The transformation of the former Arby's at 11710 Rockville Pike into a McDonald's has been more of a demolition project than a simple conversion. Rather than merely updating the facade and interior, a substantial portion of the building was first destroyed. You may recall that the construction plans called for adding about 170 additional square feet to the restaurant. It's almost certain that the drive-thru configuration will be updated to the dual-lane system now employed at most McDonald's locations in America. And the reconstructed building will go from a very outdated Arby's design to the latest McDonald's concept.
This is ultimately a move for McDonald's rather than a new location on the Pike. The existing Golden Arches restaurant down the street at 11564 Rockville Pike will move from its Saul Centers-owned site to this Polinger Company property. But it does bring the major bonus of a drive-thru, which the current White Flint McDonald's does not have. Contrary to the Montgomery County Council's war-on-cars logic, but consistent with its total lack of knowledge of the business world, the vast majority of fast food sales come via the drive-thru window.
28 comments:
Yay Drive_thru! Micky-Dee's oatmeal is pretty good.
Once again, the term should be “demolished” not “destroyed”. Demolished is the correct term to use to describe the removal of construction.
Sugar BOMB!
I can think of at least a half dozen places right now that would have been better on that site than McD. The local franchise owner is a successful business person and can open a new McDonald's location anywhere he wants and that's fine. But even a Starbucks with a drive-thru would have been much better there. I'm a little surprised, frankly that the Chick-fil-A owner did not jump at the chance to move to a place that already had an approved drive-thru. I recall that the existing location on Rockville Pike was denied a drive-thru when they were building that restaurant out. Would not be surprised if that was due to the Christian values of Chick-fil-A and their company. Remember what they did to Walmart? Yep, prevented them from coming.
7:55, do you mean after Robert already wrote 'demolished?' It would have been awkward to repeat that word there and 'destroyed' certainly describes it. Just saying...
Doesn't taste to sugary too me. I have learned t save the dried raisins for other uses so maybe that is why. I don't like over sweetened stuff either.
Was any part of the original building actually kept?
Yes…… We need a Drive-Thru Mcdonald's to keep from having to drive all the way down to the River Rd Location or all the way up to the Rockville Locations for Drive-Thru.
Thank the Lord the Montgomery County Council left this alone and didn’t block it !!
Reminds me of the ex-wife.
Looking forward to a McRib here in 2025!
Was she a drive-thru also?
If you're referring to the current location, the drive-thru was denied due to site circulation constraints and the parking requirements. Regardless of how they designed the traffic flow, it could not meet the safety, circulation, and number of parking spaces. Thus, the drive-thru was cut. Just what did they do to Walmart, and how?
JAC: It is true they won’t allow Walmart in to Rockville or Bethesda but I I have no problem driving up to the Walmart in Germantown if I need something from Walmart.
JAC: There are Walmarts down South in some of the Most Heavily Christian Areas in existence ! The issue is the Montgomery County Council wants to protect Bethesda from Low Class Establishments as much as possible.
That’s why there remains only 1 McDonalds in Bethesda on River Rd and there are NO Fast Food Joints in Downtown Bethesda except for Z-Burger, which they only allow because it’s a small storefront location.
All the other Burger Restaurants in Downtown Bethesda are Fast-Casual, which they will tolerate………
11:46 - Yes, 💯 true they will never allow a Walmart lower county. Germantown isn't too bad but it's a drive for many. Big government picks winners and losers no matter what the people want.
11:55 - That's true definitely of Walmarts in many heavily Christian areas. It's been awhile so I may be forgetting the controversy but there was absolutely an
11:55 - Absolutely there's tons of Walmarts in heavily Christian areas down South and beyond. It's been awhile so I may be forgetting the stupid reason they banned Wally but they did essentially by passing a moratorium on so-called big box stores. I would argue that Wal-Mart is anything but a low class establishment. MoCo does dumb things and the elected officials think they know better than you and will decide what's good for you and what isn't. The city of Gaithersburg actually nixed Amazon from coming and bringing good paying jobs. How backwards is that? Thru don't use Amazon? They wouldn't benefit from a distribution center right off 355? Of course they would and so would their citizens.
I think even Tim Walz would describe the MoCo Cartel's blocking of Walmart as "weird." Something that is ubiquitous in every jurisdiction across America but Montgomery County. It's just plain weird. As in needing a psychological evauation-level weird.
The best part is the irony that Walmart, like Marriott, has evolved into one of the most woke and progressive corporations in America, and they're still opposed to it. Walmart is on your side now, guys.
So the smoke shop phenomenon is allowed because it's not food related?
2:18 - Robert - It’s a cartel alright. Perfect term.
The last McD's in downtown Bethesda was in the location where the building that houses Q by Peter Chang is. The franchisee of that McD's also had the location on River Road.
And of course, there was a food court with several fast food chain franchises at the Metro (3 Metro Plaza?) (Wisconsin Ave street level). Lots of AM and lunch business, including the BCC High lunch crowd. It was sad to see all that go.
From 2017: https://dc.curbed.com/2017/10/6/16435566/bethesda-metro-center-food-court
And here were the plans to revamp the open space at the Metro:
https://moco360.media/2018/07/19/initial-proposal-bethesda-metro-center-project-passes-muster-county-planners/ ... still waiting!
By the way, does anyone remember the ice skating rink in that spot (just behind the Daily Grill)? Fun to have in our neighborhood :-)
Funny that Z Burger gets a pass, sure its only local but they have big plans! One such plan up near their Tenleytown location is using homeless newspaper hawkers to illegally advertise their overpriced fare. Z Burger has put illegal signage at whee they beg, and ostensibly offer discounts if you patronize via this method. It's just third world, unprofessional and untoward. There a gut usually at the CVS at the top of the Tenley hill, you may remember "Cat in the Hat?"
If you are talking about the Wal Mart that could have been on Connecticut in Aspen hill, that site is STILL empty, many years later. Wal Mart would have been great there.
The absents of a Walmart down county is not a religious ban, its fully based on zoning requirements. Stop, and take a look at the size of the Germantown Walmart, coupled with the acres of required parking for a big box, and that should give you a clearer picture of why you don't see one anywhere south of Gaithersburg. The areas which have existing big boxes down county, have maxed out the sites with the zoning fit. Take a look (Hint: Google Map) at any southern locations and you will see mass of open-space and highway access to accommodate the volumes of traffic generated. Yeah, DC has a mini in NE, and that was offered at Pike Center (TGI Fridays) but turned down for similar reasons. The Christian gossip is just social media trash.
How is Zburger "fast food" but Five Guys is Fast Casual? They're basically the same place.
hn: You are correct that Z-Burger is fast casual.
If big-box stores are banned, then how did we get the Target on Wisconsin Ave in Bethesda?
The Council has never targeted Target politically, as its politics are aligned with the Target corporate board, but the Target in Bethesda is not a traditional big box format like the ones in Rockville and Germantown.
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