American Tap Room was, along with The Barking Dog on Elm Street, one of the last-remaining after-midnight options for moviegoers one block from the Regal Cinemas. The restaurant and bar at 7278 Woodmont Avenue was open until 2:00 AM. The combination of the Riemer-driven implosion of nightlife in Bethesda, and the loss of theater-related foot traffic, was too much for American Tap Room to overcome.
The Bethesda outpost of American Tap Room is also the latest major dining closure since the Regal closed two years ago. Longtime anchors Lebanese Taverna and Redwood went out of business despite years of success before the demolition of the Regal. Bethesda Row is now reeling from numerous, large vacant storefronts - ATP, with the closures of Taylor Gourmet and Kapnos Kouzina, makes a solid wall of shuttered restaurants along Woodmont Avenue at the Federal Realty property.
American Tap Room's space may not remain vacant for long, however. Matchbox is rumored to be the next tenant there in the near future. For now, the restaurant's welcoming torches have gone dark, another sad statement about the County Council's ongoing war against bar and restaurant owners.
68 comments:
American Tap Room in Clarendon - CLOSED, August 2016.
American Tap Room in Rockville Town Square - CLOSED, December 2016.
American Tap Room in Richmond - CLOSED, February 2017.
There are only three ATRs remaining in the region, and two of them are in airports - Reagan National and Dulles.
Yes, it's the movie theater affect. Not. Had nothing to do with Regal. Tap Room was an absolutely horrible example of causal fare. Yet another shitty Bethesda restaurant gone. Good riddance.
5:25: Bad example. All of the other Lebanese Tavernas remain open; only the Bethesda Row location closed. So much for your MoCo cartel "alternative facts."
"American Tap Room's space may not remain vacant for long, however. Matchbox is rumored to be the next tenant there in the near future."
Why not mention that Matchbox is owned by the same company that owns American Tap Room? And Austin Grill, which used to be there. It sounds like they are just transitioning from one brand to another.
5:35: To each his own. It lasted many years, and I've always enjoyed the menus there. Obviously, not everyone enjoys the same cuisines.
Yes, the loss of foot traffic from Regal is absolutely what broke the camel's back. Total bonehead decision by the Council and Planning Board, but we know their reasons were criminal for not requiring a replacement theater. They are just developer tools.
5:38: And that Hercule Poirot-worthy trivia is somehow going to pay the bills for the dishwashers, bartenders, cooks and servers of American Tap Room for the next six months? LOL
They're closed! Admit your guys on the Council have failed again. Fortunately they've got a good PR firm in the Washington Post and Jennifer Barrios, to give them nine criminal lives to keep sucking the blood of the taxpayers.
What do you mean, "bad example"? It's the example that YOU GAVE.
Admit you're just trolling now, Birdbrain.
5:45: Saul, get a grip. YOU are the one who claimed that ATP closing some other locations previously somehow is relevant to this one closing. *I* pointed out that in other cases, such as Lebanese Taverna, all other locations remain open. So we see the closures around Bethesda Row are related and show a pattern of A) the collapse of the nighttime economy at the hands of Hans Riemer, and B) the collateral damage of the Council and Planning Board's corrupt choice to let the 7272 Wisconsin developer out of having to provide a replacement cineplex, costing downtown Bethesda restaurants 20,000 potential diners per weekend.
Heckuva job, Brownie! Even birds have more brainpower than the Council.
Who mentioned Lebanese Taverna? Are you hallucinating?
So a company decided to change out brands in a space and, to you, it equals the sky is falling?
Lebanese Taverna left because of the rent. Period.
It's just as logical that you are the reason for the tanking of the nighttime economy. The tens of thousands (alleged) of readers of this little blog have been hammered by you, over and over, about how awful Bethesda is, how everything fails, and will only get worse with Hans remaining in office...so they stay home.
Why are you trying to destroy Bethesda?
It would add some weight to your speculations if you could get a statement from someone with American Taproom as to why they closed. Otherwise, you can't say "Yes, the loss of foot traffic from Regal is absolutely what broke the camel's back" with any certainty.
"The Council and Planning Board's corrupt choice to let the 7272 Wisconsin developer out of having to provide a replacement cineplex"
If cineplexes are as lucrative as you claim they are, then why didn't Carr want to build a new one? Did you contact them ask why they chose not to?
I wonder if the World of Beer had something to do with the demise of American Taproom. Both are primarily sports bars.
There is no doubt the therestaurants in BethesdaRow are undergoing quite a bit of churn. It would be interesting to learn if this is more or less than other walkable transit accessible areas.
Yes Kapnos closed, but obviously tied to its founder’s problems. Taylor Gourmet also seems to be closing many restaurants. Jimmy John’s closure is a bit of a mystery to me.
Lebanese Tervana and Redwood seemed like they both ran out of steam. Both were very large spaces a quite expensive. Lebanese Tavenawill be difficult to lease as it is in a very poor location with almost no walk by traffic. I see that Federal is proposing to cut Redwood into three or four smaller spaces.
On the other hand we have recently added Joe and the True Food, Juice, Fish Taco and Philz Coffee. Poke Dojo is under construction on Bethesda Lane. Maybe a new Matchbox will replace the Taproom. I suspect JBG Smith has a tenant for their 7000 SF restarant space in 4747 Bethesda. Perhaps a large steakhouse or a Ted’s Bulletin. The Wilson by Carr Properties will have three large new restaurant spaces facing the new Wisconsin Plaza, three more at the Metro Tower by Saul’s Centers. Two restaurants are planned at 7200 Wisconsin with outdoor dining on the new plaza. Perhaps dozens more are planned at the proposed Food Hall at the Farm Women’s Market Site by EYA, which they say will be operated by the same folks that run the Union Market. The new AC Hotel will include a large restarant on its ground floor.
So yes we are losing a few spaces, but the new growth of dining options around Bethesda Row and the south side of town along Wisconsin seem to be expanding.
Didn't Lebanese Taverna used to be on Woodmont Avenue? Moving to the Arlington Road side was a YUUUGE mistake.
It's odd that Dyer doesn't mention that Elm Street has been closed at Wisconsin Avenue during the construction of the Purple Line station and Carr project. That seems much more likely to be have a negative impact, especially for that first block of Elm Street, than one of two cinemas closing.
Good riddance to this dump of a place. Downtown Bethesda deserves a better quality restaurant.
6:46: Cineplexes are profitable for the community at large, not so much for the landlord. That's why the replacement needed to be mandated. In the case of 7272, however, the theater would have been a draw for the other restaurants and retail they will have on the ground floor, so it would have been beneficial. They're taking rent money over foot traffic, but the community is suffering in the process, and it didn't have to be that way. The Council had total control over the agreement.
6:52: Let's keep in mind that restaurants are not nightspots. There's no shortage of restaurants in town. Nightspots are dwindling by the week, in comparison.
6:42: You don't leave "because of the rent." You leave because your revenue is insufficient to cover the rent. For example, when the Council leaves you with 20000 less potential diners each weekend by demolishing the only mainstream cineplex in town.
7:01: Landmark isn't a mainstream blockbuster cineplex. You can't say, "1 of 2."
Oh for heaven's sake, OF COURSE you can leave because of rent. Sheesh. <--insert eyeroll.
I'll say it again. (you'll probably delete again, but rest assured readers, I'll keep posting it)
"This whole Hans Riemer blaming is tiring.
At this point you sound like a middle-aged man who still talks endlessly about scoring a touchdown against a rival in a big high school game.
Y-A-W-N.
6:48 AM"
8:03: Why would you leave because of rent if you do were doing well in that location? Think like a business owner, instead of a political operative.
I indeed did destroy Riemer in the 2014 televised debate, as those who were watching on TV confirmed. Look at the expression on his face at the end of my closing statement.
I single-handedly ended general election County Council debates with my performance that night. No Democrat has ever agreed to debate since, and cartel-controlled community organizations that hosted debates stopped holding them altogether in 2018.
Grown men, already-elected officials with $300,000 campaign accounts, terrified to debate a guy with less than $1000 in his campaign account. I'd call that more than a touchdown.
Saith Dyer: "Why would you leave because of rent if you do were doing well in that location? Think like a business owner, instead of a political operative."
Spoken as someone who has never paid rent in his life.
You really don't get it, do you? Circumstances change. Costs change. You must enjoy showing your readers your non-existent business acumen.
Keep living in your own little world, that runs on your own little rules.
One perceived victory means nothing when you lose the war.
Today, December 31st, is...
Make Up Your Mind Day
This one is aimed at those who may be just a little (or a lot) indecisive.
#MakeUpYourMindDay
I believe it was Geddy Lee who said, "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."
7:00 AM
Conviction Bias:
Believing in something so strongly. It must be true.
6:34 AM
8:36: I enjoy sharing my business acumen, because unlike the County Council minus Sid Katz, I've actually run businesses in the private sector. That's part of how I know you don't leave a profitable location just because rents are lower elsewhere (notice Lebanese Taverna did not relocate, as a purely-rent-based decision would merit). They recognized downtown is dying and cut their losses.
I will win the war when Burt Macklin starts sniffing around 100 Maryland Avenue, 101 Monroe Street, and 8787 Georgia Avenue, and charging the little guys to rat on the big crooks in each building. With $7 million in public money missing, it's only a matter of time before the FBI sends agents in.
You could be out of your cartel operative job when that happens!
8:27: LOL, you know nothing about my finances whatsoever.
Oh for Pete's sake, Dyer. American Tap Room sucked. Bland food, slow service, only alive as long as it was because of the foot traffic on that corner. It was awful.
Lebanese Taverna's problem was the other restaurants in that chain, which are very nice, are counter service and half the price for the SAME EXACT FOOD. And anybody with a brain figured it out and went to the others instead of overpaying for a tablecloth and nicer silverware.
Everybody else has moved way past Regal, which was the place teenagers went for in-seat sex and cheapish drugs in the bathrooms--also something anybody with a brain figured out. It was a nasty, old, dirty theater whose parking was too far from Bethesda Row to influence any of those businesses very much at all. Interesting that Uno, which was directly next door and is doing just fine elsewhere, closed way way way before the theater did--did Regal's demise somehow cause that one too?
So really, 9:34, it was Uno leaving that caused the theater to close!
What cartel job is it that you think I have? Did you start boozing early?
We all know I'm an accountant, work for myself and contract for tax prep and tax reviewing.
By your own admission, you have never run a mid-to-large private-sector business. Hiring a couple of musicians to record is in no way comparable. I know. I've been involved in both. Rebel Records with Dick Freeland. I've mentioned it here before.
Saith Dyer: "I indeed did destroy Riemer in the 2014 televised debate, as those who were watching on TV confirmed. Look at the expression on his face at the end of my closing statement. I single-handedly ended general election County Council debates with my performance that night."
No one but Dyer actually believes this.
This has probably been said in all the other comments... But, yes, the whole ATR franchise went down. And Matchbox is confirmed to be opening in that spot soon -- ATR sold out to them. Many ATR staff will be switching over to Matchbox (all you had to do here was -- ask your waitress about it!)
Meanwhile, Taylor closed because they over-expanded, and Kapnos closed because Isabella is a monster and his restaurant group imploded. They were trying to force him out entirely and divorce the remaining restaurants from his name but failed. This has been playing out in the media for months.
So not Reimer's fault -- just bad management and even worse ethics. There are, in fact, multiple fascinating stories here that could and should be talked about. Bethesda's economy is not dying but, instead, it's being replaced by chains. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? A great point for discussion. We can also talk about the rather tyrannical stranglehold that Federal Realty has on that section of Bethesda. They are the real problem, with impossible to meet rent increases and painfully unfair leases.
So...is it safe to say the "Nightlife Economy" initiative led by Hans Reimer, hasn't been successful for Bethesda?
Everyone seems to agree that Bethesda's nightlife is worse than it was 8 years ago.
And now, with this spate of closures on Bethesda Row, residents are seeking answers.
Thankfully Austin Grill shut down before Hans Riemer killed it!
http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2010/04/austin-grill-closed-in-bethesda-another.html
11:17am Why would Federal Realty force out successful restaurants/bars? Doesn't make sense. They say they work with businesses in productive manner.
If they can't make the rent, that means they're not doing enough business, right?
Unless Federal Realty just wanted to revamp all of their largest, prime spaces.
So...it is safe to say that "Skippy" is Robert Dyer posting not-so-incognito.
Everyone in Bethesda agrees on that!
Reimer didn't personally kill these places, but he has claimed success with his Nightlife Economy initiative.
That hasn't worked here. What are the tangible benefits that we've seen?
Nightlife has declined in Bethesda, according to most people.
"I've actually run businesses in the private sector."
"You know nothing about my finances whatsoever."
Just the usual generalities, immediately followed by evasion. Never any specifics provided.
"I will win the war when Burt Macklin starts sniffing around 100 Maryland Avenue"
You're not going to win anything until you stop asking fictitious characters to do your job.
12:05pm I'm commenting on this spate of closures on Bethesda Row that Dyer is reporting on.
Note "Skippy's" non-denial denial.
12:03: You answered your own question. It's a revamp. FR has been upset with ATR for a while. Matchbox is considered (by them) a better match for the potential clientele in the area.
(That said, it is worth noting that B&N left because of a dispute with Federal Realty...so god knows what their end-game is. I can't tell if they're in a take the money and run frame of mind or if there's some warped master plan at work.)
12:15pm matchbox will work well, but won't draw people from surrounding areas since there are matchboxes in DC, Rockville and coming to silver spring.
@ 12:22 PM - You could have said the same about American Tap Room at the time they opened in Bethesda Row.
12:27pm agreed, but matchbox is even more prevalent. Likely folks in North Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, etc will just go to the Pike location. Free parking!
At least they specialize in something, pizza, so they should do well in Bethesda.
You realize Thompson Hospitality Corp. owns both ATR and Matchbox right, Robert? THC acquired the Matchbox brand last year exactly for this purpose: to expand the concept across the region, including to Bethesda and Silver Spring. How does THC spending $1M+ on this renovation mean they think Bethesda isn't worth investing in (because of...Regal?? And Hans Riemer??)? Do you realize how stupid you sound?
A new pizza place, right next to Mamma Lucia. Sounds like a recipe for success.
12:45pm apparently Reimer led a nightlife initiative in Bethesda that hasn't bared any fruit
What say you?
Bring back Shakey's!
Robert
Liberals can’t admit their dimmocrat city council members have failed. They are the Sheeple like the peasants in 1920 Russia who were force fed their news by state run TV and Pravda owned by Stalin
Just like CNN etc
Their state being given to illegals who rob their homes and get free education and welfare for illegal children while Montgomery taxes go higher and higher.
Buildings going home every day but home prices and apt prices do not lower despite empty apartment buildings
Pink pussy hatter white Bethesda women rich liberals marching for what? Their daughters in $65,000 a year colleges
The rich liberal influx has destroyed Bethesda
12:17pm weighs in with crude satire/trolling
Hen Quarter just closed in Penn Quarter.
(Another Thompson brand.)
I love matchbox.
Looking forward to it!
@12:57 PM -- At last we hear from a true member of "Friends of Robert Dyer."
1:05pm you believe that was a real post? Lol.
Nice try though.
"the peasants in 1920 Russia who were force fed their news by state run TV and Pravda owned by Stalin"
I hate to spoil your fun, but there was no broadcast TV until the mid-1930s, and Stalin wasn't the leader of the Soviet Union until 1924.
1:15pm name calling instead of discussing this spate of closures?
Saith Dyer: "Cineplexes are profitable for the community at large, not so much for the landlord. That's why the replacement needed to be mandated."
Wow, Dyer's Communism knows no bounds.
3:15: Classic Saul Alinsky repetition - we already cleared up that stipulating a theater replacement would have been a standard action under the minor master plan amendment process for 7272 Wisconsin. When you ask for more than the zoning law currently allows, yes, government can mandate things for the public good in exchange for allowing you to profit from something you otherwise would be unable to build.
12:45: LOL - you call a closure a "renovation." I think the ex-employees of American Tap Room would like to talk to you in the alley behind the building.
11:17:: Why would you not want to talk about the "rather tyrannical stranglehold" Montgomery County government has on liquor sales, and the effect that is having on bar and restaurant businesses?
Yes, this is Riemer's fault, for so many reasons, including his nighttime economy fiasco.
Lebanese Taverna didn't close its other restaurants, just the Bethesda Row location. Look at the bigger picture - two longtime anchor restaurants closed after Regal closes, and now 16(!!) nightspots closed since Riemer "took action."
The facts are damning. A Lake Wobegon-on-steroids view of ourselves is not going to help us get out of this mess, or revive our moribund economy and dead nightlife.
Why do you harp on the Regal Theaters shutdown, but no mention of Barnes & Nobles closure? I think that the loss of such a gathering spot has been more impactful.
"A Lake Wobegon-on-steroids view of ourselves"
WTF is this supposed to mean?
The American Tap Room will, in all likelihood, be replaced by Matchbox which was acquired this past summer by Thompson Hospitality. Thompson owns ATR so they are simply converting the space to Matchbox. A new Matchbox will open in Silver Spring within a month or two as well.
Thompson is focusing on expanding Matchbox so this new Bethesda location for the restaurant chain in an already occupied Thompson restaurant space is not a surprise.
"Lebanese Taverna didn't close its other restaurants, just the Bethesda Row location. Look at the bigger picture"
I did, like I said...it was because of rent. period. ask them. that's what they themselves say. all you have to do is ask them.
In the business world, it's not unusual to consider a move or a replacement a "renovation." You have to expand to also thinking of a renovation as a "concept" renovation. Get out more...talk to owners of multiple concept restaurant groups...learn how it works.
And they'll do extremely well. I can't wait. Finally something slightly akin to Houston's but cheaper. Salmon, pizza, burgers, you name it. Looking forward to it.
For the thousandth time, business closures have no correlation to other business closures with rare exception. The movie theater closing is not the reason why Tap Room and other restaurants have closed. They aren't that much of a draw that without them they can't make it. It's just absurd.
"American Tap Room has permanently closed at Bethesda Row. This is the 16th nightspot in downtown Bethesda to close ..."
"7:48AM Let's keep in mind that restaurants are not nightspots."
You've completely contradicted yourself Robert. Most if not all of the 16 'nightspots' you always mention are restaurants, but now 'restaurants are not nightspots'!
How are you going to explain this?
6:30: I haven't contradicted myself - American Tap Room was a bar as much as a restaurant, and was open until 2 AM. It did scale back its nightspot promotions and offerings as nightlife declined over this decade, which may be why you now have the impression it's mainly a restaurant.
Jaleo is a restaurant. Mussel Bar is a nightspot. Mamma Lucia's is a restaurant. Ri-Ra was a nightspot.
Hans Riemer was not even on the Task Force for the Nighttime Economy. So why do you always lay the blame on him? Read the report yourself https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/nighttimeeconomy/ and show me how anything in the report has caused businesses to close. Show me your investigation of just one business that has closed that is directly related to anything the Nighttime Economy initiative may or may not have done.
Hans Riermer is a complete crook, and to dispute that fact is to deny reality. As an outsider viewing this conversation, it is completely apparent to me that the Montgomery County Council have shills working on their behalf to defend their criminal activity. If Robert is wrong, as you guys claim, about the council's decisions directly impacting the free-market trade and the thriving of economics within the area, then why are so many places going out of business after the county council's decisions are made? It is simply cause and effect. The government is not helping to serve the economy and the businesses of the area, but rather, they are trying to control the development in "their own way." Why can't we just have free-market trade and allow the economy to function and potentially grow, without the council running around like a bunch of tyrannical dictators? I hope to see a change in government around here in the near future, because the Montgomery County Council has been fouling things up for far too long; long overdue for some common sense, or simply some "morality" (as opposed to the crookedness of the operations they've been running for far too long now.)
"As an outsider viewing this conversation, it is completely apparent to me that the Montgomery County Council have shills working on their behalf to defend their criminal activity."
Really? From this thread? That's what you determined?
Which of the comments above makes it apparent that it was written by someone you are categorizing a county council shill?
I'm going to assume that's a rhetorical question, haha. Look who is talking.
Yeah, it's always the theater's fault. Everyone knows that. Tap Room was absolutely horrible. Matchbox is much better but still a cheap, cookie cutter chain. How embarrassing for Bethesda.
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