Banks have multiplied as nightlife has shrunk in Bethesda, after the "nighttime economy" initiative of Montgomery County Councilmember "Helpless" Hans Riemer instead tanked late night business downtown. Riemer's incoherent scheme, touted only by his allies in the local media, ended with eleven nightspots closing as a result of Helpless Hans' incompetence.
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| Helpless Hans Riemer: "What happened?" |
The councilman had just finished destroying the food truck business in Montgomery County, with 96% of the trucks Bethesda workers had once enjoyed going out of business or retreating to D.C. Bar and restaurant owners who were told they would benefit from Riemer's plan instead were enraged to find out Riemer had taken steps to strengthen, rather than end, the County's monopoly control of liquor sales.
41 comments:
It's odd that you didn't mention that SunTrust currently has a branch right around the corner on the same block, in the old Bank of Bethesda. I assume that they won't need both locations. Did you contact SunTrust to find out what they are doing with the current branch? That one doesn't have any off-street parking, and the old building has some accessibility issues, and any major changes would be impeded by its landmark status. I assume that the new branch will be a substantial improvement in these areas.
Banks have multiplied as nightlife has shrunk in Bethesda, after the "nighttime economy" "initiative of Montgomery County Councilmember "Helpless" Hans Riemer instead tanked late night business downtown. Riemer's incoherent scheme, touted only by his allies in the local media, ended with eleven nightspots closing as a result of Helpless Hans' incompetence."
How many of these "eleven closed nightspots" did not reopen as other nightspots? And what did Riemer have to do with any of the failures? Steamers, the Relic, and Parva closed because of liquor law violations or complaints from neighbors. Hard Times closed due to the owner's personal financial crisis (caused by medical issues). RiRa closed because the entire chain was struggling and other nearby locations were closed as well.
"The councilman had just finished destroying the food truck business in Montgomery County, with 96% of the trucks Bethesda workers had once enjoyed going out of business."
This figure again. On what is it based? What time period? What was the total number before, and now? What did Riemer have to do with this?
"Bar and restaurant owners...were enraged to find out Riemer had taken steps to strengthen, rather than end, the County's monopoly control of liquor sales."
Many of us are disappointed at the lack of movement to replace the DLC. But this requires a bill in the state legislature. What did Riemer do to "strengthen" the County's monopoly?
Why is there still a portable toilet on the sidewalk outside the bank?
I remember the controversy over TD Bank building two branches where the gas stations used to be. But I don't think anyone misses those gas stations.
Which other non-bank businesses were converted to banks in the past few years?
Of course this is a leased space that could rather easily be repurposed in the future to a more active use. Better a bank than a vacant space me thinks. Same goes for the realtor in the base of Darcy. Maybe these dedicated spaces, planned for retail, cafes or restaurants, are still a bit ahead of the curve. I believe that over time they will get utilized to a higher extent, once the pedestrian traffic picks up.
Maybe the old bank space on the corner would have more value as a repurposed Cafe or coffee shop. Closer and more visible from the Metro Station. Of course Metro’s no food policy doesn’t help much to create a grab and go opportunity in the morning. The new Starbucks coming to the base of the Hyatt will we interesting to watch if this typology of small retail can flourish at this intersection. Being link ed to a large hotel should help.
6:53 AM A lot of news around the Network this morning
Feel the Network Effect!
Roald is just another anonymous troll posting on a blog.
@6:48AM: It is hard for the pedestrian traffic to pick up with pedestrian traffic being constantly disrupted by all the sidewalk closures.
Damn, I wish they put a bar at the bottom of an apartment complex. Or better yet a casino...
It's not that Robert is even a bad candidate compared to a lot of other people. He just happens to be in one of the most competitive areas for office in a very left wing area as a right wing candidate. Your ideas might be there, but the resume is lacking and the views are very different than most of the voters. If you just went north into PA, you would have a much better shot.
1:55: The resume is not lacking. My resume is longer than George Leventhal's when he was first elected, with his sole credits an entry-level job and serving on the Democratic Central Committee. I've had jobs, served on the Republican Central Committee - and a lot more, including running my own business, managing, hiring and firing employees. He had no such real world business experience in management or budgeting.
My views are NOT AT ALL "very different from the voters." The vast majority of those opposed to the Westbard sector plan, parking garage on the cemetery, declining schools and traffic congested roads are Democrats. My views are exactly the same as voters' on the top county issues of the moment.
6:38: The next time a major storm hits Bethesda, we'll see how many people "don't miss those gas stations." LOL #MotherNature #WatchOut
Robert is a winner. He won an uncontested seat on the Republican Committee.
I saw in Bethesda Magazine that you were considering running for office in 2018. Looks like the comments section actually is throwing you some support.
"I've had jobs, served on the Republican Central Committee - and a lot more, including running my own business, managing, hiring and firing employees"
Let's see that "resume", Dyer. What were the "jobs" that you had?
What did you accomplish when you served on the Republican Central Committee?
What was the name of the business that you ran, when you managed, hired and fired employees? How many employees? What did the business do? What happened to that business - it sounds like it no longer exists?
"My views are NOT AT ALL 'very different from the voters.' The vast majority of those opposed to the Westbard sector plan, parking garage on the cemetery, declining schools and traffic congested roads are Democrats. My views are exactly the same as voters' on the top county issues of the moment."
The politics of Montgomery County do not revolve around Westbard. I don't understand why you think that they do.
Those who can, do
Those who can't, delete.
You'll never see Dyer post an honest resume.
He just lied about Leventhal's background:
"Before his election to the County Council, Councilmember Leventhal was employed as Senior Federal Relations Officer for the Association of American Universities (AAU). And prior to working at the AAU, Leventhal served as legislative director and legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland, and as a research assistant on the tax staff of the Senate Finance Committee under its then-chairman Lloyd Bentsen of Texas. From 1996 to 2001, Leventhal served as chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee.
Throughout his entire career, George Leventhal has had a lifelong passion for learning. He holds a Master's degree in public administration from the Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of California at Berkeley, and is a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland. "
---http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Leventhal/about.html
Would have loved a Pret a Manger.
3:31: Thanks for just proving my point. No more qualifications than I have, plus no real world business experience.
3:21: You think that failing schools and traffic congestion aren't countywide issues? Don't try to run for office! I've also had boots on the ground for the battles over the bus depot sites, M-83/Clarksburg, low-income housing dump in Damascus, development battles in Glenmont, Wheaton, White Oak, Aspen Hill, you name it.
Meanwhile, George Leventhal said he voted for the bus depot at the historic Carver center without reading the bill. So much for qualifications!
2:24: Wrong - I beat several well-known GOP activists as a newcomer in the 2006 race. Stop lying.
3:13: I accomplished quite a bit, including streamlining expenses, major changes in how budgets were compiled, and raising over $6000 for the party. What have you done, besides troll my blog? Pick up George Leventhal's dry cleaning?
The name of my business was me - as a recording artist, musician and producer I have hired, managed and fired employees. No councilman besides Sid Katz has ever done that. I actually created jobs in Bethesda and elsewhere. Again, what have you done? Nothing!
You raised $6,000 for the party!!!???
How did you streamline expenses and what were the major changes you made in how budgets were compiled?
Oh cool, what bands have you recorded and produced? I have a lot of engineer and producer friends in the industry - I’ll ask them about you. Would love to hear your work.
Is your music available on CD or LP? If so, what are the names of the albums? Did your band pay taxes? Did you file tax returns? Did your band perform at any local venues?
Robert's music can be found here. It's actually not terrible other than the vocals and is a call back to the days of metal past.
Here
"It's actually not terrible..."
"...other than the vocals"
LOL
5:34am is getting his Council debate questions together :/
He'd rather talk about anything other than the issues.
Andy, Andy, Andy...what a tool you are.
You have no idea who posted that rather innocuous comment. But you feel you have to make people think you're so special and know all the Dossip (Dyer gossip.)
Except everybody remembers that your made-up moniker was created to insult and threaten someone who actually DID post under her real name. Buddy, your credibility is ZERO. Go back to pounding sand.
Weird how "Andy Van Slyke" only comments after this article has been up over a day, and his comment has nothing to do with the subject of the article, which is the new SunTrust branch in Element28.
9:56 AM This Internet is amazing- I can scroll back to articles from earlier in the week!
Thank you, Al Gore!
Anonymous Troll Andy obviously flunked reading comprehension.
What part of "this article" confused you?
Andy you might be the best troll in the sense you piss everyone off on this blog myself included. Bravo Mr. Van Slyke, bravo.
Actually, 5:34’s questions would be relevant if that’s the experience being touted by the candidate.
A sound engineer uncle just ran this through his system and the pitch analyzer showed way off key on the vocals.
"I have a lot of engineer and producer friends in the industry."
Yeah, that's why you're stuck in Montgomery County spending your days and nights stalking a local newsman named Robert Dyer. LOL
"Yeah, that's why you're stuck in Montgomery County"
You say that like it is a bad thing. I thought you loved your lifelong home, Robert?
Hi Robert, I work for a pharmaceutical company. Friends are in the music industry, not I, nor does that make me “stuck” in any way. Can you explain that one?
Having friends in the music industry makes one stuck??
Really? That explains why Dyer still lives here in Montgomery County.
He must have friends in the industry.
Mystery solved!
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