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Sunday, August 30, 2020
Bethesda construction update: Marriott HQ (Photos)
Work continues on the Marriott International headquarters and hotel, relocating from North Bethesda to 7750 Wisconsin Avenue. Marriott executives have to hope the coronavirus pandemic is behind us by the time both buildings open.
The real question here is just how long can the diner hold on. I was there yesterday for the first time since the shutdown and the entire counter was empty and there were maybe two other booths occupied beside mine. This was at 12:15, the height of lunchtime. They are losing tons and tons of money.
With hundreds of construction workers at the Marriott site, they should open an express walk-up window for take-out food. The diner is a nice piece of history, but in its current state, a nasty, unloved greasy little building. I’m sure Marriott workers will not enjoy overlooking the untidy tangle of rooftop equipment on both the diner and restaurant.
If you look at the location of the fire stair in the Marriott office building, you will note that it is on the exterior wall. Architects almost never put stairs on the exterior facade of office buildings, where windows and views could exist. They are clearly planning for future expansion to fill in corner, once the diner and Woodmont Grill are acquired. With COVID-19, any office expansion would be quite a few years off, but I am sure it has already been planned into the building.
It still seems odd that they couldn’t cut a deal with the Woodmont Grill to temporarily move them off-site, then back into the project as the premier restaurant in the hotel. The diner is less compatible with the Marriott brand, but could have easily become a Hot Shoppes tribute diner, also incorporated into the base of the office or hotel building, and open to the public.
The real question here is just how long can the diner hold on. I was there yesterday for the first time since the shutdown and the entire counter was empty and there were maybe two other booths occupied beside mine. This was at 12:15, the height of lunchtime. They are losing tons and tons of money.
ReplyDeleteWith hundreds of construction workers at the Marriott site, they should open an express walk-up window for take-out food. The diner is a nice piece of history, but in its current state, a nasty, unloved greasy little building. I’m sure Marriott workers will not enjoy overlooking the untidy tangle of rooftop equipment on both the diner and restaurant.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the location of the fire stair in the Marriott office building, you will note that it is on the exterior wall. Architects almost never put stairs on the exterior facade of office buildings, where windows and views could exist. They are clearly planning for future expansion to fill in corner, once the diner and Woodmont Grill are acquired. With COVID-19, any office expansion would be quite a few years off, but I am sure it has already been planned into the building.
It still seems odd that they couldn’t cut a deal with the Woodmont Grill to temporarily move them off-site, then back into the project as the premier restaurant in the hotel. The diner is less compatible with the Marriott brand, but could have easily become a Hot Shoppes tribute diner, also incorporated into the base of the office or hotel building, and open to the public.