Silver Spring Scene News Round Up
By Silver Springer • Oct 16th, 2006 • Category: Uncategorized
Downtown Continues to Grow
Downtown continues to grow more urban but why are planners so concerned about accommodating parking?
Fidelity & Trust opens Silver Spring Branch
Giving a nod to the revitalization for their branch opening on Sligo Ave, Fidelity & Trust will focus on private commercial loans and mortgages. BizJournal
Good Riddance to Storehouse
A viewer has pointed out a myopic ad by Storehouse Furniture stores printed in the Washington Post,
On p. A16 of today’s [October 13th] Washington Post there is a going out of business ad for Storehouse with a listing of their locations…8519 Georgia Avenue being in Silver “Springs.”
I would expect nothing more from Virginia.
ICC Breaks Ground
I thought it did already.
Reduce Your Gas
A Silver Spring based non-profit group can help you reduce carbon emissions. NBC 4
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Saturday on my way back to the Metro from the SS Library book sale I passed two guys wearing Storehouse Going Out of Business sandwich board sharing a cigarette at the corner of Colesville and Georgia. For a moment I thought to myself “Am I in Silver Spring, or on Rockville Pike?”
Why say “good riddance to Storehouse”? For all the banter on here about DTSS needing more retail and fewer restaurants, Storehouse was a decent (I know, depends on opinion) furniture store and a fine addition to the mix.
Speaking of restaurants–I had lunch with two associates the other day at the new Piratz Tavern. As much as we laughed at the corny theme, the food was quite good, the menu creative and the atmosphere has a lot of potential. I always respect independent owners who try to do something different.
During lunch, the three of us wannabe comedians had a Seinfeld-esqe contest to see who could go the longest without talking like a Pirate or making a funny pirate reference. I was out after 5 minutes. The other two were out 10 minutes later, after which we let out our pent-up inner pirate and spent the next half hour talking in “arrrr”s, “matey”s & “walk the plank”s.
On the Piratz web page, they mention that their Saturday night bartender (bar wench?) is a sword swallower. This has some of the men of my acquaintance all a twitter, although none of them has yet seen this talent demonstrated in person.
firejimbowden wrote:
“I passed two guys wearing Storehouse Going Out of Business sandwich board sharing a cigarette at the corner of Colesville and Georgia. For a moment I thought to myself “Am I in Silver Spring, or on Rockville Pike?”
One word: YIKES! I hope they didn’t resort to spinning their signs or tossing them in the air. That’s where I draw the line between good advertising and good taste.
Regarding the soon-to-be-vacant space, I’d like to see an LL Bean, REI, Hudson Trails Outfitters, or some other sporting goods store.
Another suggestion: a drug store. Sure, Rite-Aid and CVS already sit on East-West Hwy, but it would be convenient to have toothpaste, prophylactics, etc., closer to the central business district.
“Another suggestion: a drug store. Sure, Rite-Aid and CVS already sit on East-West Hwy, but it would be convenient to have toothpaste, prophylactics, etc., closer to the central business district.”
There’s always the Safeway on Fenton if you have a burning need for toothpaste and prophylactics while in that part of town.
Honestly, don’t go into the details, hon.
We already had this discussion over at my blog:
http://tinyurl.com/y36lr6
I still contend that a drugstore somewhere in that downtown area would be great. There was one there for year. If it’s snowing/rainining/cold it might be a bit of a hassle to get over to Safeway.
I think the Safeway on Fenton works for residents, but it’s off the beaten path for office workers along Colesville and Georgia. If a drug store doesn’t work at the Storehouse site, then maybe a UPS Store would work.
A drug store would also work at Ida Ruben’s old digs on Colesville near Spring, next to the liquor store, the Hilton, and that other hotel they’re putting up across the street. Toothpaste and prophylactic sales would go through the roof!
I still can’t emphasize “Apple Store” enough…
I hear the SSS’s sentiment r.e. ‘why such a focus on parking’. While parking is an issue, it’s not the most important issue confronting urban areas. Planners and property owners should be more focused on the value (social and economic) inherent in creating a ’sense of place’ and walkability than parking. No one complains about parking in SS like they do in Bethesda, Old Town, Georgetown, DuPont, NYC. While it doesn’t mean we don’t need it, it certainly means that we have yet to ‘arrive’. Perhaps one of the reasons is b/c leadership thinks we need to cater to cars.
Sandwich board gimmicks are so tacky and I wouldn’t be surprised if this marketing ploy violates a few labor laws.
I would love to see a clothing retail shop at the old Storehouse location. I like the idea of LL Bean/JCrew kind of place. We need some casual wear stores in the area.
If Gap or Old Navy decided to take that spot, I wouldn’t be upset either.
Anything but Antropologie…
“Regarding the soon-to-be-vacant space, I’d like to see an LL Bean, REI, Hudson Trails Outfitters, or some other sporting goods store.”
In my humble opinion, and not to minimize your idea, which is good, an LL Bean Would work in Bethesda, Reston, etc, but frankly, would such a high-end retailer be profitable in DTSS just yet? I do believe Old Navy or gap would work, however. Also, why not a Bed, Bath and Beyond, or Linens ‘N Things in that space?
As for a drug store, that is definitely needed and way overdue in that area. The Safeway is woefully inadequate, coming from someone who shops there on a regular basis.
While I do like Pier 1, A World Market would have been wonderful.
mmafan,
The stores you propose are WAAAAY to big for the Storehouse space. Even the Storehouse is small for a Storehouse.
There was/is a proposal to bring Bed Bath & Beyond to City Place, where it might fit better.
Thanks, Sligo..Now thinking back, you are absolutely correct. City Place would be a great location for BB&B or Linens “N Things..
Anyone have the latest news on the potential big-box tenant that is/was supposed to come to City Place?
I don’t have a problem with a drug store per se, but I’d really like to see something come in there that does already exist elsewhere in the greater DTSS area. I’d also like to see something that brings more foot traffic to Georgia Ave, other than the Busiest Bank Machine On Earth ™. It’d be nice to see the prosperity spread both directions on Georgia.
I want a TOYS “R” US like in New York’s Times Square, Giant T-Rex and all.
All in all a store with a great visual to get people gawking and walking south down Georgia would be the ideal.
Oh yeah I know it’s not big enough but perhaps the KB in City Place can move their and do something extra special?
LL Bean, Toys “R” Us, Gap, Old Navy…
sounds like anywhere USA to me. I’d rather see something that built on creating a special, unique place than a shopping replication of Rockville Pike. Maybe these comments are realistic, but it sets a pretty low bar.
KB toys is a terrible, terrible retailer. They won’t be in business long term, anyway, IMO with competition from Target, Wal-Mart, etc. They’d never pay for that space ($$$) anyway.
As far as a giant T-Rex, there’s already one across the street at Discovery!!
Apple store is perfect… it can be one of the nice larger ones that offer classes like Clarendon and Tysons. Not a crappy small one like Bethesda.
The Apple shop would do better in that vacant building on Colesville, across the street from the Discovery building. Lots of space for lots of iPods.
As for the Storehouse site, I’m still thinking drug store.
Sligo you’re right about the T-Rex, how could I forget! But don’t count on an Apple store in Silver Spring anytime soon. Whatever store goes there needs to be able to put an attention grabing display and for sale items that will draw people down Georgia.
I would consider an Apple Store a “destination” store. Everytime I go to one, it’s always packed. People may not always be buying things, but it attracts people who want to just play with the new toys. That will attract a lot more people than any other store, I believe.
Perhaps you should gather support and write them a letter?
Perhaps I will start an online petition.