, and general chaos didn't help a dining experience.
It is a great small location, hope they can bring back a neighborhood feel, without the TGI Fridays that Nest was.
It's for good. Looks like the owners are battling. Employees say that the locks were changed and they weren't given warning.
ReplyDeleteBethesda Row is going the way of Montgomery Mall.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I drive by there in the evening on my way back from Giant, it's pretty empty in there. They had a lot more customers back when it was Nest.
ReplyDeleteI think the location itself is great -- just off Bethesda Row and with a non-chain feel to it. The other restaurants on the same block (Penang, Crab House) have no shortage of customers.
It's probably poor marketing and promotion on their part. I had the food a few weeks after they opened and thought it was good. They were also the only place I've seen to offer a oyster shooter flight -- 6 oysters on the half shell paired with 6 different shots.
"Assault. "Doctor/Dentist/Vet office" on Auburn Avenue at 2:57 PM."
ReplyDeleteSomeone got tired of that Sheepshill babbling about "reading Bethesda Magazine at my dentist's office."
A moment of silence, please. At least two large construction cranes have been destroyed in Miami.
ReplyDeleteThat place is a piece of crap. Nothing but window dressing with no substance. Surprised it's lasted as long as it has. Robert knows, as we all do, that temporary closure is code for permanent closure. Goodbye to yet another shitty Bethesda restaurant. Maybe more will close so finally we may get anything close to as good as the places in DC. How many you ask? Probably 200 restaurants at all price points in the last few years that blow away nearly everything we have in Bethesda and surrounding. Drives me crazy.
ReplyDeleteNest had a following, live music, etc.
ReplyDeleteThis new place never took off.
@7:51 Nest definitely had a following and was more full, but they didn't actually make money. The new owner (once it was called Suma.. actually it had some tropica/beach name in between but never opened under that name) used her husband's money and thought it would be cool to own a restaurant, but had no experience in the industry at all. At least she hired people with experience, from Mussel Bar it was I believe, but probably didn't bring on experienced people to promote the place.
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when you have bored housewives who think they know what it takes to be int eh restaurant business. The original Nest owners are laughing at those who followed thinking it is easy.
ReplyDeleteSo is Bethesda Chocolates next? That's also a pet project by a bored housewife, whose husband owns the building.
ReplyDelete11:50 - Owns the building is key to that chocolate shop. They are sitting on a gold mine and that building they own will be torn down along with the open lot next to it. It's not easy to buy a building in downtown Bethesda in 2016 but if you can, you are eventually going to rake it in on profits.
DeleteBB's article was much better, especially the daytime photo. Quality can't be rushed.
ReplyDeleteAmazing.
Delete1:34pm plagarises Dyer AND he wants a participation trophy to boot.
Why would "Skippy" care? Where does his indignation come from?
ReplyDeletePrevious Chef was good before he left. Front of the house management was sloppy, untucked shirts from management, and general chaos didn't help a dining experience.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great small location, hope they can bring back a neighborhood feel, without the TGI Fridays that Nest was.