Major dining tenants Redwood and Lebanese Taverna both closed following the loss of the Regal Cinemas Bethesda 10 to the Purple Line. Along with huge spikes in the number of available parking spaces in garages around Bethesda Row, the closures vindicate my prediction that the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board's intentional decision to not require the Apex Building developer to provide a replacement cineplex would devastate nearby restaurants that relied on "dinner-and-a-movie" customers. Such customers have relocated to other towns that actually have cineplexes showing the latest blockbuster movies.
You can't blame the closures on the businesses themselves - remember, both Redwood and Lebanese Taverna lasted for years and years in those spaces...until the Regal was demolished. I testified before both bodies about the importance of a cineplex for downtown businesses. Neither paid attention to the actual statistics I presented. What an embarrassment for our developer-controlled Council and Planning Board, and their friends in the Montgomery County cartel and at the Washington Post! The Bethesda business downturn has shown them to be, well, not the sharpest tools in the drawer.
Just tools.
102 comments:
Conviction Bias
----Believing in something so strongly. It must be true.
5:25: Facts. Things that have actually happened and are not in question. Such as the closure of the theater, and the subsequent closure of two longtime anchor restaurants, and hundreds of open parking spaces during peak evening hours.
You have no expertise in this area, so it's absurd to argue with the actual facts and statistics in this case, when you have no knowledge of the subject matter.
I think you make some good points here. I’m not sure Urban ciniplexes are as bankable as they used to be. Most cinemas struggle to be profitable, and the idea or requiring a developer to include one in a project seems like a very big ask, and would discourage many developers. If they were profitable, I think they would be more common.
Parking is always a big issue for urban cinemas. A huge expense for developers to provide, especially if offered for free. Even being close to a Metro stop is not all that helpful either as the Metro fare adds cost to the already steep movie and concession expense.
With the advent of 4K HDR and affordable large screen TVs, affordable surround sound systems, combined with 4K streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix and Apple TV Movies, many folks now prefer to enjoy movies at home, and save quite a lot of money. Many movie critics believe that the controlled experience of a 4K movie on a 65” TV in your own home, has more visual clarity than an 8K digital projection on a 50’ wide screen. Of course it’s hard to match that immersive surround sound of a Dolby Atmos theatre, but you do have to deal with folks who talk during the movie and use their cell phones.
Of course we all enjoy the experience of the big movie screen, and a brand new blockbuster movie release, but at what cost.
I see that Landmark was recently sold to a new owner, but I expect the art films shown their will not change. AMC at the Mazza Gallerieis is an easy one stop Metro ride from Bethesda, but is getting a bit long in the tooth. The cinema at Pike and Rose is way too expensive for me, and sort of proves my point that urban cineplexes may be hard to monetize. I suspect that Federal Realty is subsidizing their business to help establish Pike and Rose as a destination. The new cinemas at Montgomery Mall are quite nice, and semi-affordable, but of course they have a huge population base of shoppers and food court diners to draw from, not to mention my original comment that is hard to overcome in a new urban development, thousands of free parkin spaces.
Why no mention of the landlord?
Another big challenge in urban ciniplexes is the massive exit requirements for multiple 200-300 seat auditoriums if located on upper or lower floors. Most also require expensive escalators to move people up or down, and a a very big expense. A single escalator costs well over $250,000 each. You have to sell a lot of expensive popcorn to cover that nut.
These theare lobbies, escalators and massive exit stairs take up lots of ground floor space that otherwise could be leased as retail or office space. Auditoriums require very large clear span structures, and very tall floor to floor clearances to provide a great cinema. These requirements do not mixed well with other construction, and often require massive transfer beams, add to the cost.
The simplest movie cinema will always be a massive one story steel framed box, surrounded by acres of free surface parking lots. Not an easy or desirable inclusion ina walkable downtown like Bethesda.
@6:21AM, 6:30AM - Thank you. You said it more eloquently than I could have. Mr Dyer forgets that I spent 17 years in property & management.
6:21: I'm in agreement on the appeal of home theaters today. But you can also sum up the flip side of the argument in two words: "Black Panther." I'm sure restaurants around Bethesda Row would have liked to get in on the blockbuster draw of movies like that this year.
There still is an appeal to seeing a current film in the theater setting, and people are still going on something called a "date," and movies remain a popular option in that regard.
6:30: In this case, Carr Properties actually showed plans that included the deep basement needed for a cineplex. They then abruptly dropped such plans - which were not required by the Minor Master Plan Amendment, as I noted - as soon as they received approvals and permits. So the cineplex was viable here. Plenty of parking and atop two Metro lines.
Is residential and retail more profitable per square foot than a theater? Probably, although there would have been tremendous value to the retail and restaurants planned for at 7272 Wisconsin by having a cineplex. Considering how business is slumping around the downtown now, I don't see how Carr will do any better with their tenants in a less popular downtown. Customers have simply taken their wallets elsewhere.
6:36: I'm not sure that those 17 years involved detailed study of the role movie theaters play in the local economy around them.
Several questions:
@ 6:22 AM mentions the Landmark Bethesda 8. How come you love to pretend this doesn't exist?
S/he also mentions that the AMC Mazza Gallerie is "getting a bit long in the tooth". The Regal/UA was nearly twice as old.
Why no mention of Barnes & Noble, which closed in January 2018? The Regal Cinema closed in December 2016. The closures of the Lebanese Taverna and Redwood happened in March and April 2018. Since you believe so strongly in "post hoc, propter hoc" why do you assume that the earlier event is solely responsible for the loss of these two restaurants?
This is the second time in a week you've claimed there are "huge spikes in the number of available parking spaces in garages around Bethesda Row". Can you document this? When did you start to notice it? Was it after Barnes & Noble closed? Or after County Parking Garage #31 opened in January 2015?
How many families who watched "Black Panther" had a craving for Lebanese food afterward?
"I'm not sure that those 17 years involved detailed study of the role movie theaters play in the local economy around them."
Oh, really? I must have missed the Dissertation that you published on this subject. Or was it just a Master's Thesis?
6:58: Landmark is not a mainstream theater showing blockbusters. That's the whole point of having a mainstream cineplex - to draw large crowds, not just the high end indie film crowd.
The increase in available parking spaces was most noticeable this year - in fact, they had to turn the one by Nando's to say "OPEN" because the large number of available spaces at 6 and 7 PM was so embarrassingly big. But there were never 800-900 people inside and outside of Barnes and Noble, so we know for sure that its not caused by B&N closing. It just got worse.
7:00: Ask the LT at Rockville Town Square. They are still in business.
7:23: No, just did some extensive research into the topic before testifying. Unlike our Council and Planning Board.
"Ask the LT at Rockville Town Square. They are still in business."
Unlike most of the businesses there.
Maybe it was a mistake for them to move to Arlington Road? Also there is a tremendous amount of competition in the "Mediterranean" category (Lebanese, Greek, Israeli, Persian) here in Bethesda.
"The large number of available spaces at 6 and 7 PM was so embarrassingly big."
I didn't know that parking garages had feelings.
Doesn't really matter because the new sign won't be up for long whenever someone else signs a lease. I'm sure some equally shitty restaurant will go in there.
I don't need a detailed study to know that movie theaters are a tough-to-make-money endeavor. And it has been awhile since I've been in the nitty-gritty of it all. But...half of the ticket price goes back to the studio, theaters require large spaces which means large rent expense, concessions are needed to bring in money to pay employees, and that's just a few of the challenges.
"to say "OPEN" because the large number of available spaces at 6 and 7 PM was so embarrassingly big."
That's just your jaded opinion of why. Sheesh.
Theaters are the heart of downtowns in surrounding areas - Silver Spring, Pike & Rose, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Arlington, etc.
They bring foot traffic and surrounding businesses get more customers.
This isn't rocket science.
@ 11:03 AM - Who are you, and how many times every hour do you re-load Dyer's posts?
7 minutes this time.
Dyer is right. Restaurants never closed back when the Regal was open.
Millennials don't covet movies.
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/hollywood-has-a-huge-millennial-problem/486209/
The problem is not the movie theater. Heck, look at Montgomery Mall. The theater is doing so badly that the restaurants up on that level have shut down. Attendance at movie theaters is down nation-wide. People can watch from home just as easily. I haven't been in a theater myself in more than 10 years.
11:57 AM There was one restaurant on the theater level and apparently wasn't good. Cheesecake Factory is doing great business- perfect pre or post movies :)
I'm assuming any new theater in downtown Bethesda will be more on trend than ArcLight- such as having recliners.
11:53 AM "Millennials don't covet movies". Disagree! Plenty of millennials attending movies in the surrounding towns Bethesda residents have to commute to for a movie- downtown Silver Spring, Pike & Rose, Gaithersburg, etc.
Again, you can't be a premier downtown without a multi-plex cinema. Night time economy, right?
How come Dyer never reports on iPic at Pike & Rose?
More importantly, why does Dyer keep pretending that Landmark Bethesda Row 8 is not a "theater", "cinema" or "multiplex"?
"Bethesda residents have to commute to for a movie- downtown Silver Spring, Pike & Rose, Gaithersburg, etc."
Landmark Bethesda Row 8 is great for what it is- a venue for smaller, independent films.
There are some bigger movies mixed in - A Star is Born is showing there now for example, but usually none of the blockbusters so popular today.
Also, none of the family friendly fare (frequently animated films) you'd get at a multi-plex.
No recliners!
Silver Spring has their smaller theater for independent fare (the Silver) and Regal as their multi-plex. That model works well there and worked well in downtown Bethesda for many years.
I don't think the movies are dead. Plenty of excitement for Captain Marvel, the Avengers, etc. this week!
How is 8 screens not a "multiplex"? That's only 2 fewer than the Regal.
"Bohemian Rhapsody", "Spiderman", "The Grinch", "Fantastic Beasts", "Creed II" are currently showing at Landmark. Seems like a nice mix of family fare and blockbusters.
"Nearly a year after Redwood made one of the most drawn-out and theatrical exits in Bethesda restaurant history"
The only thing "theatrical" was Dyer's "reporting". They had a pipe burst in January, never reopened, and formally closed in April. The closure of South Street Steaks has been much more drawn-out.
3:05: False. You are a compulsive liar - none of those movies are currently playing at Landmark Bethesda Row. A Star is Born is the only thing close to a mainstream film for general audiences.
A clear case for my mental superiority over you and the cartel is the fact that you've been reduced to using complete falsehoods in your trolling.
3:54: Wrong, moron. There were months of false statements, as well as theatrical movement of ladders and buckets inside the restaurant.
11:57: You haven't been to a theater in 10 years, and we are supposed to base the local economy on your opinions?
"You are a compulsive liar - none of those movies are currently playing at Landmark Bethesda Row"
Wow. I've never seen anyone get so worked up about what movies are or are not showing at what theater.
No wonder your family didn't invite you to Thanksgiving dinner.
"I testified before both bodies about the importance of a cineplex for downtown businesses. Neither paid attention to the actual statistics I presented."
Maybe you're the one who should be embarrassed that they ignored you?
7:51: No, because I've been proven correct, and they've been proven as incompetent and corrupt criminals who have now damaged the downtown Bethesda economy.
7:46: Now you admit you lied. That's how weak the cartel's position is. Only their control of the local media keeps them in power. Unlike you, I did have Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Your projection issues are tripping you up again.
So what theater did you watch Black Panther in, Robbie?
yawn....everyone knows this is a federal realty play to get higher rates and shorter lease terms/% of revenue terms
"theatrical movement of ladders and buckets inside the restaurant. "
Seriously? Were they dancing?
Hahahahaahhahahahahahahahahahah (breathe) hahahahahahahahahahhahahha. (gasp) Hahahahahahahahahaha (breathe)
8:03 "because I've been proven correct, and they've been proven as incompetent and corrupt criminals who have now damaged the downtown Bethesda economy."
Hahahahaha.
Only in your Fox-fueled fevered dreams.
6:10: The well-educated readership of this website knows that theater does not only consist of musicals.
6:16: The theater is closed. The anchor restaurants have closed. Hundreds of parking spaces are open at peak hours. These facts prove me correct, and the Council and Board were incorrect.
Nope, those facts prove that the theater is closed and restaurants have closed.
They don't prove anyone right, nor do they prive any criminal behavior.
There you go assuming again. It doesn't have to be a musical to have dancing.
6:32: That's up to the FBI to determine. Kind of like the "missing" $7 million in public money the Council had oversight over and can't find. Not something the feds usually just let go. $7 million!
Again, why no mention of Barnes & Noble? The old Regal Theater was actually a bit of a hike from Bethesda Row, given that there was no direct pedestrian access from the rear of that building. A quarter-mile, actually. Out of the walkshed for lazy obese car-dependent suburbanites. The closure of Barnes & Noble had a much more direct effect on this block.
Also, can you actually document the increase in available parking spaces?
"The well-educated readership of this website"
As one of your two readers, I am flattered, and I'm sure that Anna is, too.
Dyer @ 6:46 PM - Have you contacted the FBI, or any federal, state or local law enforcement agency about your concerns?
I checked iPic and a recliner seat at a so called blockbuster movie costs $28.00, but includes free popcorn. This reinforces my position that a modern urban ciniplexes has to charge an enormous amount to survive. Of course some others charge less, but this is still a very expensive option for most folks.
I did read that JBG Smith is adding an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in one of their projects in Crystal City. I have read that these theaters are highly rated as some of the best experiences. I don’t think JBG Smith controls any land in downtown Bethesda that might have room for such a cinema.
I do wonder what might happen to the low rise brick office building and surface parking lot between 7200 Wisconsin at The Wilson, on the east side of Wisconsin between Bethesda and Elm. It is directly adjacent to 7200 Wisconsin and zoned to allow up to 250’ in height. It is flanked by 4 story above ground parking decks on two sides. I wonder if JBG Smith could Aquire this parcel, demo the office building and build an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in the base over expanded parking, topped by an onffice or residential tower to connect the 4749/4747/7200 complex and fully complete the block.
This would be a great location, close to the Red and Purple Line stations, close to large existing parking decks that are primarily used for office so free or discounted evening parking could be available for movie patrons. It is also across the street for the proposed EYA Food Hall that is part of the redevelopment of the Farm Women’s Market site so lots dining options for dinner and a movie experiences.
Shalom Baranes has designed both 4747 and The Elm and Wilson, so I wonder if they haven’t looked at this for JBG Smith and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
One other site that might work would be the large site north of the proposed Metro Tower high rise on the former gas station site, combined with the vacant Tommy Joe’s and Pines of Rome sites. I think it is controlled by Washington Properties, and was approved for a 14 story residential tower a few years ago, but now also allows up to 250’ tall buildings. Perhaps JBG Smith with spend some of their recent Amazon HQ2 profits to enhance the area around their new headquarters in 4747 Bethesda.
6:48: Where do you think people dined before or after the movies at Regal? Of course they dined at Bethesda Row, including Redwood and Lebanese Taverna. The digital signs document the number of available parking spaces publicly each day (except, as I mentioned, they've disabled the one by Nando's to prevent embarrassment by just saying OPEN).
7:29: It certainly would be smart for a developer to try and assemble something like that.
So that $28 will get me what...better bass than at home?
"they've disabled the one by Nando's to prevent embarrassment"
Oh, please. Why do you assume that "the MoCo Cartel" has the same over-the-top emotional response to everything, that you seem to have?
You are, in essence, saying that you are too incredibly lazy to get actual information on things and you'd maker assumptions based on opinion.
"Of course they dined at Bethesda Row, including Redwood and Lebanese Taverna"
That says nothing to indicate the restaurants closed because of the theater closing. That's not "proof"-just your rambling opinion.
"They've disabled the one by Nando's to prevent embarrassment by just saying OPEN"
Actually, that's not why. But getting the answer might mean making calls and asking people.
7:54: You know, people still go on dates. And people still want to see a blockbuster the weekend it comes out, before spoilers leak. Not every theater is charging $28. But iPic is doing quite well from what I see when I go there, and they obviously know their market. Regal is aiming at a broader audience.
The failure of Pizzeria Uno right next door to the Regal is incontrovertible proof that the Regal sucked.
7:57: We taxpayers paid a lot for that sign. Surely you're not suggesting the government isn't displaying "OPEN" intentionally, and instead are failing to maintain the broken equipment?
What's scary is that our County elected officials DON'T have an emotional response to massive failures like not having a theater downtown, or having a post office without true access for the disabled. It's the sign of not only being a criminal, but a sociopath, as well.
7:57: Here's a bum troll who does nothing to improve Bethesda calling the only guy actually doing something "lazy." LOL
You also had another Freudian slip and used your old "making calls and asking people" line while writing under your "Anna" persona. #Oops Can we talk to "Wrol Evans" now?
Did other media outlets "make calls and ask people" to deliver the Woodmont Grill story this morning? Nope. Only mine did.
#BabaBooey
"having a post office without true access for the disabled"
Wow, that was one hell of a digression. Not sure how it relates to the MoCo Cartel, since the USPS is a federal entity.
8:07: Nope, exactly the same as the theater - a major debacle in downtown Bethesda in both cases.
Now we're getting to that essential question again - were the relevant District 1 and at-large councilmembers engaged in that USPS location process, or not?
If not, how could they have not been engaged in a bread-and-butter issue like getting a new post office? They should step down immediately if that was the case.
Or, were they involved, and didn't use their leverage to stop it (like at Walter Reed)?
No good answer in either case.
And again, only a sociopath wouldn't be concerned about the fallout from these two issues.
With movies costing up to three times as much as a restaurant meal, it seems like moviegoers wouldn't have any money left to spend on restaurants.
8:14: What date-night-appropriate restaurant charges only $7-10 for a full meal? MoCo's high taxes are more likely a reason for spending cutbacks than movie prices.
How is the new Post Office not accessible to the disabled? The floor is even with the sidewalk outside, the door is self-opening, and it's a very short distance from the front door to the service desk.
Dyer wrote: "What's scary is that our County elected officials DON'T have an emotional response to massive failures like not having a theater downtown, or having a post office without true access for the disabled. It's the sign of not only being a criminal, but a sociopath, as well."
But six days ago he wrote: "... the County Council should not be operating a Soviet/Cuban command economy from 100 Maryland Avenue, by telling us what stores we can and cannot have. That's Communism."
What editorial hypocrisy.
We all know the good theaters, like iPic are supplanting restaurant by combining food, drink and chair side service. Adding a good new theater would just accelerating the decline of the restaurants around them.
Millennials don't date.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/em-and-lo/datings-dead-long-live-th_b_9574582.html
Silly Dyer, always stuck in a previous decade.
And on the home front, Uber Eats is combining with big-screen TVs to eliminate the "going out" part of "dinner and a movie".
The new post office on Wisconsin is doubling as a homeless shelter. Most evenings, there are several homeless, folks left behind in this moribund economy.
Someone tell Disney to cancel releasing avengers this spring. Anonymous says no one goes to the movies.
What the heck are all those people doing at regal in Rockville and silver spring?
It's odd that Dyer didn't assign any labels to this article.
I found this helpful comment in the archives:
https://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2018/02/redwood-repairs-moving-slowly-at.html
Anonymous @ 7:07 AM said: "Redwood does business under the name Independent Concepts, LLC. According to MD court records a tax lien of nearly $211k was filed against them by the Fed on 11/7/17 for taxes between 2015-2017."
Anonymous @ 7:07 AM said: "And another one was filed on 9/18/17 for an additional $913k."
Looks like Redwood was struggling long before the Regal Cinema closed in December 2016.
I cannot believe this has this many comments. But, you're blaming the theater closing for these two restaurants closing? Are you serious? You have no idea what you're talking about.
Rockville Town Center has a 13-screen cinema, yet the shops and restaurants there are failing much faster than Bethesda Row. Maybe it's the landlord - Federal Realty for both?
Interesting point
I noticed that Dyer never answered the question about where he watched "Black Panther". I doubt he watched it. I can't picture him wanting to be in a dark room full of hundreds of black people for two hours.
3:04: Rockville Town Square has a myriad of issues that can't be overcome simply by having a theater nearby. If that wasn't the case, then we would find similar failures near every cineplex - but no one is calling Pike & Rose or Rio/Washingtonian Center a "crisis" like RTS.
Of course, MoCo's moribund economy is going to reduce the effectiveness of any traffic generator like a theater, but that's no reason to not have one.
1:20: I know exactly what I'm talking about. That's why it's hitting such a raw nerve for you.
12:03: Please note that all of those filings come long after the Regal Cinemas closed, and simply bolster my point. The fact is, these two anchor restaurants survived for many, many years until the Regal closed.
7:02: Says the president of the Robert "Exalted Cyclops of the KKK" Byrd Fan Club. Punch yourself.
8:25: Wrong. A movie theater is a major part of any local economy. If Bethesda had no restaurants and no retail, it would not be communism for government to require them in exchange for upzoning a property.
Saying that we had to have a certain theater chain like AMC or Regal would be communism, much like the Council's ban on Walmart, a specific retail chain.
8:31: There's no such effect elsewhere.
8:31/8:38: Do you realize how crazy you sound claiming no one goes on dates or dines out anymore?
There is no "ban on Walmart".
4:39: LOL - let me get this straight...Walmart wanted to open stores in Aspen Hill and Rockville, but was unable to successfully open those stores under threat from the County Council, and there's "no ban on Walmart?"
It's when you're the only County in America that has a liquor sales scheme like this, and doesn't have a Walmart convenient to every home, that you realize just how dumb the MoCo cartel looks to every outsider with even half a functioning brain.
Not specifically but there is a ban on so-called box stores which even the smaller Wal-Mart stores such as Tyson's are.
@ 7:00 AM [Shift Change!]
"There is a ban on so-called box stores"
No there isn't.
Lots of claims about millennials in the comments, on both sides of the argument. As an older millennial, may I chime in? With some purely anecdotal evidence, of course. ;-)
As a group, my friends and I go to the movies far less now than when we were in high school, college, or immediately post-college. We're all in our 30s, many of us have or are expecting children, we all have full-time jobs that eat up a lot of time and energy, and we all have other commitments outside of work that make scheduling an outing difficult.
We still go to the movies - Robert wasn't wrong about Black Panther - but it is generally for those big blockbuster events. This year our group went out for Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, and that's it. My husband and I went to Crazy Rich Asians and Creed II, but nothing else. We might try to go see The Favorite or A Star is Born, but it depends on whether we can fit that in around the holidays. The next definite plan we have is to go see Glass, and that's over a month away.
As for location, we used to go to downtown Silver Spring because it was fairly convenient for everyone. But when Quarry House closed for a few years, we found it harder and harder to have dinner beforehand, because the restaurant service just wasn't up to snuff. The last time we did downtown Silver Spring, we were 20 minutes late for the movie because of incompetent service at Hen Quarter.
Now we go to Arclight. We can all have dinner in the food court beforehand, no waiting forever for our check, and yeah - free parking. It makes a difference. Bethesda probably could support another movie theater, but I think claiming that every restaurant closure is the result of the theater leaving is a bit much.
"Please note that all of those filings come long after the Regal Cinemas closed"
Back to the original citation: " "Redwood does business under the name Independent Concepts, LLC. According to MD court records a tax lien of nearly $211k was filed against them by the Fed on 11/7/17 for taxes between 2015-2017...And another one was filed on 9/18/17 for an additional $913k."
Regal closed in December 2016. Redwood was in arrears for 2015 taxes long before that date. Liens can't be filed instantaneously.
7:12: There absolutely is a ban on stores over a certain size (that's why Wegmans was looking at the grandfathered anchor store footprint at White Flint Mall), and also a specific ban on Walmart, as we saw when they were not allowed to open in Aspen Hill and Rockville. Punch yourself.
7:37: LOL - and Federal Realty just let them stay 3 more years for free out of the goodness of their hearts? Come on. IF they don't pay, FRIT can take the keys, like every other landlord does. It was the Regal closing that did REdwood and LT in.
Notice that Dyer continues to dodge the question of whether he ever watched Black Panther.
Looking for Wegmans in the archives, and I found this delightful word salad from October 2015:
"A Wegman's would have certainly been used by Lerner to deodorize the 'town center' it intends to replace the mall with from public criticism."
"There absolutely is a ban on stores over a certain size"
No there isn't.
"[There is] also a specific ban on Walmart"
No there isn't.
"...as we saw when they were not allowed to open in Aspen Hill and Rockville."
Not the "MoCo Cartel". The residents of those two neighborhoods blocked WalMart, just like the residents of Westbard are blocking the redevelopment of the shopping center now.
"Punch yourself."
I hope your perpetual anger shaves a few years off your miserable life.
Can you show us (or link to) the actual code banning specifically Walmart?
I thought maybe Rockville City had something about approval being needed for single stores over a certain sq (65,000?)
7:47: I stand by that brilliant quote - and this new quote from the mall's low-energy owner doubly vindicates me:
"I really don't expect him to come back at this point." - Mark Lerner on his "attempts" to resign Bryce Harper
7:52: LOL - You mean a few dozen people holding signs provided by Lee Development Co. can stop the mighty Walmart from opening a store? And how do you figure Walmart opens stores in every other county in the US? What an idiot. The MoCo cartel gave them the signs to hold, you moron. Punch yourself.
"Walmart opens stores in every other county in the US"
There is a Walmart in Montgomery County.
There are none in Arlington County or the City of Alexandria.
What does a sign being removed from a restaurant that closed several months ago have to do with Walmart or Bryce Harper?
Also, what does a theater that closed in December 2016 have to do with a restaurant being in arrears on its taxes for 2015?
8:16: Apparently being in arrears on taxes wasn't enough to force them to close. But the loss of Regal Cinemas was.
8:06: There are at least two Walmarts in Alexandria. Just admit you know it's weird that MoCo doesn't have Walmarts. The one in Germantown was built before the Council banned Walmart. Why are you opposed to something everyone else in America wants? You wouldn't last long on the streets.
8:15: Why did you bring up the old quote, then, knucklehead? You were just punched out by my debate skills. Your man Hans Riemer is so scared, he couldn't debate me this year. Quaking in his boots. The coward of the county!
8:06 AM There are at least 3 Wal-Marts in Alexandria or surrounding area. You're getting cute by saying "City of Alexandria".
I've contacted Ares Executive Services to provide Armed, Combat Veteran, security professionals to protect you Robert. They will not touch one hair on your head with those guys around. You have wealthy friends Sir. Take down the MoCo Cartel. You are unstoppable now.
How does one blog get so many comments when other major publications get a fraction!? I'm amazed at how much anyone cares about this loser guy.
Saith Robert Dyer: ""Walmart opens stores in every other county in the US."
@ 8:06 AM said: "There are none in Arlington County or the City of Alexandria."
Saith #UnsignedDyer @ 8:43 AM: "You're getting cute by saying 'City of Alexandria'."
No, you're shifting the goalposts. The City of Alexandria is the equivalent of a county. And there are no Walmarts in either the City of Alexandria or in Arlington County, whereas Montgomery County has one. That's two nearby counties that disprove your claim.
Saith Dyer: "it's weird that MoCo doesn't have Walmarts. The one in Germantown..."
Oy, my head is spinning...
Robert Dyer is a HERO and the MoCo Cartel WILL go to prision for their crimes!
ALL HAIL ROBERT DYER!!!
Has Robert Dyer ever interacted with anyone of another race before? If so, is there photographic evidence or will Dyer just dodge it like all his responsibilities in life?
7:12 In City of Rockville there is:
https://ilsr.org/rule/store-size-caps/2279-2/
7:52 - https://ilsr.org/rule/store-size-caps/2279-2/
They have an outright ban: https://ilsr.org/rule/store-size-caps/2279-2/
But never in Rockville where one is needed. https://ilsr.org/rule/store-size-caps/2279-2/
3:20/21/22/23 PM:
Posting the same link four times in four minutes is a bit obsessive, don't you think?
Your link cites a City of Rockville ordinance capping the size of stores - applying equally to all store brands. No store brand is prohibited. And this is only within the city of Rockville. The Rockville City Council is not the MoCo Cartel. And Aspen Hill is not in Rockville.
Robert Dyer claims that there is a countywide ban on Walmart:
Saith Robert Dyer: "the Council's ban on Walmart, a specific retail chain."
Saith Robert Dyer: "Walmart wanted to open stores in Aspen Hill and Rockville, but was unable to successfully open those stores under threat from the County Council, and there's "no ban on Walmart?"
"It's when you're the only County in America that has a liquor sales scheme like this, and doesn't have a Walmart convenient to every home, that you realize just how dumb the MoCo cartel looks to every outsider with even half a functioning brain."
Saith Robert Dyer: "There absolutely is a ban on stores over a certain size (that's why Wegmans was looking at the grandfathered anchor store footprint at White Flint Mall), and also a specific ban on Walmart, as we saw when they were not allowed to open in Aspen Hill and Rockville. Punch yourself."
Saith Robert Dyer: "You mean a few dozen people holding signs provided by Lee Development Co. can stop the mighty Walmart from opening a store? And how do you figure Walmart opens stores in every other county in the US? What an idiot. The MoCo cartel gave them the signs to hold, you moron. Punch yourself."
Saith Robert Dyer: "There are at least two Walmarts in Alexandria. Just admit you know it's weird that MoCo doesn't have Walmarts. The one in Germantown was built before the Council banned Walmart. Why are you opposed to something everyone else in America wants? You wouldn't last long on the streets."
LOL! Looks like Hans is trolling your site Robert. He must be nervous about going to jail soon.
@2:57PM What does Robert hanging out with someone from another race have to do with anything? You'd have to be a racist to think like that. Dyer is taking down the Council and we're all greatful to him for that.
"Dyer is taking down the Council"
He is? After being soundly defeated three elections in a row?
3:53 - It was an ordinance passed to stop Walmart at the time. You need to do more research. No mention of Walmart in the ordinance, true but they were targeted. County ban on Walmart? No but don't get your hopes on one ever coming which is greatly needed down county.
Robert was cheated out of election three times by corruption. Now we've got the proof and with the missing 7 million dollars the council has stolen it's going to be a slam-dunk to prove it. Everyone on the MoCo Cartel council is going to Federal Prison! Stock up on lube Hans!
How does Bang's embezzlement equal "Robert being cheated out of election"?
I'm curious to understand the thought processes in the Dyer family.
I am pretty sure Robert Dyer is a Russian spy sent here to cause dissent and research our weakness at 3 in the morning. Someone should look into this and protect us true Americans.
Of course, after wrongly accusing me @ 8:04AM, you delete my defense.
Here's the deal...I'll keep posting it until you delete you accusation or let this comment remain And, as you love to say, "keep lying about me and I'll have to start ..."
The post in question:
Lazy AND ignorant.
Really, really sad that you just can't believe I'm who I say I am. It's quite the embarrassment for you. Imagine if as many people read your little blog as you claim, there's hundreds of local folks who know me and can see right thru your lies.
You spend an inordinate amount of time memorizing details and trying to connect lines that just.don't.connect.
8:22 AM
8:05 AM
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