They also said that the Bethesda Streetery, street closures for the purposes of outdoor dining on some roadways, actually hurt their business because they were on the perimeter. Downtown bars were already suffering from the collapse of nightlife before the pandemic even hit, after the County Council's "nighttime economy task force" initiative ended up tanking nightlife in downtown Bethesda. The County government's liquor monopoly, and rising taxes, have also reduced the already-slim profit margins for bars and restaurants.
The 10pm closing time mandate will kill many more bars in the county.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe our Council passed that.
Was that a Covid thing?
Delete10pm isn't closing time. It's last call for alcohol sales.
Delete8:25am caddies, tommy joe's, etc. all are closed pretty early now since the 10pm mandate was passed.
DeleteThe council is killing all of these long time businesses and they don't care.
Ri-ra, now Flanagan's.
ReplyDeleteDowntown Bethesda now needs a new irish pub to fill the void!
Another of many to come. Get this place opened up before they all close.
ReplyDeleteThat sucks. Hopefully a similar dive can open after things get back to normal.
ReplyDeleteRi Ra in Georgetown closed in January, right before the Pandemic. That was the last one.
ReplyDeleteThe Psyche Delly was better and I still miss it greatly...
ReplyDeleteWorst case of food poisoning I ever had from this place.
ReplyDeleteThis is our Council that has fumbled reopening schools and are actively hurting small businesses with the Streetery, mandated 10pm closing for serving at bars, not allowing theaters to open, etc.
ReplyDeleteAll brought to you by the same folks who couldn't seal the deal for Amazon HQ2. Hundreds of good paying jobs right now. Would have lifted our property values and bolstered local small businesses as well.
But when is it actually closing? Place was still open as of 9/8.
ReplyDelete