TD Bank has closed its branch at 8101 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Signage has been stripped from the building. The closure was expected, as customers had been informed several months in advance. What is new, is that the property is now being marketed by CBRE as a "freestanding building with drive-thru." That would suggest that redevelopment, or assembly of the property with adjoining parcels for a larger project, is not expected in the immediate future. Hopefully we can get a Jack-in-the-Box, Taco Bell, Cook Out, Raising Cane's, or Burger King out of this.
Apparently, who ever created the graphic site plan at CBRE, according to the arrows showing ingress and egress from Highland Avenue, is not aware that in the USA, we drive on the right side of the road.
ReplyDeleteThey'd be printing money if someone opened a drive thru Chick -Fil-A or Starbucks there.
ReplyDeleteSame with a McDonald's, Shake Shack or Taco Bell type of place.
When was the last time a Jack in the Box was anywhere in the DMV?
ReplyDeleteWeird that Montgomery County doesn’t buy it and integrate it into the just published sketch plan for the joint public private partnership building going up on the county lot behind it. Maybe they’ll buy it and turn it into a park like some of the other properties along the purple line.
ReplyDeleteCinco, you're correct that they are not yet in the area, but they are actively seeking franchisees in every state that borders us except Delaware:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.jackintheboxfranchising.com/available-markets
RD - There was a Jack in the Box in Adelphi in the 1960s, pretty close to a McDonald's.
ReplyDeleteThe site is zoned for up to 90’ in height, so the highest and best use is certainly not another one story high bank or fast food restaurant, even with a drive in. If you are in your car and driving, just drive to North Bethesda or Westbard to find lots of drive in restaurants. Downtown Bethesda is a transit-oriented, mixed-use, walkable neighborhood, not a sprawling suburban community flanking a stroad.
ReplyDeleteBethesda has a lack of affordable places to eat. The kids would love a Mickey D’s and I bet all the construction workers would too.
Delete1:59: I would agree that it's likely just a matter of time before all gas stations and standalone banks on Wisconsin are replaced with high-rises. The River Road corridor in Westbard would indeed be a good location for some additional fast food restaurants.
ReplyDelete12:38: Interesting, Cinco! I wonder what their menu was like in those days.
I saw Gregg Allman using a payphone at the Bethesda Amoco before it was razed and turned into that TD Bank.
ReplyDelete10:37: He was probably calling Cher after hanging out at the Psyche Delly.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteA Jersey Mike's would do well in this location.
ReplyDelete