Construction has begun on Andy's Pizza, opening later this year at 4600 East-West Highway, in the Bethesda Crescent Building. The first step is demolishing the interior of the former Booeymonger space. Andy's Pizza is owned by Montgomery County native Andy Brown, and has locations in McLean, Alexandria, and the District. The local chain's award-winning New York-style pizza is made with long-fermented dough, Wisconsin mozzarella cheese and California tomatoes in stone deck ovens.
I've already had their pizza and it's delicious. I hope they can keep the Booyermonger sign somehow or is the name spelled out in tile? Either way, it would be a nice homage if they can keep it. I understand their build out is pretty quick. BCC kids are gonna go nuts.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really strong endorsement. Back in the day, I'd be excited right along with JAC. I like pizza a lot. Now? IDK JAC from Jill. I can't trust anything I read or see since Tucker. That's where we are as a nation. 75 million of us voted for a man who tells us that we can't trust nothing.
ReplyDeleteI am, too, a lover of pizza but I'm a retired restaurateur and see an ominous sign within this new wave of pizzerias. Pizza is a whole different subset within the industry, pizza is probably the biggest markup food, ultimately the simplest to make, takes the least amount of prep space, and requires the least plating and service. Pizza, coincidentally being one of the only foods to hold it's own category in our old phone books also is about as close as a restaurant can get to offering 'fast food,' 'food to go,' and 'off premises consumption.' A restaurant going epicurean might even say that pizza is not real restaurant fare, arguably there is some truth to that. A few pizzerias might be a good thing, but too many may be a harbinger of bad things to come: fast, quick, high profit, and its competitive similarities lead to discounting wars and 'by the slice' is antithetical to where Bethesda's image needs to stay. We can expect to see an increase in straw wrappers, boxes, napkins, loitering, and kids that just don't patronize other establishments: if pizza slowly displaces 'sit down' full menu restaurant food expect a much different clientele and habits. Will the county allow or turn a blind eye to off premises fast food? Flashing signage, competitive sidewalk signage? Will the establishments police their litter?
ReplyDelete1:06 - Bethesda is full of pizza places, French cafe's and Taco joints. True. But only the strong will survive. Andy's does something few other pizza joints offer, and something attractive to a downtown crowd that also is home to a huge public high school, slices of any of their pizza selections. That will resonate.
ReplyDelete...is 1:06 being facetious? Please tell me 1:06 is being facetious. "'[B]y the slice' is antithetical to where Bethesda's image needs to stay" can't possibly be a serious thought that crossed someone's mind.
ReplyDelete1:06 There has never been many sit down restaurants in that area Just coffee shops and lunch places. Catering to a lunch crowd, pizza by the slice is the ticket. The other place that did to well, was the McDonald's. It had a social function as well since it was a popular place to sit and talk with friends.
ReplyDeleteIf 'fast food' such as McDs et.al., is a no no, then how can pizza by the slice for carryout be ordained by the gods?
ReplyDeleteI'm confused, most conventional 'fast food' places such as McDonald's have ample and appropriate seating, most pizza places with smaller footprints tend toward furthering the 'ills' associated with 'fast food.'
ReplyDeleteWhat food is 'faster' than precooked slices of pizza?