Permanent signage has been installed at The Charmery, the ice cream parlor opening soon at 8551 Connecticut Avenue in the new Chevy Chase Lake development. Last evening, the logo sign above the future storefront was already lit. An unlit ice cream cone also juts out above the sidewalk.
Across the way, there is now "coming soon" signage in the windows of the future CVS Pharmacy. By the way, how about the continental European look of the architecture and accent lighting along the street past The Charmery? Phenomenal! They really nailed the Old World look in a number of spots at this new development, creating a much better sense of place with unique architectural design. One fascinating thing about "town centers," is which spot organically becomes the photo backdrop location for people's selfies, which probably won't be clear here until Chevy Chase Lake and the Purple Line station are finished.
The grand Citizens Bank of Maryland replaced by a tiny "Truist" (what an awful name!).
ReplyDeleteThe beloved Chevy Chase Supermarket replaced by a dystopian Amazon Fresh which will probably close in a year, two years tops.
And Packett's Pharmacy (of blessed memory) has been replaced by a CVS.
Ah, corporate America takes its pound of flesh. The billionaires tighten their stranglehold.
Chevy Chase Lake is trying way too hard to look like traditional architecture. Modern architecture should reflect the time it is built and not ape the past. This brand new “ye old” development seems to think it will appeal to empty nesters leaving traditional single family homes in Chevy Chase. Way too traditional for my taste.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear "CVS" today, it conjures images of masked men with full trash bags of stolen detergent.
ReplyDeleteCVS... = Crime Venue Supply
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do not condone theft, I have to note that CVS’s food and household items typically cost about twice as much as in the grocery chains, whereas they are too cheap to provide enough staff to keep their merchandise secure, let alone provide a decent level of customer service. They can cry me a river.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. I also like how is turning out and wish they would open sooner. I know they are putting in a large trolley/streetcar in the center of it which would serve for the selfies.
ReplyDeleteNext to that Charmery they have rented it out recently, and it looks like another restaurant but unclear which one. Stretchlab has also leased space with the Uncorked and Playa Bowls that should open very soon. Elena James is slow to open but the owners are trying some things out at the other restaurants they own to see how they might work at this one.
I am surprised they haven't leased the prime restaurant space next to the fountain the are building. I wish for a Millies or a Founding Farmers!
Lastly behind that development they should be demolishing soon to eventually build higher-end townhomes that will have direct access to the capital crescent trail / purple line stop.