tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post1992600150290936458..comments2024-03-29T02:53:45.372-07:00Comments on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row: Bruce Variety closes in Bethesda (Photos)Robert Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-6221643148214057482015-06-29T14:18:23.813-07:002015-06-29T14:18:23.813-07:00ohmy.. where will i buy my weird stuff that is so ...ohmy.. where will i buy my weird stuff that is so random that nobody needs it except once every 10 years? Sad to see it go.."Bruce VARIETY"-- and "variety" says it all.. <br />I recall even more fondly --" Joe's Variety Shop" right off Wisconsin Ave. Across from the old Sears Store.. so much stuff that it only had 1 aisle , which went down the center. of the tiny store.....and Joe sat in a tall chair at the end of that narrow aisle... I recall so many treasures from both stores....<br />helen denson cadenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-91258857070814254732015-06-29T14:16:02.025-07:002015-06-29T14:16:02.025-07:00ohmy.. where will i buy my weird stuff that is so ...ohmy.. where will i buy my weird stuff that is so random that nobody needs it except once every 10 years? Sad to see it go..the name says ig all "Bruce VARIETY"-- and "variety" says it all.. <br />I recall even more fondly --" Joe's Variety Shop" right off Wisconsin Ave. Across fro the old Sears Store.. so much stuff that ht only had 1 aisle down the center...and Joe sat in a tall chair at the end of the narrow aisle... I recall so many treasures from both stores....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />helen denson cadenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-66374281447284994702015-06-29T11:32:26.144-07:002015-06-29T11:32:26.144-07:00Farewell Bruce's. Wherever school supplies or ...Farewell Bruce's. Wherever school supplies or Halloween costumes are bought, the wind will whisper your name.Steve D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-12567696422776192272015-06-28T22:41:01.372-07:002015-06-28T22:41:01.372-07:00Yes please!Yes please!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-53856082700264815112015-06-28T21:29:32.666-07:002015-06-28T21:29:32.666-07:00This location that they moved to looks like it was...This location that they moved to looks like it was the original Sir Walter Raleigh Inn. Used to love going there. I lived off of Bradley and Fairfax Dr. and spent a lot of time in the Bradley Shopping Center and at Bruce's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-4380166366338302042015-06-28T18:41:29.329-07:002015-06-28T18:41:29.329-07:00With 7:20 and 11:28. And there is an unlikely nos...With 7:20 and 11:28. And there is an unlikely nostalgia.<br /><br />I grew up elsewhere, but there was a strip mall near the after-school busline with a memorably unique, non-essential store that essentially ended up a hang-out. Being in that convenient location near somewhere we had to frequent anyway made the difference. We browsed crowded inventories coming away with everything from imported gum and D&D maze maps to fountain pen ink or Far Side greeting cards. <br /><br />It's funny how such a little place can have unwittingly supplied so much. The inventory became secondary to the experience and memories. Some places end up like a trusty pal. It is sad when they go. ~*~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-72642984913395714182015-06-28T17:21:27.218-07:002015-06-28T17:21:27.218-07:00A block away is too far?A block away is too far?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-51130116018102165902015-06-28T13:51:10.928-07:002015-06-28T13:51:10.928-07:00Didn't someone parking lot next door from the ...Didn't someone parking lot next door from the county? Maybe they could also buy this building and really fill out this block of Woodmont. Seems out of place and doomed to continue to fail with direction Downtown Bethesda is heading.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-56748819392826390222015-06-28T11:28:59.019-07:002015-06-28T11:28:59.019-07:00I bet they'd do OK somewhere in a suburban str...I bet they'd do OK somewhere in a suburban strip center.<br /><br />A lot of the trips are school related. Folks don't have time to wait to order poster board and other school project supplies online. They need it now and Bruce's had everything.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-2572642829089402012015-06-28T11:04:56.143-07:002015-06-28T11:04:56.143-07:00Bruce's failed to innovate and keep up with th...Bruce's failed to innovate and keep up with the times, and that's what did them in. Why were they losing customers? Poor selection, high prices, and poor management decisions.<br /><br />You can be sure they wouldn't be closing if they were doing great.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-13218871027959359632015-06-28T07:20:41.384-07:002015-06-28T07:20:41.384-07:00The parking lot is not "pretty big" and ...The parking lot is not "pretty big" and the county garage is not just "across the street" but a block away.<br /><br />Bruce just wasn't viable as a stand-alone store in that area. Bruce was always the place you would go as part of a larger shopping trip.<br /><br />The turnover rate for restaurants in the Triangle seems to actually be lower than for Bethesda Row, at present. Retail, except for sites threatened by new construction, is doing fine. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-85365933475167576532015-06-28T06:59:50.362-07:002015-06-28T06:59:50.362-07:00Pretty big parking lot right next door and a count...Pretty big parking lot right next door and a county garage across the street, not to mention street parking. So car access wasn't the issue. Woodmont Triangle seems to be dying for retailers and restaurants....<br /><br /><br />What's going in its place?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com