Sunday, July 29, 2018

Signage to help Bethesda businesses walled off by Purple Line construction

Construction of the Purple Line light rail system has forced many businesses in downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring to close. Haagen Dazs and the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema haven't been hurt as badly as those unfortunate enterprises, but their locations at Bethesda Row are greatly obscured by a wall of construction fencing around the Purple Line construction site on Woodmont Avenue. Recently, advertising graphics were added to the wall to let people know that Mon Ami Gabi, Haagen Dazs and the theater are still there and open for business. As you can see in the photo above, all three businesses are hidden from view by the fence.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Construction of the Purple Line light rail system has forced many businesses in downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring to close."

How many businesses closed? There were grants to pay for relocation expenses and every business I can think of that was displaced has since opened up elsewhere.

Mark Erlich said...

ETHNIC CLEANSING!

Anonymous said...

What's weird is how Dyer didn't report at all on the closures of dozens of businesses in the Spring Center complex. He could have made another "The Dark Side of White Flint" series out of that. It's weird how he obsesses over some sites - e.g. The Collection, or "Concrete Pour #3 of 6 at Lot 13", while completely ignoring other areas.

Anonymous said...

I love what Dyer is doing for MoCo with his reports!

Anonymous said...

I see the huge brightly lit sign for the Landmark Bethesda Row 8 theaters at the top of the photo. And Mon Ami Gabi fronts Woodmont Avenue. How are those "hidden"?

Robert Dyer said...

11:00: Can you see the businesses in the photo? (Hint: No.)

6:57: Food, Wine & Co, The Brown Bag and Regal Cinemas "opened up elsewhere?" LOL This is news to everyone! Whatever you're smoking, Hans Riemer wants to legalize it.

Anonymous said...

Dyer, I'm surprised that a libertarian such as yourself would mock efforts to decriminalize marijuana. Do you believe that Hans Riemer is the only local politician who is in favor of this? Why does everything revolve around Hans Riemer for you? There are three other Democratic candidates for County Council At-Large, who will also defeat you in November.

Anonymous said...

OMG, no one will ever go to the movie theaters, Haagen-Dazs or Mon Ami again because this fence obscures your view from THIS ONE SPECIFIC LOCATION.

And why doesn't your photo focus on the part of the graphic that actually mentions the three businesses.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Robert. I'd add Dean and Deluca to the casualties from the Purpleline. When you look a the environment surrounding the building they considered, they look very smart for nixing their plans. Please note that I am pro Purpleline.

Robert Dyer said...

7:42: Federal Realty appears to disagree with your assessment - hence they have installed the signage.

7:37: Hans Riemer is the only incumbent, is very unpopular amongst the the general election electorate, and has no base in the county. Only an idiot wouldn't focus on Riemer. Nobody's ever heard of the other 3 candidates. Surely you don't have advanced information that the Post will blackout any coverage of me while promoting the 3 no-name candidates who literally have less name recognition countywide than me?

Anonymous said...

This is one of those cases where more photos would be helpful, like from far back so we can see how long this wall/sign is in relation to the street/building.

Anonymous said...

"Hans Riemer is the only incumbent, is very unpopular amongst the the general election electorate, and has no base in the county."

So how come he keeps winning elections, including the primary last month?

"The 3 no-name candidates who literally have less name recognition than [you]", literally got twice or more votes than you did.

Anna said...

Truth: You didn't appeal to enough voters to get their vote previously. No zombies, no massive fraud, no concerted effort of "people working against you."

Agree with 5:24 that better photos would be helpful.

Anonymous said...

5:45am Dyer is the guy you love to hate and watch.

Anonymous said...

Anna is the gal 6:13 AM loves to hate and watch.

Notice how he never, ever, actually comments on the actual subjects of Dyer's articles.

Anonymous said...

Dyer, the Purple Line was happening whether Apex was redeveloped or not. The Purple Line did not "force" Regal, et al. to close. How could you possibly not know that?

Suze said...

Dean & Deluca has halted ALL new locations, not just their store planned for Bethesda. This is an article from fall 2017 that notes they've backed out of several leases in New York City, as well as one in Dallas. They are not opening any new stores, and are instead concentrating on their existing locations. Their decision has literally nothing to do with the Purple Line.

As for Brown Bag, they have five locations in DC and two in Virginia - they haven't exactly disappeared.

Anonymous said...

Can you please explain for me what you mean by the following phrase, " those unfortunate enterprises," to which you give no prior reference.

Anna said...

Wasn't Food, Wine & Co owned by the same guy as Fish Taco and Don Pollo? If so, seems like he's still dong fine.

And Suze is 100% on the Dean & Deluca info.

Anonymous said...

While Robbie was taking pictures of signs in the wee hours, he missed some bigly YUUUUGE news right across the street.

Anonymous said...

Poke Dojo and Shade Store were the big stories. Dyer broke both scoops :)

Robert Dyer said...

11:12: What was the "YUGE" news? That Anthropologie is opening this fall? That's been known all year, dumbass. The YUGE news was a new scoop about Poke Dojo and Shade Store, as the previous commenter noted.

9:07/7:15: I never cited Dean & DeLuca as Purple Line-related! Fish Taco was not a replacement for Food, Wine & Co. It replaced City Burger across the street. Food, Wine & Co. simply was forced out of business and was never replaced, never reopened elsewhere. Brown Bag's Bethesda location never relocated or opened elsewhere, either.

8:08: If you're forced to close by the purple line, you're indeed unfortunate.

6:33: You must have slept through the entire Apex minor master plan amendment process to make such a claim.

5:42: WRONG. There are more Democrats voting in primaries - that's the only reason they have a larger number of votes. Riemer has only won in the past for having a "D" next to his name on the ballot, and massive voter fraud, as noted by Judicial Watch.

Anonymous said...

Judicial Watch is trying to block the investigation of Trump's ties to Russia. Are you sure you want to be associated with them?

Anna said...

Reading comprehension, Mr Dyer.
I never said Fish Taco was a replacement, I only mentioned that the owner owned other successful businesses, and wasn't dependent on that one place for income.

What you fail to mention is the large number of unaffiliated voters in the County, which is actually LARGER than the number of Republicans. Don't take my word for this, here's a link:
https://elections.maryland.gov/press_room/2018_stats/GP18_Eligible_Active_Voters_by_County.pdf


Suze said...

Robert, I was replying to @4:50 who said that Dean & Deluca was another casualty of the Purple Line.

For the businesses you specifically cited, I was pointing out that Brown Bag has not gone out of business. You're correct that they have not opened another Bethesda location, but they do have several other locations that appear to be thriving. The same goes for Regal Cinemas. They haven't opened another Bethesda location, but the company itself is hardly suffering. As for Food & Wine Co, this may be heresy but I wasn't that big a fan of their food. I hope the owner is the same as Fish Taco, cause I love that restaurant and wish them all the success. Food & Wine Co just never wowed me, especially for their price point.

Anonymous said...

How stupid does Dyer think Bethesdians are, that they would suddenly forget that the Landmark Theater was there?

Robert Dyer said...

5:45/7:47: Remember, the topic at hand was businesses forced to close by the Purple Line, not the financial health of the chains/owners of those businesses. Everybody lost their jobs at all of those businesses, as well.

What is the relevance of independents vs. Republicans regarding Democratic primary results? Neither group votes in Democratic primaries.

Anonymous said...

Anna your obsession with Dyer is getting a bit obsessive. Do you salivate as you write your petty comments?

Anna said...

8:15PM, honey, it's your obsession with me that's worrying...creepy even.

I comment on a blog a couple times a week. I fail to see how you can call that an "obsession." Yet, every time I post a comment, there you are...hiding in anonymity, shaking in your boots, thinking your little dis means something.
In the immortal words of Mariah:
"You a mom and pop, I'm a corporation
I'm the press conference, you a conversation"


Anna said...

4:22PM - what? did you miss my suggestion you brush up on your reading comprehension?

The relevance is your own comment at 5:08. Sheesh. <--insert eye-roll.

Anonymous said...

Anna you can convince yourself all you want. You're still an obsessive stalker. The fact that you believe anonymous comments are only one person is just evidence to prove that you are delusional. Have you checked into your local mental hospital yet?

Anna said...

Boy, I really bother you. You're willing to sell your soul to trash me. The only thing more pathetic than a liar is a liar in complete denial.

Gene K said...

Anna reads a public website and comments

10:18PM searches out Anna online, insulting her with malicious intent wherever he finds her comments.

Who is the delusional stalker?
Criminology 101.

Anonymous said...

Anna your trolling is so 2011. We have heard it all before.

Anonymous said...

Anna's got a fanboy

Anonymous said...

"[Subject X] 101"

LOL

Anna said...

Criminology 101. rotfl. Thanks for the am laugh.

Anonymous said...

"Anna...[t]he fact that you believe anonymous comments are only one person is just evidence to prove that you are delusional."

Self-awareness FAIL

LOL

Anna said...

Why do you single me out?

If you don’t like me... I’m perfectly cool with that. But to put words in my mouth, make judgements (people like me? WTF?) and make insinuations...well...it really, really makes you look the fool.

As I've said to Robert in another post that gets deleted every.single.day since June 26th:

"I've honestly told you over and over who I am, what I do, where I've worked, where I've lived and you just dismiss it all."