The Woodmont Triangle area of downtown Bethesda has more energy since the opening of Smashburger this week. There seems to be a slight increase in activity, and possibly in the number of people, for some distance around that intersection of Cordell and Norfolk Avenues.
Some people are just looking in the windows to see what the new place is about. Others notice the employees of the soon-to-open Roof Bethesda scurrying to and fro, through the massive second floor windows of the Norfolk-Cordell II building. Last evening, Christmas music wafted down to the streets below as Roof hosted a corporate holiday party ahead of its December 20 opening.
That Steven Karr-designed building is lighting up what used to be a dark and dreary corner. Which is what I had expected. Just the night before, there was a test of the new LED light sculptures on the future plaza outside the Gallery Bethesda apartments. We're starting to get a very small sense of what's to come over the next 5 years in the transformation of the Woodmont Triangle.
One business noticing the new energy is California Tortilla. Smashburger has a sidewalk sign announcing, "NOW OPEN."
Cal Tort quickly responded with a humorous re-Tort: their own sign facing Smashburger's across Norfolk: "NOW OPEN ALSO."
Here's the latest progress on the Steven Karr-designed Norfolk-Cordell II building, at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues in downtown Bethesda.
The building will house Roof, a rooftop restaurant; Dunkin' Donuts and Smashburger.
The first windows, and tiled facade, are in place at Roof, the future Bethesda rooftop restaurant at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues.
Will you be drinking a craft beer or a glass of Pinot Grigio, and enjoying the early evening breeze above Old Town Bethesda this August?
It's certainly possible, but I wouldn't bet your life on it. Given all the regulatory hurdles restauranteurs face in Montgomery County, my money would be on the second half of September. But stranger things have happened, so we can hope for the best.
Roof is a concept by the owner of Tommy Joe's on Montgomery Lane, and the building it will sit atop is formally called Norfolk-Cordell II. It was designed by architect Steven Karr, and, as I've said before, one of the fresher designs among buildings currently rising or planned in downtown Bethesda.
Roof, the rooftop restaurant and bar opening late summer in Bethesda, is all lit up.
As the structure starts to resemble the renderings prepared by renowned architect Steven Karr, night lighting has been installed on the exterior and the interior.
While there's still a long way to go before you're drinking a cocktail in the breeze above Bethesda, this temporary lighting gives a sense of what it will be like when this corner lights up for real this summer.
Construction continues at the Steven Karr-designed rooftop restaurant building on the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues.
Check out these photos of the progress from high above the site.
One of the few architecturally-interesting development projects currently underway in downtown Bethesda, is the future rooftop restaurant building at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues.
Designed by architect Steven Karr, the building will house retail and restaurants, with the crown jewel being a rare rooftop eatery. When I broke the story on this months ago, the lessee of the space was confidential. Eventually he was identified as the owner of Tommy Joe's.
With only two rooftop spaces in Bethesda (Doubletree Hotel and Tia Queta), this should be a highly-anticipated opening. "Early 2013" as promised? Doesn't seem likely at this point.
What's underway now is primarily the rear of the structure. Stay tuned for further updates.
