The Cheesecake Factory is closing in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase, Washington, DC. "After extensive review and analysis, the company made the difficult decision to discontinue operation of our restaurant in Chevy Chase," Cheesecake Factory, Inc. Senior Director of Public Relations and Global Branding Alethea Rowe told Fox 5 producer Allison Papson in a statement. "Our last day of service will be January 24, 2026." This will be a devastating loss for nearby residents, as well as for Chevy Chase Pavilion. Everything around that mall is being redeveloped as residential housing, and this will only increase the pressure. Fortunately, we still have The Cheesecake Factory at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.
No. It will most definitely not be “devastating” for nearby residents. lol.
ReplyDeleteNot for snobs, no, but for the majority of people who know and love The Cheesecake Factory.
DeleteIt's main feature is ridiculously- sized portions and menu - doesn't take a snob to know this carters to the basest of instincts.
Delete6:50: If the food was bad, the portion size would be irrelevant. It's popular because the food is good.
DeleteMaybe "a significant setback in local dining opportunities" for (some of) those people. It's not as though their homes collapsed, or were condemned. That would be "devastating."
ReplyDelete2:32: Fair enough.
DeleteWhen was the last time a diner actually ordered and ate CHEESECAKE while so many other better desserts are available?
ReplyDelete3:11: I actually tend to order their sundaes myself.
DeleteThis and Sephora closing in Friendship Heights isn’t great.
ReplyDeleteGawler's just down the street is holding a memorial service for those who care.
DeleteReminds me of Sinatra's question to Brando in "Guys and Dolls": "Offhand, would you say that Mindy's sells more cheesecake, or more strudel?" (It's on YouTube.)
ReplyDeleteLindy’s, not Mindy’s
DeleteA real shame just as effective weight-loss drugs are gaining popularity.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably *why* they're going under - people finally getting control of their rapacious appetites don't need ridiculous portions of mid food.
DeleteThe Cheesecake Factory at Harborplace in Baltimore is closing the same day. Looks like they’re cutting multiple underperforming locations. Friendship Heights has been on the downswing for years with Mazza being the only true new development.
ReplyDeleteHarborplace in Baltimore is being redeveloped which is why the Cheesecake Factory is closing there. I think similar might be the case here as a new 310 unit highrise is slated for the redevelopment of the Friendship Center @5333 Wisconsin Ave. Developer is Federal Realty. Architect is Shalom Baranes. Although the Cheesecake Factory is part of the Pavilion the restaurant would be affected by construction.
DeleteThe Baltimore closure makes sense. That building will be torn down when the Inner Harbor is redeveloped.
DeleteFriendship Heights is definitely on a decline.
ReplyDeleteI have pictures of the damage from the 202 "riots" and if I were a retailer back then I would have begun planning my exit. Except for lack of broken glass all over the sidewalk it's not any better today.
DeleteDeclining in some respects, but Total Wine recently opened and the new Trader Joe’s opened two days ago. Retail catering more to folks staying in. There are fewer dining-out options, and the high-end retail isn’t coming back. The new retail is on the DC side of Western, but stores in MD portion appear to be holding on.
ReplyDeleteWhy would you even entertain the idea of going into a Cheesecake Factory when Maggiano's is an option?
ReplyDelete3:00: I love Maggiano's. Highly recommend.
DeleteNot my favorite restaurant, but it will be missed. Not good for Friendship either.
ReplyDeleteMetro operators and bus drivers loved it.
ReplyDeleteIs this a euphemism?
Delete12:19 Judging by the presence of bus drivers at Parkway Deli, it is a sign of good eats!
Delete“Devastating” to people who are apparently so privileged that they never learned how to use a stove.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is that nearly all of the businesses that left Mazza Gallerie and many of those that left the Chevy Chase Pavilion reopened just north of Western Avenue or in Bethesda Row.
ReplyDelete5:42 hopefully, this new and effective administration will soon quash the incompetent DC council and send the Mayorship out to pasture and get our Capital City back to a healthy state. Here's hoping that new Socialist mayoral candidate wins so Trump can move in and fix it all there once and for all.
DeleteThat's not really true at all. Only Pottery Barn relocated to Bethesda, while Anthropologie was already North of Western and relocated to Bethesda. H&M, Nordstorm Rack (or even Nordstroms), Old Navy (GAP & BR have always been just north of Western), Marshalls, World Market, Neiman Marcus (Saks Men's store consolidated in the Saks that has always been in CC MD) et al...none of them moved just north of Western or to Bethesda.
DeleteI always enjoyed the Cheesecake Factory, but it seems like the type of restaurant that made sense when there was far more casual shopping in Friendship Heights. I imagine the Maggiano's will have to close when they redevelop its location.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Wonder Food Hall opening across the street, as well as another Fast Casual eatery. I will say, that things looked much livelier since Total and Trader Joe's opened. Also, very surprised how crowded Bloomingdale's was over the weekend. I guess it's the only one generally in the area.
Clyde's also is always very crowded...helps that the parking is easier and it's free.