Patch Asks: Which Stores Should Occupy The Shoppes at Friendship Heights?
When the weeds come out and the boutiques move in, what shops would you like to see included in The Shoppes at Friendship Heights?
Where weeds currently grow, the boutique stores of The Shoppes at Friendship Heights will soon be constructed.
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Let's call this a modern spin on community planning—Patch's version of a charette, a digital drawing board where all ideas are on the table.
In this column, we'll present vacant buildings or lots, and ask you to tell us what you think would be their best use. Forget what zone they're in, ignore setback regulations, dump lot coverage rules and all the other sleep-inducing zoning jargon. If you had your way, what would you like to see in these spots? What would be their best use for the community?
This week, we look at the empty parking lot that is soon to become The Shoppes at Friendship Heights. Wedged in-between Western Avenue and Jenifer Street NW in Washington, DC, and across the avenue from Bloomingdale's and The Shops at Wisconsin Place (in Maryland), the parking lot may look bleak now, but the developer's pre-construction illustrations indicate a brighter future.
According to the leasing plan, there are five spaces available in the future shopping center, and they range in size from 5,370 to 11,340 square feet.
What shops do you think would be useful to the community? Tell us your thoughts and visions in the comment section below.
Eric S.
9:55 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Totally out of character for the neighborhood, but I'd be all over a Julia's Empanadas. Frankly anything that fills the quick food I can carry on foot niche would be fine. The cupcakes at Frosting are great, and we have plenty of nice restaurants, but the only fast food is McDonald's, and I want something better.
Laura L Thornton
11:03 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
That's a great idea! I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if a compromise of a boutique empanada shop might work...(?)
Kokuanani Schwartz
1:15 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Any place that does not spell its name "shoppe."
Cathy Ondis Solberg
3:58 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
A used book store and cafe and a place with casual mediterranean fare like Moby Dick's would be great. Places that make it feel more like a neighborhood, instead of "anywhere" USA.
Laura L Thornton
4:04 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I like that idea, Cathy! I agree, Friendship Heights needs a bookstore, and a bookstore/cafe would be really nice.
Malcom J
7:41 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Federal Realty kicked Second Story Books out of Bethesda Row because they thought it didn't attract the right kind of person. Oh, really??? Instead, they put a trinket shop in called - really - artsy fartsy that attracted NO customers, unlike SSBooks, that had attracted a lot.
So, don't count on the landlord to make the right decision.
Todd B
8:30 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Great story idea Laura! Heaven knows we have some ideas for our street. But unfortunately Malcolm has a good point...
bruce
6:06 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A "good" NY style deli is what is needed. End of story.
Karla Gutierrez-Pugh
7:25 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
A City Target. (Google City Target and you'll read about the concept).